Altus, AR vs Shirley, AR

Altus, AR and Shirley, AR have a very similar cost of living, with only a 4.3% difference in their overall index. Altus scores 60 while Shirley scores 58 on the cost of living index, where 100 represents the national average. The day-to-day expenses for residents in both cities are comparable, though differences emerge when looking at specific categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Altus is $657/month compared to $625/month in Shirley — a 5% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Shirley is more affordable at $92,000 median vs $110,500.

Median household income in Altus is $37,656 compared to $35,938 in Shirley (+4.8%). While Altus is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Altus spend roughly 20.9% of their income on rent, less than the 20.9% in Shirley.