Cost of Living in Bentonville, AR: Prices, Rent and Taxes
Bentonville's cost of living sits near the U.S. average, but the figures depend on the calculator. Here are the home price, rent and everyday costs behind the numbers.
The cost of living in Bentonville, AR sits about 3% below the U.S. average, according to one online calculator. For you, that means everyday spending may stretch a bit further, though the gap changes from one calculator to another. [1]
Housing is the largest number to plan around. One calculator lists a typical home price of $527,567 and a typical apartment rent of $1,273 per month, so these are the figures to test against your own income. [2]
This article covers those housing costs, property taxes, healthcare and daily expenses, with comparisons to Arkansas and the U.S. Calculators use different inputs and dates, so check the date and method behind each figure before you rely on it.
How do Bentonville's costs compare to Arkansas and the U.S.?
Bentonville comes out above the Arkansas average and below the U.S. average, and the answer depends on whether you rent or own. The two calculators below measure different things, so read them side by side.
Source | Comparison | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
RentCafe cost of living calculator | Against the state and national averages | Overall costs for the city |
Apartments.com cost of living calculator | Against the national average | Costs for a renter |
The overall calculator puts the cost of living in Bentonville 8% above the state average and 4% below the national average [3]. That mix means Bentonville is more expensive than most of Arkansas but still under the U.S. figure.
The renter-focused calculator is more favorable. It shows costs for a renter 11.4% below the national average [4]. If you plan to rent, this is the closer match to your budget, while the overall figure better reflects a household that owns.
Whether these costs fit your pay is the real test. The median household income in Bentonville is $110,352 [5]. Take your own take-home pay and compare it with rent or a mortgage payment, since a figure below the national average only helps if your income reaches the local level.
What do homes and rent cost at different budgets?
The typical home price is $527,567 and the typical apartment rent is $1,273 per month, according to one online calculator for Bentonville [2]. Those two figures show that buying costs far more to start than renting. The gap decides which path your budget can handle.
Buying a home
The down payment is a share of the price you pay in cash at closing. The mortgage payment covers the loan's interest and principal each month, so it will sit well above a $1,273 rent payment [2].
Plan for the down payment, closing costs and the monthly payment together, not one at a time.
Renting an apartment
The $1,273 figure is a starting point for renters, not a quote for a specific unit [2]. Apartment rents vary by size, building age and neighborhood, so use the number to set a rough range. Then compare the listings you actually want to see.
Your own numbers
Set these housing figures against your own income and savings before you decide. Add up your take-home pay each month, subtract your other fixed bills, and see how much is left for housing. Then compare that amount with the cash you would need for a down payment and closing costs.
If the leftover amount falls short of either the rent or the mortgage payment, renting is the better fit for now. If you have enough cash and monthly room to cover both comfortably, buying becomes worth a closer look.
What costs come on top of rent or a mortgage?
Doctor and dentist visits are costs that rent and mortgage figures leave out. On one calculator, a doctor visit in Bentonville averages $145.88 and a dentist visit averages $97.55 [2].
These are per-visit averages, not yearly totals. Multiply each figure by how often your household goes to the doctor or dentist, and add the result to your monthly budget.
Commuting and transportation
Commuting costs depend on where you work and how far you drive. For many households, they vary more from one person to the next than rent does.
To estimate this line, count your daily round trip, multiply it by your workdays, and price the fuel, wear, and parking that go with it. A long daily drive can cost more each month than a modest difference in rent.
Property taxes and utilities
Property taxes and utilities depend on the specific home, not on a citywide average. Two houses on the same street can carry different tax bills and different heating or water bills, depending on their size, age, and provider.
For a home you are considering, ask for the most recent property tax bill and at least twelve months of utility bills. Those records show what this particular property actually costs to own and run.
Where can you cut your living costs in Bentonville?
Start with your own salary and household size, not the city average. Enter them into a cost of living calculator so the result shows your real gap. Payscale's Bentonville page compares cost of living in Bentonville with factors like salaries [1], which is the comparison that matters for your budget.
Keep your inputs fixed
Enter the same salary and household size for every housing option you weigh. Change only the housing input between runs, so any difference you see comes from housing rather than from different assumptions.
Run renting and buying on the same day
Run renting and buying through the same calculator on the same date. Calculator data can change over time, so a rent figure pulled on one day and a home price pulled on another can make the gap look bigger or smaller than it is.
Compare monthly costs, not sticker prices. A home price and a monthly rent answer different questions, so put both into monthly terms. For example, a mortgage payment and a rent payment become two numbers you would actually pay each month.
Read the national and state comparisons together
Look at the national and state comparisons side by side. A city can look affordable next to the U.S. average yet cost more than the rest of Arkansas, or the reverse. Using both shows whether a gap is local or part of a wider pattern.
Decide based on the monthly difference for your own household. One headline percentage from one calculator is not enough to choose where to live.
Is Bentonville cheaper than most places?
Is Bentonville cheaper than the U.S. average?
Yes, the calculators that cover Bentonville place it slightly below the national average. One calculator puts the cost of living 3% lower than the U.S. average [1]. Another puts it 4% lower than the national average [3].
For a household, that is a modest edge rather than a large discount. A cost-of-living figure is an average across many goods and services, so it may not match your own grocery bill, rent or commute.
Do the calculators agree?
Not exactly. Both point the same way, below the national average, but they give different percentages. The calculators use different inputs, so the exact gap changes from one tool to the next.
That means the percentage works best as a rough starting point. Treat it as a comparison between places, not as a fixed price difference you will see at the store or on your lease.
Does a lower average mean lower bills for you?
Not necessarily. A calculator compares average costs, while your budget depends on your income, the home or apartment you choose, and how far you drive each day. If you enter your own salary and household size into a calculator, you will see how the average compares with your situation.
Housing is often the largest single expense, so compare the rent or home prices you find locally with the calculator's figures. Calculator data changes over time, so use the figures as a guide and recheck them before you decide.
What should you take from Bentonville's living costs?
Bentonville's costs sit close to the U.S. average on most calculators. [1][3] Treat that as a starting point, because each calculator uses its own inputs and the gap between them can be wide enough to matter for your budget.
The figures that matter most are the home price, the rent and the income, and you should weigh them against your own pay, household size and savings. A calculator average tells you little if your take-home pay or your rent-to-income ratio is far from its assumptions. Recheck the numbers before you decide, because calculator data changes over time. Your next step is to enter your own income into one calculator and compare renting and buying on the same date.