Bessemer, AL vs Forrest City, AR: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Forrest City, AR has a modeled overall cost index 5.2% lower than Bessemer, AL.

Bessemer, AL · modeled 2BR rent
$1,040 / 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 Bessemer, AL 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

$
Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $202/month in Forrest City, AR

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $147,581 in Forrest City, AR

Regional cost estimates: Bessemer, AL uses Birmingham, AL. Forrest City, AR uses Memphis, TN. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↓ 5.2%
Less expensive
Monthly Impact
$202
Savings
Annual Impact
$2.4K
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.

Bessemer, AL

Population:25K
Cost Index:
83.1
100 = national average
Typical Home:$65K

Forrest City, AR

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

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Bessemer, AL

The Heart of Dixie

25K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Alabama, this city has a population of 25K 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: Bessemer, AL 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
↓ 8.0%
Bessemer, AL
$1,976
Forrest City, AR
$1,819
Difference
$157
less
Groceries
↓ 4.1%
Bessemer, AL
$1,121
Forrest City, AR
$1,075
Difference
$45.97
less
Other
↑ 2.0%
Bessemer, AL
$1,797
Forrest City, AR
$1,834
Difference
$36.73
more
All Utilities
↓ 4.0%
Bessemer, AL
$632
Forrest City, AR
$607
Difference
$25.53
less
Transportation
↓ 0.8%
Bessemer, AL
$1,373
Forrest City, AR
$1,362
Difference
$11.10
less
Healthcare
↑ 0.3%
Bessemer, AL
$601
Forrest City, AR
$603
Difference
$1.80
more

🏛️ Local Income Taxes

Bessemer, AL: Bessemer Occupational Tax$1,500/yr (1.0%)

Forrest City, AR has no local income tax recorded in this dataset.

Local taxes are shown separately and are not included in the living-cost totals. Coverage is incomplete; an absent entry does not establish that no tax applies.

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$840
To$670
↓ $170
1 Bed
From$950
To$720
↓ $230
2 Bed
From$1,040
To$940
↓ $100
3 Bed
From$1,300
To$1,180
↓ $120
Bessemer, ALZIP-level data

1BR range: $950–$950/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 Bessemer, AL
$7,298
Monthly in Forrest City, AR
$202
Difference

Home Values

Bessemer
Forrest City
$65K
Median Value
$66K
↓ -1.6%
YoY Change
↓ -9.9%
↑ +15.2%
5-Year Change
↓ -8.3%

Homes in Forrest City are 3% more expensive than Bessemer

Calculate payment - BessemerCalculate payment - Forrest City

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↓ $1.6K
More taxes
Monthly Difference
$130
Less take-home
Effective Rate Diff
1.0%
Rate difference

Bessemer, AL

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Alabama State Tax
Effective: 5.0%
$7.5K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 29.6%
$44.5K
Take-Home Pay
$8,794/month
$105.5K

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

Bessemer, AL Tax Rates

Sales Tax:9.1%
Property Tax:0.4%

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

Bessemer
Forrest City
57 Moderate
Air Quality
55 Moderate
26%
Good Air Days
34.4%
98 High
Climate Risk
99 High
🌊🌡🌪
Top Hazards
🌊🌡🫨
▲+2.5°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.8°F
41 days
Heat Days >95°F
54 days
▲+2.5°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.8°F
41 days
Heat Days >95°F
54 days

Before moving from Bessemer, AL 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 Bessemer, AL. 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 Bessemer 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: Bessemer, AL vs Forrest City, AR

How do the cost estimates for Bessemer, AL and Forrest City, AR compare?

Forrest City, AR has a modeled overall cost index 5.2% lower than Bessemer, AL. 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 Bessemer, AL, the model estimates $147,581 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 Bessemer, AL and Forrest City, AR?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,040/month in Bessemer, AL 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 Alabama and Arkansas on TaxTakeHome.com

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