Bastrop, LA vs Forrest City, AR: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Forrest City, AR has a modeled overall cost index 1.9% lower than Bastrop, LA.

Bastrop, LA · modeled 2BR rent
$840 / month
Forrest City, AR · modeled 2BR rent
$940 / month

These are saved estimates, not current rental listings. Some cities use adjusted regional data. Your household budget can differ from the overall index. Sources and assumptions

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Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Bastrop, LA and Forrest City, AR using saved regional data and explicit budgeting assumptions. Rent estimates are not live listings. Change the salary below, then check the source notes before applying a result to your household.

Saved regional estimates · Sources and assumptions

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Estimated savings: $54.42/month in Forrest City, AR

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $149,347 in Forrest City, AR

Regional cost estimates: Bastrop, LA uses Baton Rouge, LA. Forrest City, AR uses Memphis, TN. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↓ 1.9%
Less expensive
Monthly Impact
$54.42
Savings
Annual Impact
$653
Per year

Assumes 60% of current gross income goes to living costs. The headline uses the category budget below; taxes, moving costs and savings goals are excluded.

Bastrop, LA

Population:9K
Cost Index:
80.3
100 = national average
Typical Home:$79K

Forrest City, AR

Population:12K
Cost Index:
78.8
100 = national average
Typical Home:$66K

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Bastrop, LA

The Pelican State

9K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Louisiana, this city has a population of 9K residents.

Forrest City, AR

The Natural State

12K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Arkansas, this city has a population of 12K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Bastrop, LA vs Forrest City, AR

Assumes 60% of your current gross income is spent on these categories. The headline and totals use this same budget. Rent estimates below are separate reference data. Rounded amounts may differ by $1.

Housing
↓ 10.1%
Bastrop, LA
$2,064
Forrest City, AR
$1,856
Difference
$208
less
Healthcare
↑ 14.0%
Bastrop, LA
$540
Forrest City, AR
$615
Difference
$75.38
more
All Utilities
↑ 11.1%
Bastrop, LA
$557
Forrest City, AR
$619
Difference
$61.65
more
Transportation
↑ 3.8%
Bastrop, LA
$1,338
Forrest City, AR
$1,389
Difference
$51.41
more
Other
↓ 1.1%
Bastrop, LA
$1,891
Forrest City, AR
$1,871
Difference
$20.83
less
Groceries
↓ 1.2%
Bastrop, LA
$1,111
Forrest City, AR
$1,097
Difference
$13.86
less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$640
To$670
↑ $30.00
1 Bed
From$640
To$720
↑ $80.00
2 Bed
From$840
To$940
↑ $100
3 Bed
From$1,150
To$1,180
↑ $30.00
Bastrop, LAZIP-level data

1BR range: $640–$640/mo

Forrest City, ARZIP-level data

1BR range: $720–$720/mo

💡 Note: HUD Fair Market Rents estimate 40th-percentile gross rents, including most tenant-paid utilities. City ZIP summaries are medians of those estimates, not market median rents. Actual prices vary by neighborhood, amenities, and condition. Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents FY2026.

$7,500
Monthly in Bastrop, LA
$7,446
Monthly in Forrest City, AR
$54.42
Difference

Home Values

Bastrop
Forrest City
$79K
Median Value
$66K
↓ -14.4%
YoY Change
↓ -9.9%
↓ -8.1%
5-Year Change
↓ -8.3%

Homes in Forrest City are 16% less expensive than Bastrop

Calculate payment - BastropCalculate payment - Forrest City

Source: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), January 2026

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↓ $1.3K
More taxes
Monthly Difference
$106
Less take-home
Effective Rate Diff
0.8%
Rate difference

Bastrop, LA

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Louisiana State Tax
Effective: 5.2%
$7.8K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 29.8%
$44.8K
Take-Home Pay
$8,770/month
$105.2K

Forrest City, AR

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Arkansas State Tax
Effective: 6.0%
$9.0K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 30.7%
$46.0K
Take-Home Pay
$8,664/month
$104.0K

Additional Tax Information

Bastrop, LA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:9.6%
Property Tax:0.5%

Forrest City, AR Tax Rates

Sales Tax:9.4%
Property Tax:0.6%

💡 Note: Tax calculations are estimates based on 2024/2025 tax brackets for single filers with standard deduction. Actual taxes may vary based on filing status, deductions, credits, and local variations.

Environment

Bastrop
Forrest City
51 Moderate
Air Quality
55 Moderate
48.9%
Good Air Days
34.4%
98 High
Climate Risk
99 High
🌊🌀🌡
Top Hazards
🌊🌡🫨
▲+2.2°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.8°F
51 days
Heat Days >95°F
54 days
▲+2.2°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.8°F
51 days
Heat Days >95°F
54 days

Before moving from Bastrop, LA to Forrest City, AR

Use this comparison to shortlist a move, then check the costs that depend on your household.

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Forrest City, AR for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Bastrop, LA. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
  2. Confirm your income. Check your expected pay with your employer, including any location adjustment. Use “Different salary at destination?” above to compare two incomes. The budget model excludes taxes and one-time moving costs; it is not a take-home-pay calculation.
  3. Price your daily routine. Check the commute from a specific address to work, school or childcare. Add household expenses missing from this model, such as childcare, debt payments and medical needs. Verify local services before signing a lease.
  4. Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Bastrop to Forrest City moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Forrest City, AR by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Bastrop, LA vs Forrest City, AR

How do the cost estimates for Bastrop, LA and Forrest City, AR compare?

Forrest City, AR has a modeled overall cost index 1.9% lower than Bastrop, LA. This is a broad model comparison, not a survey of today's prices or a forecast of your household spending. Some cities use adjusted regional fallback data.

What does the equivalent salary mean?

At a $150,000 salary in Bastrop, LA, the model estimates $149,347 in Forrest City, AR. It allocates 60% of gross income to the origin city’s category budget and applies each destination category’s relative cost. The equivalent salary adds the total category difference to your income. The monthly difference is the same category difference divided by 12; it is not take-home pay or guaranteed savings. Household size, childcare and your actual lease are not inputs to this calculation.

What rent estimates are available for Bastrop, LA and Forrest City, AR?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $840/month in Bastrop, LA and $940/month in Forrest City, AR. Where available, the source is a city median of HUD FY2026 ZIP-level estimates; otherwise a saved metro table is used. City adjustments may also apply. These are not asking rents or available listings. Compare actual properties with the same bedroom count and included utilities.

How should I use this comparison before moving?

Use it to shortlist locations, then replace modeled costs with a current housing quote, employer-confirmed income, commute costs, insurance and your household's other expenses. Add one-time moving costs separately. Source years differ and the saved datasets are not a live price feed. Read the methodology for the formulas and fallback rules.

💰 See how taxes change too — compare take-home pay between Louisiana and Arkansas on TaxTakeHome.com

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