Is it cheaper to live in Aberdeen or Fort Smith?

Aberdeen, SD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $740 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 5% below Fort Smith, AR's $780, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $23,000 a year in Aberdeen versus $24,000 in Fort Smith.

Which has lower taxes, Aberdeen or Fort Smith?

Aberdeen is taxed under South Dakota's rules (no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax); Fort Smith under Arkansas's (a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax).

Aberdeen vs Fort Smith Cost of Living 2026

Aberdeen

South Dakota

$740/mo est.

Fort Smith

Arkansas

$780/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $740 in Aberdeen, SD versus $780 in Fort Smith, AR. Overall, Aberdeen, SD is roughly 5% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Fort Smith, AR, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $63,715 in Aberdeen, SD and $52,692 in Fort Smith, AR — about 17% higher in Aberdeen, SD. South Dakota has no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax; Arkansas has a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax.

Aberdeen, SD

Fort Smith, AR

Rent

Studio

$529

$634

+20% in Fort Smith, AR

1 Bedroom

$576

$603

+5% in Fort Smith, AR

2 Bedroom

$824

$863

+5% in Fort Smith, AR

3 Bedroom

$924

$1,087

+18% in Fort Smith, AR

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$205,500

$168,100

+18% in Aberdeen, SD

Income

Median Household Income

$63,715

$52,692

+17% in Aberdeen, SD

Metro Median Wage (annual)

—

$39,560

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.8 yr

36.6 yr

+0.8 yr in Fort Smith, AR

Homeownership

58.4%

53.0%

+5.4 pp in Aberdeen, SD

Bachelor's+ (25+)

33.6%

25.3%

+8.3 pp in Aberdeen, SD

Avg Commute

11.1 min

17.3 min

+6.2 min in Fort Smith, AR

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

275

844.7

+207% in Fort Smith, AR

Property Crime

1,421.2

3,697.6

+160% in Fort Smith, AR

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

43.0°F

61.7°F

+18.7°F in Fort Smith, AR

Annual Precipitation

21.7 in

45.5 in

+23.7 in in Fort Smith, AR

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.85/gal

$3.62/gal

+6% in Aberdeen, SD

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Gulf Coast (PADD 3).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.4

14.1

+8% in Aberdeen, SD

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$15.26

$27.86

+83% in Fort Smith, AR

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.00

+7% in Aberdeen, SD

Bread (lb)

$1.66

$1.75

+5% in Fort Smith, AR

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

$2.21

+39% in Aberdeen, SD

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$6.45

+5% in Aberdeen, SD

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$1.90

+9% in Aberdeen, SD

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

about equal

Average prices — Midwest vs South (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (SD / AR)

4.2%

6.5%

+2.3 pp in AR

Income Tax (top rate)

None

3.90%

+3.9 pp in AR

Aberdeen vs Fort Smith — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Aberdeen or Fort Smith?: Aberdeen, SD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $740 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 5% below Fort Smith, AR's $780, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Aberdeen than in Fort Smith?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $23,000 a year in Aberdeen versus $24,000 in Fort Smith.
Which has lower taxes, Aberdeen or Fort Smith?: Aberdeen is taxed under South Dakota's rules (no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax); Fort Smith under Arkansas's (a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).