Fort Smith, AR Cost Of Living
Cost Of Living In Fort Smith, AR Summary
Cost of living in Fort Smith research summary. The cost of living index is set to 100 for the average place in the United States. A cost of living index above 100 means Fort Smith is expensive. An index value below 100 means the city is a relatively cheap place to live.
On a city-by-city basis in Arkansas, home prices and rent have the biggest impact on the cost of living. Here are the key takeaways based on Saturday Night Science:
The cost of living index in Fort Smith is 89, with 100 being the average.
The cost of living index in Fort Smith is 0.9x lower than the national average.
Fort Smith ranks as the #34 cheapest in Arkansas out of 69.
Fort Smith ranks as the #1,060 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.
The median home value in Fort Smith is $189,397.
The median income in Fort Smith is $52,692.
Table Of Contents
Fort Smith's Overall Cost Of Living
Lower Than The National Average
What is the cost of living in Fort Smith, AR?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Fort Smith has an overall cost of living index of 89, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Arkansas, Fort Smith has a cost of living index that's 1.0x higher than Arkansas's index of 85.
The standard of living in Fort Smith ranks as #34 most affordable out of the 69 places we measured in Arkansas. By definition, that implies Fort Smith ranks as the #35 most expensive place in the Natural State.
For more reading on life in Fort Smith, check out:
In Arkansas
In America
Fort Smith Cost Of Living Vs. Arkansas
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Fort Smith. Here is how it fairs on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Fort Smith is 101.
The Groceries index in Fort Smith is 92.
The Health index in Fort Smith is 101.
The Housing index in Fort Smith is 74.
The Transportation index in Fort Smith is 94.
The Utilities index in Fort Smith is 94.
| Living Expense | Fort Smith | Arkansas | National Average | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 89 | 85 | 100 | |
| Services | 101 | 99 | 100 | |
| Groceries | 92 | 95 | 100 | |
| Health | 101 | 89 | 100 | |
| Housing | 74 | 65 | 100 | |
| Transportation | 94 | 90 | 100 | |
| Utilities | 94 | 93 | 100 | |
Fort Smith, AR Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in Arkansas, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2019-2023. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Fort Smith is $189,397.
The Median Rent in Fort Smith is $852.
The Median Income in Fort Smith is $52,692.
The Home Value To Income in Fort Smith is 3.6x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Fort Smith is 0.19x.
| Statistic | Fort Smith | Arkansas | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $189,397 | $218,895 | $303,400 |
| Median Rent | $852 | $914 | $1,348 |
| Median Income | $52,692 | $58,773 | $78,538 |
| Home Value To Income | 3.6x | 3.7x | 3.9x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.19x | 0.19x | 0.21x |
Median Home Value
Median Rent
Median Income
Fort Smith, AR Costs By Category
Detailed Fort Smith Services Costs Vs. Arkansas
| Item | Fort Smith | Arkansas |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.08 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $11.5 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $14.71 | $18 |
| Haircut | $21.65 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $45.0 | $45.56 |
Detailed Fort Smith Groceries Costs Vs. Arkansas
| Item | Fort Smith | Arkansas |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.81 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.39 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.52 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.22 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $10.1 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.21 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.68 | $3.7 |
Detailed Fort Smith Health Costs Vs. Arkansas
| Item | Fort Smith | Arkansas |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $99.78 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $108.55 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $83.89 | $113.29 |
Detailed Fort Smith Transportation Costs Vs. Arkansas
| Item | Fort Smith | Arkansas |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.01 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $52.21 | $59.92 |
Detailed Fort Smith Utilities Costs Vs. Arkansas
| Item | Fort Smith | Arkansas |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $150.82 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $203.29 | $192.25 |
Fort Smith SnackAbility
/10
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Fort Smith
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Fort Smith. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Van Buren, AR has a cost of living index of 91, 1.0x Fort Smith.
Greenwood, AR has a cost of living index of 92, 1.0x Fort Smith.
Poteau, OK has a cost of living index of 84, 0.9x Fort Smith.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Fort Smith |
|---|---|---|---|
| Van Buren, AR | 23,545 | 91 | 1.0x |
| Greenwood, AR | 9,570 | 92 | 1.0x |
| Poteau, OK | 8,903 | 84 | 0.9x |
| Sallisaw, OK | 8,553 | 83 | 0.9x |
| Farmington, AR | 8,469 | 101 | 1.1x |
| Alma, AR | 5,879 | 91 | 1.0x |
