Alma, AR vs Bay, AR

Bay is moderately more affordable than Alma, with a 9.1% lower cost of living index. Alma scores 76 compared to 70 for Bay, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Alma can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Alma is $992/month compared to $1,013/month in Bay — a 2% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Alma has cheaper rent, Bay actually has lower median home values ($109,000 vs $197,200).

Median household income in Alma is $58,320 compared to $58,000 in Bay (+0.6%). Alma does offer higher incomes, but the salary premium barely offsets the higher cost of living, leaving residents with a tighter budget. Looking at affordability, residents of Alma spend roughly 20.4% of their income on rent, less than the 21% in Bay.