Chester, SC vs Barling, AR: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Barling, AR has a modeled overall cost index 7.4% lower than Chester, SC.

Chester, SC · modeled 2BR rent
$990 / month
Barling, AR · modeled 2BR rent
$1,070 / 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

Adjust your income and compare the budget ↓
Tap to swap

Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Chester, SC and Barling, 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: $572/month in Barling, AR

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $143,134 in Barling, AR

Regional cost estimates: Chester, SC uses Charlotte, NC. Barling, AR uses Tulsa, OK. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↓ 7.4%
Less expensive
Monthly Impact
$572
Savings
Annual Impact
$6.9K
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.

Chester, SC

Population:5K
Cost Index:
85.4
100 = national average
Typical Home:$182K

Barling, AR

Population:5K
Cost Index:
79.1
100 = national average
Typical Home:$187K

Planning the move to Barling?

Organize packing, address changes, and moving-day tasks with a free checklist. Your progress saves in this browser. No account needed.

Plan my move with the free checklist

Chester, SC

The Palmetto State

5K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in South Carolina, this city has a population of 5K residents.

Barling, AR

The Natural State

5K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Arkansas, this city has a population of 5K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Chester, SC vs Barling, 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
↓ 20.7%
Chester, SC
$2,246
Barling, AR
$1,781
Difference
$465
less
Healthcare
↓ 16.2%
Chester, SC
$687
Barling, AR
$576
Difference
$111
less
Transportation
↑ 6.7%
Chester, SC
$1,215
Barling, AR
$1,297
Difference
$81.55
more
Groceries
↓ 6.6%
Chester, SC
$1,066
Barling, AR
$995
Difference
$70.60
less
All Utilities
↓ 4.8%
Chester, SC
$559
Barling, AR
$532
Difference
$27.02
less
Other
↑ 1.2%
Chester, SC
$1,726
Barling, AR
$1,746
Difference
$20.18
more

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$760
To$790
↑ $30.00
1 Bed
From$760
To$820
↑ $60.00
2 Bed
From$990
To$1,070
↑ $80.00
3 Bed
From$1,380
To$1,450
↑ $70.00
Chester, SCZIP-level data

1BR range: $760–$760/mo

Barling, ARZIP-level data

1BR range: $820–$820/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 Chester, SC
$6,928
Monthly in Barling, AR
$572
Difference

Home Values

Chester
Barling
$182K
Median Value
$187K
↓ -3.8%
YoY Change
↑ +2.2%
↑ +39.9%
5-Year Change
↑ +37.5%

Homes in Barling are 3% more expensive than Chester

Calculate payment - ChesterCalculate payment - Barling

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↑ $935
Per year
Monthly Difference
$77.88
More take-home
Effective Rate Diff
0.6%
Rate difference

Chester, SC

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
South Carolina State Tax
Effective: 6.6%
$10.0K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 31.3%
$47.0K
Take-Home Pay
$8,586/month
$103.0K

Barling, 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

Chester, SC Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.4%
Property Tax:0.6%

Barling, 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

Chester
Barling
51 Moderate
Air Quality
51 Moderate
46.2%
Good Air Days
48.4%
97 High
Climate Risk
98 High
🌊🌪💨
Top Hazards
🌊🌡🌪
▲+2.9°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.0°F
36 days
Heat Days >95°F
61 days
▲+2.9°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.0°F
36 days
Heat Days >95°F
61 days

Before moving from Chester, SC to Barling, 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 Barling, AR for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Chester, SC. 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 Chester to Barling moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Chester, SC vs Barling, AR

How do the cost estimates for Chester, SC and Barling, AR compare?

Barling, AR has a modeled overall cost index 7.4% lower than Chester, SC. 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 Chester, SC, the model estimates $143,134 in Barling, 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 Chester, SC and Barling, AR?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $990/month in Chester, SC and $1,070/month in Barling, 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 South Carolina and Arkansas on TaxTakeHome.com

Similar cost to Barling, AR

Other cities in a similar price range

San Antonio, TXIndianapolis, INColumbus, OH

Want to compare different cities?

New Comparison