A+
10%
Overall NAT. AVG.
2%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
27%
Housing NAT. AVG.
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Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.
The cost of living index is based on a national average of 100. For example, if the cost of living is 90, then it is 10% lower than average. If the cost of living is 110, then it is 10% higher than average. The breakdown for each index is as follows: goods & services (33%), groceries (13%), health care (5%), housing (30%), transportation (9%) and utilities (10%). If the cost of living data was unavailable for this city, estimates based upon nearby cities were used.
Index Fort Smith Arkansas National
Cost of living9086100
Goods & Services10298100
Groceries9295100
Health care10188100
Housing7365100
Transportation9690100
Utilities9492100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Fort Smith, AR

Are you thinking about relocating, but curious about the potential cost of living in Fort Smith? Is it more expensive or more affordable than average? Based on the most recent report, the cost of living in Fort Smith stands at 90, making it 10% lower than the national average. The cost of living directly affects the affordability of one's desired lifestyle. Knowing the cost of housing, transportation, groceries and other essentials in the new area allows people to gauge whether they can maintain their preferred standard of living.

The cost of living in Fort Smith aligns closely with the national average when compared to other cities across the nation. Everyday essentials such as groceries, goods and services, health care and utility bills are priced at a level consistent with the average in similar urban areas. Fort Smith residents can anticipate that their daily expenses won't be significantly higher than those in an average city, ensuring that the cost of living remains manageable.

Is Fort Smith Affordable?

Is Fort Smith an affordable place to live? That's a valid question to ask when you're thinking about moving to a new city. After all, how much it costs to live somewhere can be a huge factor in your decision. Affordability can be broken down into 3 common categories. The cost of living index (we talked about it earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a big role in figuring out if a place is affordable. For instance, in Fort Smith, the median home price is 28.1% lower than what most folks pay across the country, and monthly rent prices are 25.9% lower than the usual rates. Income levels in Fort Smith come in at $45,233, which is 18.2% lower than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Fort Smith?

Groceries: Grocery prices have seen substantial hikes in the last 2-3 years, with some markets witnessing food cost increases of over 20% during this period. Conversely, certain markets have experienced only moderate upticks. These variations in food expenses can have a substantial impact on the overall cost of living in any locality. In Fort Smith, the groceries index is 8% lower than the national average.

Subsidies: Certain cities or states may implement government subsidies or assistance programs with the goal of alleviating the cost of living pressures on their residents. These programs encompass a broad spectrum of support mechanisms, including Medicare, Medicaid, housing subsidies, low-income home energy assistance programs, school lunch programs, supplemental nutrition assistance programs, student loans, electric vehicle tax credits, affordable care act subsidies and farming subsidies. Areas offering fewer subsidies may experience a rise in their cost of living.

Taxes: Cities that enforce higher taxes, covering both sales taxes and income taxes, can be a factor contributing to a higher cost of living. Paying more in taxes for everyday essentials like clothing and food inevitably leads to higher expenses. A higher income tax rate can further contribute to an overall elevated cost of living. In Fort Smith, the baseline sales tax rate begins at 6.5%, and income tax rates start at 2%.

Where is the Data From?

The cost of living in Fort Smith, presented above is derived from the C2ER cost of living index, offering a practical method for assessing living cost disparities in urban areas. Published quarterly, this index compiles data from more than 300 independent researchers, encompassing over 60 goods and services in 6 categories. The weightings assigned to cost variances are informed by government survey data tracking the expenditure patterns of professional and executive households. It should be noted that the C2ER index does not include data on sales or income tax rates, however, AreaVibes incorporates tax rates into the overall cost of living score for each area.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Fort Smith is 5% higher than the Arkansas average
  • The cost of living in Fort Smith is 10% lower than the national average
  • Fort Smith housing is 27% lower than the national average
  • Arkansas general sales tax is 27% higher than the national average
  • Arkansas state income tax is 11% lower than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Fort Smith

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Compare Fort Smith, AR Cost of Living

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      Salary Calculator

      This is how much you would need to earn in
      Price difference in compared to
      Cost of living index
      Goods & Services index
      Groceries index
      Health care index
      Housing index
      Transportation index
      Utilities index

      Median Income & Debt-To-Income Ratio

      Median Income Per Year Per Month Max Budget (28% DTI) Max Budget (36% DTI)
      Owners$62,741$5,228$1,464$1,882
      Renters$32,473$2,706$758$974
      The percent of monthly income spent on housing can be a good indicator of the affordability of housing in Fort Smith, AR, as well as the overall cost of living. As a general rule of thumb, the debt-to-income ratio (DTI) for homeowners or renters should be not more than 28 percent of gross income to be spent on housing related costs and not more than 36 percent of income on all expenses, including debts. The median income for Fort Smith homeowners, is $62,741. This would allow for a maximum of $1,464 per month to be spent on housing costs. For renters, the median monthly income is $32,473 which would result in a maximum of $758 to be spent on rental costs.

      Arkansas Sales Tax

      State General Sales Tax With Max Surtax
      Arkansas 6.5% 11.625%

      Arkansas Income Tax

      State Income Tax (Low) Income Tax (High)
      Arkansas 2% 5.5%

      Goods & Services

      Item Fort Smith National avg. Difference
      Haircut $21.65$24.2610.8%
      Beauty Salon $45.00$45.561.2%
      Toothpaste $3.68$3.700.5%
      Shampoo $1.08$1.2815.5%
      Movie $11.50$12.135.2%
      Bowling $14.71$18.0018.3%

      Groceries

      Item Fort Smith National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $5.81$5.840.4%
      Fried Chicken $1.39$1.5711.8%
      Milk $4.52$4.673.2%
      Potatoes $5.22$4.935.9%
      Pizza $10.10$12.0916.4%
      Beer $10.21$10.412.0%

      Health Care

      Item Fort Smith National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $99.78$125.6820.6%
      Doctor $108.55$135.7820.1%
      Dentist $83.89$113.2926.0%
      Ibuprofen $10.16$10.654.6%
      Lipitor $454.89$468.602.9%

      Housing

      Item Fort Smith National avg. Difference
      Home Price $132,800.00$184,700.0028.1%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $1,863.97$2,346.6920.6%
      Apartment Rent $703.00$949.0025.9%

      Transportation

      Item Fort Smith National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.01$3.4613.0%
      Tire Balancing $52.21$59.9212.9%

      Utilities

      Item Fort Smith National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $150.82$193.9922.3%
      Phone $203.29$192.255.7%
      Although the cost of living data is updated regularly, this cost of living information is to be used as estimates only as prices can change on an ongoing basis.

      Nearby cities with low cost of living

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Stoney Point, OK2107227.9%
      Moffett, OK917822.3%
      Long, OK3307822.3%
      Nicut, OK3127921.0%
      Short, OK1827921.0%
      Fort Smith, AR87,788909.7%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Citrus Heights, CA87,66512828.2%
      Repentigny, QC87,645n/a 
      O'Fallon, MO88,1321043.5%
      Palm Coast, FL88,2221077.2%
      Champaign, IL88,288964.0%
      Fort Smith, AR87,788909.7%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.