10th
OVERALL STATE RANK
Assisted living in Arkansas offers older adults supportive, personalized care in a state known for its Razorbacks pride and Johnny Cash’s musical legacy — along with the scenic beauty of the Ozark and Ouachita Mountains. From charming communities in Fayetteville and Little Rock to quieter towns surrounded by lakes and forests, seniors can enjoy a relaxed pace of life with access to health supervision and help with activities of daily living. In 2026, the average cost of assisted living in Arkansas is $4,304 per month, or $51,648 per year, according to A Place for Mom’s proprietary data.
State scorecard
How we determine rankings
Our 2023 state ranking for assisted living uses A Place for Mom’s proprietary data collected from our community partners. First, we sorted through our metrics and grouped them into three pillars that are key in a quality assisted living experience. We weighted these pillars differently based on insights from our senior living experts. Then, we used these categories and their weighting to determine how each state ranks.
Top ranked Arkansas cities for assisted living overall
Key findings
State highlights
Southern hospitality plays a large role in Arkansas assisted living communities. About 81% of assisted living communities offer guest meals for visiting friends and family, and nearly 93% offer complimentary transportation for residents.
Top ranked Arkansas cities - Services & Amenities
Key findings
Arkansas vs. the national monthly median cost of assisted living
Top ranked Arkansas cities - Affordability
Key findings
Top ranked Arkansas cities - Ratings
I moved my mom to West Shores because of the care needs. She has been enjoying her time and to have the front desk and staff so caring is great. You can tell that everyone is loved and well taken care of.
[Name removed] is the best. It seems like she’s always working. She is not just care giver to a family member, she has become family. [Name Removed] keeps us continually updated . We live out of town and...
It was a very easy transition with my dad. The staff are very helpful. This place is very nice and clean. My dad likes it. That was my main concerned. Their activities are good. The food looks really good.
It was a very easy transition with my dad. The staff are very helpful. This place is very nice and clean. My dad likes it. That was my main concerned. Their activities are good. The food looks really good.
What we like the most about the community is that the people are kind, polite and helpful. Yes, we would recommend Fox Ridge North Little Rock to other families based on the experience so far.
[Name removed] is the best. It seems like she’s always working. She is not just care giver to a family member, she has become family. [Name Removed] keeps us continually updated . We live out of town and...
Staff very responsive to resident needs, activities plentiful, apartment size very good and dining experience much improved in last six months. My wife and I have been at Brookdale for approx 5 months and we...
No place is perfect but The Manor is about as close as an assisted living facility can get. My Mother is happy there and has made many friends even though she hasn't been there very long. Staff is friendly...
First, and the thing that sold us on the place when we toured was that all of your residents appeared happy and comfortable there. The multiple dining options The activity schedule And everyone we've met...
My father in law is extremely happy there and the staff is keeping us well advised. Thank you for helping us find Magnolia Place.
Top notch place Love the people who work there and how they are treating my parents Starting with [name removed]their marketing person who was a nurse for 30 years - she was absolutely phenomenal Too many...
The staff are very attentive to the residents and very roomy apartments. There is enough room that my parents can both navigate around the rooms with their walkers. The meals are excellent, multiple...
The administration seems so friendly and interested in us when we first placed Dad there. Now I get the feeling that we are just a bother. This is not how the nurses and on-the- floor staff are. They are...
The lady in charge of activities is so engaging. She definitely encourages people there to come out of their rooms & participate in fun activities. I also really love the administrators there. They show they...
It definitely felt more comfortable and inviting. The multiple activities each day and the engagement of the residents by the staff make the transition much easier. The people that work actually care about...
According to A Place for Mom’s proprietary data, assisted living in Arkansas in 2026 is an average of $4,304 per month. This amount is calculated using the base rent in our partner communities, and may not include additional fees, such as specialized care services or pet fees. This is slightly lower than the national average assisted living cost of $4,723 per month.
Several factors can affect the cost of assisted living. These include:
The cost of assisted living in Arkansas is comparable to that in other Southeastern states. On average, Arkansas assisted living prices are slightly higher than those in Mississippi, Missouri, and Louisiana, but generally lower than in Oklahoma. Among the state’s major metro areas, Jonesboro tends to offer the lowest costs, while the Ozark town of Mountain Home has the highest.
For seniors who need less care and want to continue an active lifestyle, independent living in Arkansas has an average monthly cost of $3,083.
Read more: Assisted Living vs. Independent Living: What’s the Difference?
Average monthly costs
Arkansas
US National average
Average monthly costs
Average monthly costs
Average monthly costs
| Community type | Arkansas | U.S. | Cost difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assisted Living | $4,368/mo | $4,758/mo | 8.2% below national median |
| Memory Care | $4,392/mo | $5,022/mo | 12.5% below national median |
| Independent Living | $3,121/mo | $4,217/mo | 26.0% below national median |
Let our care assessment guide you
Our free tool provides options, advice, and next steps based on your unique situation.
Seniors and their families have several options to consider when paying for assisted living; most use a combination of different private and public resources, such as retirement funds and veterans benefits. Because costs and eligibility can vary widely, it’s best to plan early to understand which payment options apply to your loved one’s situation. To better understand what may work for your loved one’s situation, consult our guide to paying for long-term care.
Most families use private pay sources such as Social Security benefits, retirement accounts, investment income, or the proceeds from selling a home or other property. Long-term care insurance is also an option, but these policies must be in place prior to needing care.
Read more: Does Long-Term Care Insurance Cover Assisted Living
The United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) offers several benefit programs for elderly veterans and their surviving spouses. Navigating these benefits can be difficult, and some seniors may not know they’re eligible. When you’re exploring veterans benefits, working with a benefits counselor can help you understand the options available for your loved one.
Veterans Services Officers (VSOs) can assist families in navigating their benefits. There’s a VSO in each of Arkansas’ 75 counties. Find a local officer who can provide personalized guidance.
Medicaid is a joint state and federal government program that can help low-income seniors receive the care they need. It won’t directly pay for the cost of room and board in an assisted living community, but it can help cover the cost of some care services, including:
Arkansas Medicaid covers the cost of services like these in two ways: through the Personal Care program, part of the state’s regular Medicaid plan, and through Living Choices, a home- and community-based services waiver program.[02,03]
For more information about Medicaid programs in Arkansas, contact a local office of the Department of Human Services (DHS), or call the state DHS office at 501-682-1001.
Medicare is federal health insurance program that’s available to seniors upon turning 65. Medicare won’t cover room and board in assisted living, it can help to offset any medically necessary costs including medications, some medical equipment, and some health care services.[04]
Arkansas’ Seniors Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) provides free and unbiased information and counseling on Medicare, Medicaid, and more. Learn more and find a local Medicare counselor by calling 800-224-6330.
All assisted living communities in Arkansas must be licensed by the Arkansas’ Department of Human Services, Division of Provider Services and Quality Assurance.[05] Regulations governing assisted living in Arkansas are designed to help protect residents’ health, safety, and rights by setting minimum standards for care, staffing, and living conditions. Compliance helps ensure consistent quality and accountability across communities.
Understanding how assisted living communities are regulated in Arkansas can help you ensure your loved one receives the appropriate type and amount of care.
In Arkansas, assisted living communities are also known as residential care facilities, and are classified as either Level 1 or Level 2. Both types of communities provide room and board and help with ADLs, but level 2 communities also provide health care services and are required to employ or contract with at least one full-time registered nurse (RN) and employ or contract with licensed practical nurses (LPNs). Neither type of facility is permitted to admit seniors who are bedridden or who need 24-hour skilled nursing care.[06,07]
Communities are inspected about every 18 months and are required to renew their license annually.[06,07]
Use the state’s Long Term Care Facility Search tool to find out the status of a community’s license, as well as their administrator. Arkansas doesn’t make its facility inspection reports available online, but you can ask the facility directly or contact the Department of Human Services for inspection records.
State regulations — and a community’s track record with inspections and licensing — offer important insights into safety and quality of care in senior living communities.
Download the Guide to Senior Living Licensure and Inspection Reports to learn what to look for in inspection reports and what questions to ask when touring communities. This resource explains how to use state licensure and inspection information to evaluate a community’s compliance, care standards, and responsiveness to issues.
Let our care assessment guide you
Our free tool provides options, advice, and next steps based on your unique situation.
A Place for Mom. (2026). A Place for Mom proprietary data.
Arkansas Department of Human Services. Personal care.
Arkansas Department of Human Services. Living choices.
U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Get started with Medicare. Medicare.gov.
Arkansas Department of Human Services. Community services licensure and certification.
Arkansas Department of Human Services. (2024, Jan. 1). Rules for assisted living facilities level 1.
Arkansas Department of Human Services. (2024, Jan. 1). Rules for assisted living facilities level 1.
Assisted living state rankings report
The information contained on this page is for informational purposes only and is not intended to constitute medical, legal or financial advice or create a professional relationship between A Place for Mom and the reader. Always seek the advice of your health care provider, attorney or financial advisor with respect to any particular matter, and do not act or refrain from acting on the basis of anything you have read on this site. Links to third-party websites are only for the convenience of the reader; A Place for Mom does not endorse the contents of the third-party sites.
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