Fort Smith, AR Cost Of Living

Demographics | Crime | Cost Of Living
Updated: 2023-11-15

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 83, with 100 being the average.

  • The cost of living index in Fort Smith is 0.8x lower than the national average.

  • Fort Smith ranks as the #28 cheapest in Arkansas out of 65.

  • Fort Smith ranks as the #491 cheapest out of 6,412 in the US.

  • The median home value in Fort Smith is $137,800.

  • The median income in Fort Smith is $48,033.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
  5. Nearby Comparisons
83
Fort Smith's Overall Cost Of Living
0.8x
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 83, which is 0.8x lower than the national index of 100.

Compared to Arkansas, Fort Smith has a cost of living index that's 0.9x lower than Arkansas's index of 90.

The standard of living in Fort Smith ranks as #28 most affordable out of the 65 places we measured in Arkansas. By definition, that implies Fort Smith ranks as the #37 most expensive place in the Natural State.

For more reading on life in Fort Smith, check out:

28 out of 65
In Arkansas
491 out of 6,412
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 85.

  • The Groceries index in Fort Smith is 92.

  • The Health index in Fort Smith is 79.

  • The Housing index in Fort Smith is 64.

  • The Transportation index in Fort Smith is 96.

  • The Utilities index in Fort Smith is 95.

Living Expense Fort Smith Arkansas National Average
Overall 83 90 100
Services 85 98 100
Groceries 92 94 100
Health 79 85 100
Housing 64 76 100
Transportation 96 90 100
Utilities 95 95 100
For more reading on cost of living around Arkansas, check out:
Fort Smith Cost of Living Vs. AR

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 2017-2021. The key points are:

  • The Median Home Value in Fort Smith is $137,800.

  • The Median Rent in Fort Smith is $740.

  • The Median Income in Fort Smith is $48,033.

  • The Home Value To Income in Fort Smith is 2.9x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in Fort Smith is 0.18x.

Statistic Fort Smith Arkansas United States
Median Home Value $137,800 $142,100 $244,900
Median Rent $740 $803 $1,163
Median Income $48,033 $52,123 $69,021
Home Value To Income 2.9x 2.7x 3.5x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.18x 0.18x 0.2x
Search Homes For Sale In Fort Smith, AR
$137,800
Median Home Value
$740
Median Rent
$48,033
Median Income

Fort Smith, AR Costs By Category

Detailed Fort Smith Services Costs Vs. Arkansas

Item Fort Smith Arkansas
Shampoo $0.88 $1.06
Movie $10.0 $10.68
Bowling $15.0 $14.67
Haircut $17.88 $18.62
Beauty Salon $35.0 $39.05

Detailed Fort Smith Groceries Costs Vs. Arkansas

Item Fort Smith Arkansas
Ground Beef $4.6 $4.22
Fried Chicken $1.01 $1.39
Milk $1.64 $2.05
Potatoes $3.56 $3.29
Pizza $6.66 $10.62
Beer $9.26 $9.38
Toothpaste $1.67 $2.34

Detailed Fort Smith Health Costs Vs. Arkansas

Item Fort Smith Arkansas
Optometrist $67.5 $108.57
Doctor $80.0 $116.17
Dentist $72.5 $99.13

Detailed Fort Smith Transportation Costs Vs. Arkansas

Item Fort Smith Arkansas
Gasoline $2.08 $2.22
Tire Balancing $46.5 $50.07

Detailed Fort Smith Utilities Costs Vs. Arkansas

Item Fort Smith Arkansas
All Electricity $145.38 $167.67
Phone $198.43 $175.64

Fort Smith SnackAbility

3
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
6/10
Housing
6
Affordability
8
Diversity
9
Safety
2
Amenities
8.5
Education
6
Commute
9.5

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 83, 1.0x Fort Smith.

  • Greenwood, AR has a cost of living index of 84, 1.0x Fort Smith.

  • Poteau, OK has a cost of living index of 76, 0.9x Fort Smith.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. Fort Smith
Van Buren, AR 23,213 83 1.0x
Greenwood, AR 9,498 84 1.0x
Poteau, OK 8,741 76 0.9x
Sallisaw, OK 8,503 78 0.9x
Farmington, AR 7,601 90 1.1x
Alma, AR 5,806 86 1.0x

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