Mount Ida, AR vs Elm City, NC: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Elm City, NC has a modeled overall cost index 36.7% higher than Mount Ida, AR.

Mount Ida, AR · modeled 2BR rent
$880 / month
Elm City, NC · modeled 2BR rent
$980 / 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 Mount Ida, AR and Elm City, 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: $2,447/month in Elm City, NC

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $179,367 in Elm City, NC

Regional cost estimates: Mount Ida, AR uses Tulsa, OK. Elm City, NC uses Raleigh, NC. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↑ 36.7%
More expensive
Monthly Impact
$2,447
Extra cost
Annual Impact
$29.4K
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.

Mount Ida, AR

Population:1K
Cost Index:
61.9
100 = national average
Typical Home:$233K

Elm City, NC

Population:1K
Cost Index:
84.6
100 = national average
Typical Home:$228K

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Mount Ida, AR

The Natural State

1K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Arkansas, this city has a population of 1K residents.

Elm City, NC

The Tar Heel State

1K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in North Carolina, this city has a population of 1K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Mount Ida, AR vs Elm City, 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
↑ 59.5%
Mount Ida, AR
$1,855
Elm City, NC
$2,959
Difference
$1,104
more
Other
↑ 25.0%
Mount Ida, AR
$1,819
Elm City, NC
$2,274
Difference
$455
more
Transportation
↑ 26.6%
Mount Ida, AR
$1,351
Elm City, NC
$1,710
Difference
$360
more
Groceries
↑ 16.8%
Mount Ida, AR
$1,171
Elm City, NC
$1,368
Difference
$197
more
Healthcare
↑ 26.3%
Mount Ida, AR
$678
Elm City, NC
$857
Difference
$179
more
All Utilities
↑ 24.4%
Mount Ida, AR
$626
Elm City, NC
$779
Difference
$153
more

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$630
To$770
↑ $140
1 Bed
From$800
To$780
↓ $20.00
2 Bed
From$880
To$980
↑ $100
3 Bed
From$1,100
To$1,320
↑ $220
Mount Ida, ARZIP-level data

1BR range: $800–$800/mo

Elm City, NCZIP-level data

1BR range: $780–$780/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 Mount Ida, AR
$9,947
Monthly in Elm City, NC
$2,447
Difference

Home Values

Mount Ida
Elm City
$233K
Median Value
$228K
↑ +7.1%
YoY Change
↓ -0.8%
↑ +60.4%
5-Year Change
↑ +44.2%

Homes in Elm City are 2% less expensive than Mount Ida

Calculate payment - Mount IdaCalculate payment - Elm City

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

Mount Ida, 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

Elm City, 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

Mount Ida, AR Tax Rates

Sales Tax:9.4%
Property Tax:0.6%

Elm City, 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

Mount Ida
Elm City
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 Mount Ida, AR to Elm City, 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 Elm City, NC for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Mount Ida, 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 Mount Ida to Elm City moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Mount Ida, AR vs Elm City, NC

How do the cost estimates for Mount Ida, AR and Elm City, NC compare?

Elm City, NC has a modeled overall cost index 36.7% higher than Mount Ida, 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 Mount Ida, AR, the model estimates $179,367 in Elm City, 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 Mount Ida, AR and Elm City, NC?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $880/month in Mount Ida, AR and $980/month in Elm City, 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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