Bentonville, AR vs Van Buren, AR

The cost of living difference between Bentonville, AR and Van Buren, AR is dramatic. Van Buren is 44.2% cheaper than Bentonville, a gap that translates to thousands of dollars per year in household expenses. Bentonville has a cost index of 100 while Van Buren sits at 69, making this one of the more striking comparisons on our site. Relocating between these cities would require a serious reassessment of budget and lifestyle expectations.

On the housing front, median rent in Bentonville is $1,238/month compared to $820/month in Van Buren — a 51% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Van Buren is more affordable at $178,000 median vs $370,700.

Median household income in Bentonville is $108,465 compared to $59,420 in Van Buren (+82.5%). While Bentonville is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Bentonville spend roughly 13.7% of their income on rent, less than the 16.6% in Van Buren.