salaryRent here is among the lowest 10% of all U.S. cities. A typical house costs under 3 years of household income, which is easy by U.S. standards. Commutes are short, about 16.4 minutes. Most households rent (61%), so there are plenty of rental options.
How much money do I need?
To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $31,560 a year. That is $15 an hour at a full-time job.
Is rent cheaper than other Arkansas cities?
Yes. Rent here is cheaper than in most of Arkansas. It is number 11 of 71 cities from cheapest to most expensive.
How much do households earn in Forrest City?
Share of households by yearly income. 5.4% of households earn $100,000 or more.
Rent by apartment size in Forrest City
| Size | Forrest City | U.S. average |
|---|---|---|
| 1 bedroom | $350 | $1,324 |
| 2 bedrooms | $826 | $1,509 |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,025 | $1,698 |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,015 | $2,098 |
Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.
How expensive is Forrest City overall?
Everyday prices in Arkansas overall are 13% below the U.S. average (index 86.9, U.S. = 100).
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities 2024. City-level data is not published for Forrest City, so the Arkansas figure is shown.
Taxes and bills in Forrest City
Life in Forrest City
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Forrest City?
Buying is cheaper month to month: about $151 a month less than renting.
Owning assumes a typical $92,000 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $9,200 for the down payment.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average rent in Forrest City, AR?
Renting in Forrest City costs a median of about $789 a month in 2026, including utilities. The Arkansas median is $1,068.
How much do I need to make to live in Forrest City?
To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $31,560 a year, or $15 an hour at a full-time job.
Is Forrest City cheap or expensive?
Forrest City is rated OK: rent takes 24.6% of the typical household income of $38,491. It ranks 11th cheapest of 71 Arkansas cities we track.
How much are property taxes in Forrest City?
The median homeowner in Forrest City pays $484 a year in property taxes, about 0.53% of the median home value.
Is Forrest City more expensive than the national average?
Overall prices in Arkansas are 13% below the U.S. average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.
How much does a house cost in Forrest City?
The median home value in Forrest City is $92,000, about 2.4 times the typical yearly household income.
12,646 people live in Forrest City. Numbers are typical (middle) values.