How much does it cost to live in Arkansas?
Home to 3.012 Million citizens, Arkansas has the lowest overall cost of living when compared to all other states. According to Bureau of Economic Analysis data, goods and services in the state cost 14.7% more than they do on a national level.
Cost of Living Parameters
Housing & Rent
On average, Arkansas renters pay $729 per month, $294 less than the national average of $1,023. If you want to buy a house in the state, the typical home value is worth $123,300, $81,600 than the national median home value of $408,800.
Here are some stats on Arkansas Mortgages:
- Homeownership rate: 66.9%
- Homeowner vacancy rate: 1.2%
- Rental vacancy rate: 8.9%
Childcare
In Arkansas ,the average annual cost of infant care in Arkansas is $6,890—that’s $574 per month. Child care for a 4-year-old costs $5,478, or $457 each month. Infant care for one child would take up 14.6% of a median family’s income in Arkansas.
Here’s a look at the annual childcare costs from infant to college:
- Infant: $6,890
- 4-year-old: $5,478
- School: $6,1582
- College: $8,187
Utilities
Apartment utilities refer to the essential services required in a home such as gas, water, electricity, cable, and internet. An Arkansas resident can expect to spend up to $336 per month on apartment utilities on average.
Food & Groceries
A single adult in Arkansas spends an average of $2,988 on food each year, while a family of four's annual food cost reaches $8,630. These figures are based on a nutritionally appropriate diet purchased from a grocery shop and prepared at home.
The average price for eating out would be:
- A basic meal with a drink at an inexpensive restaurant $14
- Fast food combo (big mac etc.) $7
- Bottle of Coca-Cola $1.83
- Bottle of water $1.42
Grocery shopping in the state would cost as follows:
- Milk (regular), (1 liter) $3.47
- Loaf of fresh white bread (500g) $2.21
- Rice (1 Kg) $0.97
- Eggs (regular) (12) $2.29
- Chicken fillet (1kg) $3.33
- 4 Rolls of toilet paper $3.45
- Hair shampoo $4.63
Transportation
93.3% of commuters in Arkansas drive to work, compared to 85.5 % of commuters nationwide. The average motorist in the state travels 12,118 miles per year. Taking into account average fuel economy and average gas prices (standard gasoline in Arkansas costs an average of $1.91 per gallon in mid-2020), the average Arkansas motorist can expect to spend $958 on gas alone in a year.
Other transportation costs, such as car insurance prices, can differ from one state to the next. According to data from Insure.com, the average vehicle insurance rate in Arkansas is $1,034, which is lower than the national average of $1,517. According to EPI data, the average single adult in the state spends $10,406 on transportation each year.
Average Income & Taxes
The average yearly income of a single adult living in Arkansas is $54,2253 and the estimated state income tax is 5.5%.
Most Expensive Arkansas Cities to Live in
- Fayetteville
- Bentonville
- Rogers
- Centerton
- Eureka Springs
Why is disability insurance important to have in Arkansas?
As shown by the above cost of living breakdown, a steady income is required to live comfortably and worry-free. But sometimes you find yourself unable to work due to some sort of emergency, illness or accident. Whether you are a full-time employee or a freelancer, getting disability insurance is the first step towards financial stability and peace of mind.
What would happen if you found yourself unable to earn a paycheck because you were too ill or injured to work? According to a recent survey conducted by the personal financial website Bankrate, more than half of Americans (51%) have less than three months' worth of emergency funds.
Medical bills are reported to be the number one cause of U.S. bankruptcies. One study has claimed that medical issues caused 62.1% of bankruptcies. Other studies show that over 2 million people are adversely affected by their medical expenses.
If medical bills start piling up, you’ll no longer be able to support your lifestyle in other areas as well, especially if your income is on hold. You might find yourself unable to pay for utilities and rent, and that eventually could lead to foreclosure. Half of the foreclosures on conventional mortgages in Arkansas are caused by the disability of one of the homeowners. In fact, the foreclosure rate in the state reaches one in every 15,170 households.
A lot of people still think that the need for disability insurance is not top priority, thinking that disability rarely happens, and when it does, it’s only caused by serious accidents. But did you know that up to 90% of disability cases recorded are due to illness, not injury?
With that being said, getting a private disability income insurance should be on top of your to-do list because life is unpredictable but your income shouldn’t be.
Does Arkansas have state disability insurance?
Only 5 states in the U.S. require companies to provide their employees with disability insurance coverage that includes benefits for accidents or illnesses sustained outside of the workplace. Unfortunately, Arkansas is not among these states.
If you live in Arkansas and are unable to work due to a disabling physical or mental condition, you may be eligible for federal Social Security disability payments; however, Arkansas does not give short-term disability benefits (nor does it provide a state supplement for SSI recipients). If you were injured or ill at work and had long-term consequences, you may be entitled to Arkansas workers' compensation benefits.
Your file is sent to Arkansas' Disability Determination for Social Security Administration after you apply for federal disability benefits through your local Social Security office (DDSSA). This Arkansas state organization determines your medical eligibility for Social Security disability (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
If your initial claim is refused, you must request that the DDSSA reconsider its decision. If your request for reconsideration is denied, you must request a hearing before a Social Security judge. The Office of Hearings Operations at Social Security manages these hearings (OHO). Arkansas has two hearing offices, one in Fort Smith and one in Little Rock, while the Memphis and Shreveport offices serve some Arkansas residents. Your local Social Security office can direct you to the hearing office where you will have your hearing.
What qualifies as disability in Arkansas?
If you have disability insurance provided by your employer, make sure to double-check the criteria in the agreement that qualify you to receive disability benefits when you’re unable to work. Some of these criteria can include the following:
- You are unable to perform the Substantial and Material Duties of your Regular Occupation as shown on the Schedule and;
- You are under the Regular Care of a Physician appropriate for your disabling Sickness or Injury and;
- There is no reasonable simplified worksite modification(s) that would allow you to perform one or more of the Substantial and Material Duties of your regular job.
How can I easily get disability insurance in Arkansas?
Seeking a private disability insurance policy is the best option in Arkansas. Here at Asteya, we offer disability insurance (or disability income insurance as we like to call it) that’s simple, fast, and affordable. Our 100% digital process means we don’t tire you out with proof of income, medical exams, phone interviews, or wait times. Click here to get a quote, or contact us for any inquiries.
Who qualifies for disability insurance in Arkansas?
Most insurances are bought to protect homes, vehicles, and health, but our most valuable asset tends to get neglected: our income. 70% of working Americans live paycheck to paycheck, with little savings to buffer the financial burden of a disability that leaves them unable to work.
At Asteya, we offer a variety of disability income insurance policies. Please visit asteya.world for more details on the eligibility of our product offering.
How much does disability insurance in Arkansas cost?
Protecting your income shouldn’t be a luxury, so here at Asteya, we’ve created affordable and easy solutions that won’t drain what you’re trying to protect (your income!). Our prices start as low as:
- Permanent Disability Income Insurance: starting at $6.05/month
- Sickness & Injury Disability Income Insurance: starting at $5/month
The bottom line
On average, living in the state of Arkansas will cost you $5,383 per month, give or take – that’s a lot of expenses! You've invested a lot of time and hard work in building a life that works for you, and your hard work should not go to waste due to an accident or illness. That’s why you should protect your lifestyle and your income with DI.
If you're still on the fence about whether disability income insurance is for you (hint: it is), here are a few extra points to consider:
- Asteya’s applications are 100% digital . We don't require blood tests or doctor's appointments, unlike other insurers and we'll just ask you a few minutes of questions to determine your best policy.
- Get paid out directly on an approved claim, and spend without restrictions once it's in your bank account.
- We've made our Income Insurance as inclusive and accessible as possible. From corner store employee to corner office executive, our products were created to fit every budget and lifestyle.