Is Fort Smith expensive to live in?

Fort Smith is among the more affordable of the 158 US cities we track. Its one-bedroom rent of $603 per month ranks #157 of 158 and is 42% lower than the $1,043 median.

What is the average rent in Fort Smith?

Average rent in Fort Smith, AR runs a studio around $634, a one-bedroom around $603, a two-bedroom around $863, a three-bedroom around $1,087 per month (US Census ACS).

How much do you need to earn to live in Fort Smith?

To keep a one-bedroom rent of $603 near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $24,000 a year. The median household income here is $52,692.

How much does it cost to live in Fort Smith per month?

A rough monthly baseline for one person in Fort Smith is about $780 — one-bedroom rent plus typical residential electricity and heating. It excludes food, transport, and healthcare, so a full budget is higher.

Cost of Living in Fort Smith, AR

Population 89,496 · Arkansas

~$780/mo est.1BR $603Home $168,100

Compare with:

The cost of living in Fort Smith, AR is driven mostly by housing. A one-bedroom apartment rents for around $603 a month — 42% lower than the $1,043 median across the 158 large US cities we track. Studios average $634 and two-bedrooms $863.

Median household income here is $52,692, 22% lower than the $67,696 median of the cities we track. Adding typical electricity and heating to one-bedroom rent, a rough monthly baseline for one person is about $780 before food and transport. Arkansas has a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax.

Rent1BR $603

Studio

$634

1 Bedroom

$603

2 Bedroom

$863

3 Bedroom

$1,087

Buying a Home$168,100

Median Home Value

$168,100

Income$52,692

Median Household Income

$52,692

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$39,560

Household income: Census ACS, city. Metro median wage: BLS OEWS, all occupations, 2025 (metro area).

GroceriesSouth

Milk (gal)

$4.00

Bread (lb)

$1.75

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

Average prices, South (BLS, 2026-07-01). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

Utilities14.1¢/kWh

Electricity

14.1¢/kWh

Natural Gas

$27.86/MCF

Residential, state-level averages (EIA, 2026-06-01). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Gas$3.62/gal

Regular Gasoline (Gulf Coast (PADD 3))

$3.62/gal

EIA weekly retail average, week of 2026-08-31.

State Taxes (AR)6.5% sales

State Sales Tax

6.50%

State Income Tax (top rate)

Up to 3.90%

State-level rates. Local sales taxes may add more. Income tax shown is the top marginal rate; most filers pay less.

Crime844.7 violent

Violent Crime (per 100k/yr)

844.7

Property Crime (per 100k/yr)

3,697.6

FBI Crime Data Explorer, Fort Smith Police Department (2024). Offenses per 100,000 residents per year. Agency reporting practices vary, so cross-city comparisons are approximate.

People & LifestyleAge 36.6 yrs

Median Age

36.6 yrs

Homeownership

53.0%

Bachelor's+ (25+)

25.3%

Avg Commute

17.3 min

Climate61.7°F

Avg Annual Temperature

61.7°F

Annual Precipitation

45.5 in

Fort Smith cost of living — FAQ

Is Fort Smith expensive to live in?: Fort Smith is among the more affordable of the 158 US cities we track. Its one-bedroom rent of $603 per month ranks #157 of 158 and is 42% lower than the $1,043 median.
What is the average rent in Fort Smith?: Average rent in Fort Smith, AR runs a studio around $634, a one-bedroom around $603, a two-bedroom around $863, a three-bedroom around $1,087 per month (US Census ACS).
How much do you need to earn to live in Fort Smith?: To keep a one-bedroom rent of $603 near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $24,000 a year. The median household income here is $52,692.
How much does it cost to live in Fort Smith per month?: A rough monthly baseline for one person in Fort Smith is about $780 — one-bedroom rent plus typical residential electricity and heating. It excludes food, transport, and healthcare, so a full budget is higher.

Compare Fort Smith with nearby cities

Fort Smith vs Fayetteville Fort Smith vs Tulsa Fort Smith vs Little Rock Fort Smith vs Springfield Fort Smith vs Norman Fort Smith vs Oklahoma City

Nearby cities

Fayetteville, AR 49 mi Tulsa, OK 104 mi Little Rock, AR 127 mi Springfield, MO 140 mi Norman, OK 172 mi Oklahoma City, OK 176 mi

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981-2010 (climate); EIA (gas, utilities); BLS Average Price Data (groceries) & OEWS (metro wage); transit agencies (fares); FBI Crime Data Explorer (crime); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes). Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + utilities; not a full cost of living.