A+
15%
Overall NAT. AVG.
7%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
48%
Housing NAT. AVG.
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Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.
The cost of living index is based on a national average of 100. For example, if the cost of living is 90, then it is 10% lower than average. If the cost of living is 110, then it is 10% higher than average. The breakdown for each index is as follows: goods & services (33%), groceries (13%), health care (5%), housing (30%), transportation (9%) and utilities (10%). If the cost of living data was unavailable for this city, estimates based upon nearby cities were used.
Index Pine Bluff Arkansas National
Cost of living8586100
Goods & Services10798100
Groceries9895100
Health care8888100
Housing5265100
Transportation8890100
Utilities9492100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Pine Bluff, AR

The cost of living in Pine Bluff affects the quality of life one can afford in this new location. It allows people to assess whether they can maintain their preferred lifestyle, including housing, leisure activities and dining options. Your total monthly expenditures can varry depending on the area, as well as many other factors. The cost of living in Pine Bluff is 85, which is 15% lower than the national average. Knowledge of the cost of living can help individuals make informed decisions about retirement savings, investments, and financial goals.

Housing expenses can absorb a substantial portion of your net income, sometimes exceeding 30%. Thankfully, Pine Bluff stands out by reporting housing costs that are 48.4% lower than the national average. This signifies that both homeownership and rental expenses in this region are considerably more budget-friendly compared to the rest of the country. With such favorable housing affordability, residents of Pine Bluff can allocate a more reasonable portion of their income to housing, allowing for greater financial flexibility.

What Do Locals Say About the Cost of Living in Pine Bluff?

The most insightful perspective on a city comes from its residents. We recently surveyed 5 locals to gauge their perception of the cost of living in Pine Bluff. The feedback revealed that 20% of respondents found the cost of living to be reasonable, with prices on the decline, while 80% regarded it as notably expensive with prices that continue to rise.

Is Pine Bluff Affordable?

Is Pine Bluff affordable? It's a key consideration when pondering a move, as affordability often shapes your choices. The cost of living index (we discussed it earlier), coupled with housing costs and income levels, serves as the cornerstone for determining a location's affordability. Take Pine Bluff, for instance, where the median home price falls 59.4% lower than the national average, and monthly rent rates are 22.7% lower than usual. Additionally, median income levels contribute to the equation, with Pine Bluff flaunting a median household income of $34,410, 37.8% lower than the national norm.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Pine Bluff?

Utilities: Like everything else, utilities costs can range significantly depending on factors like climate, energy sources available, location and even state regulations. Things like electricity, water, heating and waste disposal costs can be higher or lower, depending on the city or state. The utilities index in Pine Bluff comes in at 5.9% lower than the national average.

Healthcare: Healthcare costs and insurance premiums can fluctuate greatly based on the city or state. Access to healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket expenses for doctor\’s visits, dentist costs, medication costs and specialized care costs can all impact the cost of living. In Pine Bluff, the healthcare costs are 11.7% lower than the national average.

Taxes: Areas with higher taxes, including sales taxes and income taxes, can contribute to a higher cost of living. Paying more tax for everyday goods and services like clothing and food will result in higher costs, as will paying a higher rate of income tax. The general sales tax rate in Pine Bluff starts at 6.5% and the income tax rates start at 2%.

Where is the Data From?

The Pine Bluff cost of living data you see above is sourced from the C2ER cost of living index, providing a practical and accurate means of comparing living expenses in urban areas. Updated quarterly, this index gathers data from over 300 independent researchers, covering more than 60 goods and services, in 6 different categories. These selections are made meticulously to represent a wide range of consumer expenditure categories. The weightings applied to cost differences are based on government survey data that tracks spending patterns among professional and executive households. It's important to note that while the C2ER index excludes data on sales or income tax rates, AreaVibes factors tax rates into the overall cost of living score for each region.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Pine Bluff is 1% lower than the Arkansas average
  • The cost of living in Pine Bluff is 15% lower than the national average
  • Pine Bluff housing is 48% lower than the national average
  • Arkansas general sales tax is 27% higher than the national average
  • Arkansas state income tax is 23% lower than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Pine Bluff

See all the best places to live around Pine Bluff

Compare Pine Bluff, AR Cost of Living

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      Salary Calculator

      This is how much you would need to earn in
      Price difference in compared to
      Cost of living index
      Goods & Services index
      Groceries index
      Health care index
      Housing index
      Transportation index
      Utilities index

      Median Income & Debt-To-Income Ratio

      Median Income Per Year Per Month Max Budget (28% DTI) Max Budget (36% DTI)
      Owners$46,470$3,873$1,084$1,394
      Renters$26,385$2,199$616$792
      The percent of monthly income spent on housing can be a good indicator of the affordability of housing in Pine Bluff, AR, as well as the overall cost of living. As a general rule of thumb, the debt-to-income ratio (DTI) for homeowners or renters should be not more than 28 percent of gross income to be spent on housing related costs and not more than 36 percent of income on all expenses, including debts. The median income for Pine Bluff homeowners, is $46,470. This would allow for a maximum of $1,084 per month to be spent on housing costs. For renters, the median monthly income is $26,385 which would result in a maximum of $616 to be spent on rental costs.

      Arkansas Sales Tax

      State General Sales Tax With Max Surtax
      Arkansas 6.5% 11.625%

      Arkansas Income Tax

      State Income Tax (Low) Income Tax (High)
      Arkansas 2% 4.9%

      Goods & Services

      Item Pine Bluff National avg. Difference
      Haircut $28.72$24.2618.4%
      Beauty Salon $47.61$45.564.5%
      Toothpaste $3.61$3.702.6%
      Shampoo $1.17$1.288.9%
      Movie $13.35$12.1310.1%
      Bowling $15.56$18.0013.6%

      Groceries

      Item Pine Bluff National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $5.76$5.841.4%
      Fried Chicken $1.36$1.5713.3%
      Milk $4.65$4.670.5%
      Potatoes $5.31$4.937.6%
      Pizza $11.20$12.097.4%
      Beer $10.24$10.411.6%

      Health Care

      Item Pine Bluff National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $115.17$125.688.4%
      Doctor $132.33$135.782.5%
      Dentist $81.53$113.2928.0%
      Ibuprofen $10.35$10.652.8%
      Lipitor $471.21$468.600.6%

      Housing

      Item Pine Bluff National avg. Difference
      Home Price $74,900.00$184,700.0059.4%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $2,117.76$2,346.699.8%
      Apartment Rent $734.00$949.0022.7%

      Transportation

      Item Pine Bluff National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.05$3.4612.0%
      Tire Balancing $53.11$59.9211.4%

      Utilities

      Item Pine Bluff National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $166.99$193.9913.9%
      Phone $205.18$192.256.7%
      Although the cost of living data is updated regularly, this cost of living information is to be used as estimates only as prices can change on an ongoing basis.

      Nearby cities with low cost of living

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Sherrill, AR2851000.2%
      Altheimer, AR7727920.9%
      Sulphur Springs city, AR3978317.3%
      Wabbaseka, AR3758514.6%
      Sulphur Springs, AR1,3209010.4%
      Pine Bluff, AR42,3238514.7%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      West Babylon, NY42,31614039.6%
      North Fort Myers, FL42,315928.1%
      Linden, NJ42,33212120.8%
      Edmonds, WA42,34716161.2%
      Odenton, MD42,25812928.7%
      Pine Bluff, AR42,3238514.7%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.