Louisiana to Arkansas Moving Guide
Updated June 6, 2025

Planning a 326 mile interstate move from Louisiana to Arkansas? This moving guide will help you compare living in Louisiana vs Arkansas across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high humidity vs more temperate climate), food & health (like Gumbo vs Fried Catfish), real estate & housing (french colonial, creole vs craftsman, ranch), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Louisiana), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Gumbo and Jambalaya, but get your taste buds ready for Fried Catfish & Smoked Pork Ribs
- Arkansas housing costs are 2% more expensive than in Louisiana
- Rent in Arkansas is 0.00% more expensive than in Louisiana
- Moving from Louisiana to Arkansas will cost on average between $1,500 - $5,000
- Our top recommended Louisiana to Arkansas movers is B2 Moving
Louisiana to Arkansas Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Louisiana to Arkansas
- High humidity
- Hurricane risk
- Heavy traffic
- Urban sprawl
- Limited outdoor activities
- More temperate climate
- Reduced natural disasters
- Less congestion
- More green spaces
- Rich natural landscapes
- Fewer cultural events
- Less dining variety
- Limited music venues
- Fewer local festivals
- Less cultural richness
- Cultural diversity
- Eclectic cuisine
- Rich music scene
- Festival variety
- Cajun heritage
Pros of moving from Louisiana to Arkansas
- Say goodbye to high humidity and hello to a more temperate climate
- Look forward to moving away from hurricane risk and moving to Arkansas with reduced natural disasters
- Swap the heavy traffic of Louisiana for less congestion in Arkansas
- Get ready for more green spaces in Arkansas
Cons of moving from Louisiana to Arkansas
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from cultural diversity in Louisiana to live with fewer cultural events in Arkansas
- You'll lose out on the pro of eclectic cuisine and have to settle for the con of less dining variety
- Time to bid farewell to a rich music scene and get used to limited music venues in Arkansas
- Swap festival variety for fewer local festivals
Louisiana vs. Arkansas: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Louisiana | Arkansas |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Gumbo | Fried Catfish |
Most popular meat dish | Jambalaya | Smoked Pork Ribs |
Most popular street food item | Po'boys | BBQ Nachos |
Most popular vegan food | Maque Choux | Black Bean Burgers |
Top 3 iconic restaurants that summarize the state |
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Fitness/Health Conscientiousness | πͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺ | πͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺ |
Abundance of Food Trucks | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Foodie Scene | π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄ | π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄ |
Vegan Friendly | π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π± | π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π± |
If you're moving from Louisiana to Arkansas, you will be trading the iconic Gumbo of Louisiana for the equally delicious Fried Catfish of Arkansas. And while the locals in Louisiana rave about their flavorful Jambalaya and sumptuous Po'boys, Arkansas residents know they have tasty Smoked Pork Ribs and BBQ Nachos to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Maque Choux they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Black Bean Burgers of Arkansas. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Louisiana eateries like Commander's Palace, CafΓ© B, and Willie's Chicken Shack. After the boxes are unpacked in Arkansas, don't wait too long before making your way to Arkansas' acclaimed eateries like Whole Hog CafΓ©, South on Main, and McClard's Bar-B-Q.
When comparing lifestyles, Arkansas shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Louisiana. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Arkansas compared to what you are used to in Louisiana. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in Arkansas.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Louisiana and Arkansas
Comparison | Louisiana | Arkansas |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | French Colonial, Creole | Craftsman, Ranch |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Spacious yards, proximity to water | Energy efficiency, private landscapes |
- The French Colonial and Creole architecture that Louisiana is known for will be replaced with the Craftsman and Ranch architecture typical of Arkansas.
- Compared to Louisiana's real estate listings that commonly reference spacious yards and proximity to water, Arkansas real estate listings often highlight features like energy efficiency and private landscapes.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away; Arkansas is less walkable than Louisiana.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike; Arkansas is more bike-friendly than Louisiana.
- Arkansas has less of an urban feel than Louisiana.
- Arkansas housing costs are 2% more expensive than in Louisiana, with a median home price of $203,305 compared to Louisianaβs $199,091.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Arkansas have increased by 41% compared to a 13% increase in Louisiana.
- Rent in Arkansas is 0.00% more expensive than in Louisiana.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Louisiana and Arkansas
Comparison | Louisiana | Arkansas |
---|---|---|
Days of Sunshine per Year | βοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈ | βοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈ |
Avg. Annual Humidity | π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦ | π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦ |
Avg. UV Index | πΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈ | πΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈ |
Natural Disasters | Hurricanes, floods | Tornados, floods |
Air Quality | Good | Good to Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 91/73 | 92/72 |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 62/42 | 51/32 |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 60 | 50 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 0.2 | 5 |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Louisiana to Arkansas. Arkansas gets 0% more sunshine days than Louisiana.
- Arkansas has lower humidity and a lower average UV index compared to Louisiana.
- Say goodbye to the possible hurricanes and floods in Louisiana, but be on the lookout for potential tornadoes and floods in Arkansas.
- The average summer high temperature in Arkansas is 1 degree warmer than in Louisiana.
- The average winter lows are 10 degrees colder than they are in Louisiana.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Arkansas, as it receives 10 fewer inches of rain compared to Louisiana.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Louisiana and Arkansas
Comparison | Louisiana | Arkansas |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $55,416 | $55,432 |
Cost of Living Index | 96 | 90.5 |
State Income Tax | 2% - 6% | 2% - 5.5% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.53% | 0.61% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 9.45% | 9.47% |
Top 3 Industries | Energy, Petrochemical, Tourism | Agriculture, Manufacturing, Retail |
Affluence | Moderate | Moderate |
Poverty | Above Average | Above Average |
Homelessness | Low | Low |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Arkansas tend to earn about 0% more than in Louisiana
- The COLI in Arkansas is 6% lower than what you are used to living in Louisiana
- The state income tax in Arkansas is 2% to 5.5% compared to 2% to 6% in Louisiana
- The affluence in Arkansas is moderate compared to moderate in Louisiana
- The poverty level is above average in Arkansas compared to above average in Louisiana
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in Louisiana and low in Arkansas
Political and Religious Climate in Louisiana vs. Arkansas
Comparison | Louisiana | Arkansas |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Mixed with a slight Democratic leaning | Primarily Republican |
Local Politics | Significant focus on economic development and healthcare | Emphasis on agricultural policies and education reform |
Religion | Heavily Christian, predominantly Catholic | Primarily Christian, with a significant Baptist population |
- Louisiana tends to lean mixed with a slight Democratic leaning in its political climate
- Arkansas, on the other hand, is often described as primarily Republican
- Arkansas' religious environment can be described as primarily Christian with a significant Baptist population
- Louisiana's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as heavily Christian and predominantly Catholic
Education Guide When Moving from Louisiana to Arkansas
Comparison | Louisiana | Arkansas |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | LSU Tulane University University of Louisiana | University of Arkansas Arkansas State University University of Central Arkansas |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | South Highlands Elementary Magnet Baton Rouge; Lusher Charter School New Orleans; Prairieville Primary School Prairieville | Forest Park Elementary Little Rock; Vandergriff Elementary School Fayetteville; Jones Elementary School Springdale |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Caddo Parish Middle Magnet Shreveport; Lusher Charter School New Orleans; Youngsville Middle School Youngsville | Haas Hall Academy Fayetteville; Fulbright Junior High School Bentonville; Woodland Junior High School Fayetteville |
Top 3 High Schools | Benjamin Franklin High School New Orleans; Baton Rouge Magnet High School Baton Rouge; Haynes Academy for Advanced Studies Metairie | Haas Hall Academy Fayetteville; Bentonville High School Bentonville; Little Rock Central High School Little Rock |
Top 3 private high schools | Isidore Newman School New Orleans; Metairie Park Country Day School Metairie; Episcopal School of Baton Rouge Baton Rouge | Pulaski Academy Little Rock; Shiloh Christian School Springdale; Little Rock Christian Academy Little Rock |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Loyola College Prep Shreveport; Catholic High School Baton Rouge; St. Martin's Episcopal School Metairie | Subiaco Academy Subiaco; Mount St. Mary Academy Little Rock; The Anthony School Little Rock |
Top 3 School Districts | Zachary Community School District Zachary; Central Community School System Baton Rouge; St. Tammany Parish Public Schools Covington | Bentonville School District Bentonville; Fayetteville Public Schools Fayetteville; Rogers School District Rogers |
How Much Do Louisiana to Arkansas Movers Cost?
Moving 326 miles from Louisiana to Arkansas will typically cost between $2,000 and $5,000 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $2,000 - $5,000
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-2 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: B2 Moving
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,387 | 300 ft3 | $4.62 |
1 Bedroom | $2,058 | 450 ft3 | $4.57 |
2 Bedrooms | $3,393 | 750 ft3 | $4.52 |
3 Bedrooms | $4,922 | 1100 ft3 | $4.47 |
4 Bedrooms | $7,079 | 1600 ft3 | $4.42 |
5+ Bedrooms | $7,874 | 1800 ft3 | $4.37 |
Top Louisiana to Arkansas Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Louisiana to Arkansas movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.