True Cost of Renting in Jonesboro, AR

Jonesboro is the regional hub of Northeast Arkansas — home to Arkansas State University (14,000 students), St. Bernards Healthcare, and a diverse manufacturing base including Unilever, Hytrol Conveyor, and other industrial employers. Located on the edge of the Mississippi Delta flatlands, it serves as the commercial center for an agricultural region.

Neighborhoods & Average Rents

Downtown Jonesboro / Main Street

Studio:
$800/mo
1 Bed:
$950/mo
2 Bed:
$1,300/mo

Revitalized downtown with walkable restaurants and arts venues; loft apartments in older buildings. Entergy Arkansas electric. Most walkable area in Jonesboro. ASU adjacent with bus access.

ASU Campus Area

Studio:
$750/mo
1 Bed:
$900/mo
2 Bed:
$1,200/mo

Student neighborhood; older apartments and house rentals at lower rents. August synchronized leases. Walking distance to Aggie football stadium. Lower rents reflect older housing stock.

West Jonesboro / Caraway Road

1 Bed:
$1,000/mo
2 Bed:
$1,400/mo

Suburban growth corridor west of downtown; newer apartment communities with amenities. Car-dependent. Good US-49 access. Closer to manufacturing employment corridor.

Utility Providers

Electric
Entergy Arkansas / City of Jonesboro Water & Light
Water
City of Jonesboro Water & Light
Internet
Comcast Xfinity, AT&T Internet, Brightspeed

Commute & Transportation

US-63 connects Jonesboro to Batesville (50 miles south) and I-55/Memphis (80 miles east). US-49 runs north-south. I-555 provides limited expressway access to I-40. ASU employs 2,000 non-student staff. St. Bernards Healthcare is the largest non-university employer. Memphis is the nearest major metro. Jonesboro Municipal Airport handles small charter aircraft.

Rental Market Overview

Jonesboro is one of Arkansas's most affordable rental markets — median 1BR runs $850–1,000/month. City of Jonesboro Water & Light provides competitive utility rates. ASU creates August-synchronized student demand. The manufacturing base (Unilever, Hytrol, and agricultural processing) creates stable blue-collar employment. Medical professionals at St. Bernards find Jonesboro affordability compelling relative to larger metro alternatives. Arkansas has no state-level rent control. Jonesboro sits on the western edge of the Mississippi Delta, and its flat, agricultural surroundings mean the local economy runs on a different seasonal rhythm than the Ozark cities in the northwest corner of the state — harvest season brings a real, temporary surge in agricultural and processing employment each fall. Memphis is close enough (about 80 miles) that some Jonesboro renters make the drive occasionally rather than relocating, though it is too far for a daily commute at normal traffic speeds.

Data last updated: 2026-04

Compare Apartments in Jonesboro

Enter your rental options below to see the true all-in monthly cost.

Renting in Jonesboro: Common Questions

What is the average rent in Jonesboro?
One-bedroom apartments in Jonesboro range from $900/month in ASU Campus Area to $1,000/month in West Jonesboro / Caraway Road. Two-bedroom units range from $1,200 to $1,400/month. These are base rents — add fees, utilities, and amenity costs to get the true all-in monthly cost.
What utilities do I need to set up in Jonesboro?
In Jonesboro, electricity is provided by Entergy Arkansas / City of Jonesboro Water & Light, water by City of Jonesboro Water & Light, and common internet providers include Comcast Xfinity, AT&T Internet, Brightspeed. Ask the leasing office for the specific unit's average monthly bill rather than a city-wide figure — utility costs vary more by building age and insulation than by location within Jonesboro.
What neighborhoods are affordable in Jonesboro?
ASU Campus Area is the most affordable of the 3 Jonesboro neighborhoods covered here, at $900/month for a one-bedroom — $100 less than West Jonesboro / Caraway Road, roughly a 10% gap. That swing is often bigger than any fee or amenity difference between two buildings in the same neighborhood, which is why comparing across neighborhoods matters as much as comparing within one.
Is Jonesboro expensive to rent in?
Across the 3 neighborhoods covered here, the average one-bedroom in Jonesboro runs about $950/month before fees, utilities, and amenities are added — and those add-ons are exactly what a bare average hides. Jonesboro is one of Arkansas's most affordable rental markets — median 1BR runs $850–1,000/month. Run the specific units you are considering through RentCompare to see the true all-in monthly cost rather than relying on an area average.

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