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 86, 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 #26 most affordable out of the 70 places we measured in Arkansas. By definition, that implies Fort Smith ranks as the #44 most expensive place in the Natural State.
For more reading on life in Fort Smith, check out:
Fort Smith Cost Of Living Vs. Arkansas
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Fort Smith. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Fort Smith is 93.
The Groceries index in Fort Smith is 97.
The Health index in Fort Smith is 74.
The Housing index in Fort Smith is 97.
The Transportation index in Fort Smith is 90.
The Utilities index in Fort Smith is 95.
| Living Expense | Fort Smith | Arkansas | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 86 | 85 | 100 |
| Services | 93 | 95 | 100 |
| Groceries | 97 | 93 | 100 |
| Health | 74 | 68 | 100 |
| Housing | 97 | 96 | 100 |
| Transportation | 90 | 92 | 100 |
| Utilities | 95 | 92 | 100 |
Fort Smith Cost Of Living Compared To Arkansas Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around Arkansas, check out:
Protect your home budget Compare home warranties in Fort Smith Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 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 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Fort Smith is $193,976.
The Median Rent in Fort Smith is $884.
The Median Income in Fort Smith is $54,816.
The Home Value To Income in Fort Smith is 3.5x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Fort Smith is 0.19x.
| Statistic | Fort Smith | Arkansas | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $193,976 | $222,050 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $884 | $947 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $54,816 | $60,773 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 3.5x | 3.7x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.19x | 0.19x | 0.21x |
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
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 85, 1.0x Fort Smith.
Greenwood, AR has a cost of living index of 89, 1.0x Fort Smith.
Farmington, AR has a cost of living index of 97, 1.1x Fort Smith.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Fort Smith |
|---|---|---|---|
| Van Buren, AR | 23,763 | 85 | 1.0x |
| Greenwood, AR | 9,616 | 89 | 1.0x |
| Farmington, AR | 9,094 | 97 | 1.1x |
| Poteau, OK | 8,959 | 84 | 1.0x |
| Sallisaw, OK | 8,605 | 83 | 1.0x |
| Alma, AR | 5,906 | 89 | 1.0x |
| Barling, AR | 5,007 | 86 | 1.0x |
