Bentonville, AR vs Wake Forest, NC: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Wake Forest, NC has a modeled overall cost index 6.5% higher than Bentonville, AR.

Bentonville, AR · modeled 2BR rent
$1,520 / month
Wake Forest, NC · modeled 2BR rent
$1,750 / 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 Bentonville, AR and Wake Forest, NC 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 extra cost: $566/month in Wake Forest, NC

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $156,797 in Wake Forest, NC

Regional cost estimates: Bentonville, AR uses Tulsa, OK. Wake Forest, NC uses Raleigh, NC. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↑ 6.5%
More expensive
Monthly Impact
$566
Extra cost
Annual Impact
$6.8K
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.

Bentonville, AR

Population:59K
Cost Index:
86.8
100 = national average
Typical Home:$498K

Wake Forest, NC

Population:54K
Cost Index:
92.4
100 = national average
Typical Home:$505K

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Bentonville, AR

The Natural State

59K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Arkansas, this city has a population of 59K residents.

Wake Forest, NC

The Tar Heel State

54K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in North Carolina, this city has a population of 54K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Bentonville, AR vs Wake Forest, NC

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
↑ 24.4%
Bentonville, AR
$1,955
Wake Forest, NC
$2,431
Difference
$476
more
Healthcare
↑ 11.6%
Bentonville, AR
$604
Wake Forest, NC
$674
Difference
$69.77
more
All Utilities
↑ 9.8%
Bentonville, AR
$558
Wake Forest, NC
$613
Difference
$54.85
more
Other
↓ 2.5%
Bentonville, AR
$1,917
Wake Forest, NC
$1,868
Difference
$48.54
less
Groceries
↑ 3.1%
Bentonville, AR
$1,043
Wake Forest, NC
$1,075
Difference
$32.58
more
Transportation
↓ 1.3%
Bentonville, AR
$1,423
Wake Forest, NC
$1,405
Difference
$18.40
less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$1,140
To$1,530
↑ $390
1 Bed
From$1,260
To$1,600
↑ $340
2 Bed
From$1,520
To$1,750
↑ $230
3 Bed
From$2,110
To$2,210
↑ $100
Bentonville, ARZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,260–$1,260/mo

Wake Forest, NCZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,600–$1,600/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 Bentonville, AR
$8,066
Monthly in Wake Forest, NC
$566
Difference

Home Values

Bentonville
Wake Forest
$498K
Median Value
$505K
↑ +6.6%
YoY Change
↓ -1.8%
↑ +70.5%
5-Year Change
↑ +39.9%

Homes in Wake Forest are 1% more expensive than Bentonville

Calculate payment - BentonvilleCalculate payment - Wake Forest

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↑ $1.9K
Per year
Monthly Difference
$158
More take-home
Effective Rate Diff
1.3%
Rate difference

Bentonville, 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

Wake Forest, NC

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
North Carolina State Tax
Effective: 4.8%
$7.1K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 29.4%
$44.1K
Take-Home Pay
$8,822/month
$105.9K

Additional Tax Information

Bentonville, AR Tax Rates

Sales Tax:9.4%
Property Tax:0.6%

Wake Forest, NC Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.1%
Property Tax:0.8%

💡 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

Bentonville
Wake Forest
51 Moderate
Air Quality
46 Good
48.4%
Good Air Days
61.7%
98 High
Climate Risk
96 High
🌊🌡🌪
Top Hazards
🌊🌡🌪
▲+3.0°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.8°F
61 days
Heat Days >95°F
31 days
▲+3.0°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.8°F
61 days
Heat Days >95°F
31 days

Before moving from Bentonville, AR to Wake Forest, NC

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

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Wake Forest, NC for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Bentonville, AR. 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 Bentonville to Wake Forest moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Wake Forest, NC by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Bentonville, AR vs Wake Forest, NC

How do the cost estimates for Bentonville, AR and Wake Forest, NC compare?

Wake Forest, NC has a modeled overall cost index 6.5% higher than Bentonville, AR. 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 Bentonville, AR, the model estimates $156,797 in Wake Forest, NC. 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 Bentonville, AR and Wake Forest, NC?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,520/month in Bentonville, AR and $1,750/month in Wake Forest, NC. 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 Arkansas and North Carolina on TaxTakeHome.com

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