States › Arkansas › West Memphis

Is West Memphis, AR expensive to live in?

OKRent takes 23 cents of every $1 people earn here.
🏠 Rent per month (2026)$89649% lower than U.S. average
💵 Families earn per year (2026)$46,024about $3,835/month · 47% lower than U.S. average
🔑 House price$120,10064% lower than U.S. average

Rent 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.

How much money do I need?

To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $35,840 a year. That is $17 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 24 of 71 cities from cheapest to most expensive.

West Memphis
$896
Van Buren
$925
Searcy
$846
Centerton
$1,949
Bryant
$1,195
Cabot
$1,391
Russellville
$1,068

How much do households earn in West Memphis?

Under $25k
31.2%
$25k–50k
24.9%
$50k–100k
31.0%
$100k–150k
5.5%
$150k+
1.6%

Share of households by yearly income. 7.2% of households earn $100,000 or more.

Rent by apartment size in West Memphis

SizeWest MemphisU.S. average
1 bedroom$511$1,324
2 bedrooms$866$1,509
3 bedrooms$1,131$1,698
4 bedrooms$1,163$2,098

Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.

How expensive is West Memphis overall?

Everyday prices in Arkansas overall are 13% below the U.S. average (index 86.9, U.S. = 100).

Housing
58
Goods (food, clothes…)
94
Utilities
75
Other services
95
U.S. average
100

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities 2024. City-level data is not published for West Memphis, so the Arkansas figure is shown.

Taxes and bills in West Memphis

🏛️ Property tax$726a year · 0.60% of home value · U.S. $3,119
⚡ Electric bill$143a month (typical) · U.S. $156

Life in West Memphis

Commute to work20.1 minU.S.: 26.4 min
College degree13.9%U.S.: 35.7%
Own their home46.1%U.S.: 65.2%
Below poverty line29.1%U.S.: 12.5%
Unemployment14.5%U.S.: 5.2%

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in West Memphis?

Buying is cheaper month to month: about $63 a month less than renting.

Renting
$896
Owning
$833

Owning assumes a typical $120,100 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $12,010 for the down payment.

Frequently asked questions

What is the average rent in West Memphis, AR?

Renting in West Memphis costs a median of about $896 a month in 2026, including utilities. The Arkansas median is $1,068.

How much do I need to make to live in West Memphis?

To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $35,840 a year, or $17 an hour at a full-time job.

Is West Memphis cheap or expensive?

West Memphis is rated OK: rent takes 23.4% of the typical household income of $46,024. It ranks 24th cheapest of 71 Arkansas cities we track.

How much are property taxes in West Memphis?

The median homeowner in West Memphis pays $726 a year in property taxes, about 0.60% of the median home value.

Is West Memphis 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 West Memphis?

The median home value in West Memphis is $120,100, about 2.6 times the typical yearly household income.

23,929 people live in West Memphis. Numbers are typical (middle) values.