Is it cheaper to live in Allentown or Fort Smith?

Fort Smith, AR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $780 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 42% below Allentown, PA's $1,340, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $44,000 a year in Allentown versus $24,000 in Fort Smith.

Which has lower taxes, Allentown or Fort Smith?

Allentown is taxed under Pennsylvania's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax); Fort Smith under Arkansas's (a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax).

Allentown vs Fort Smith Cost of Living 2026

Allentown

Pennsylvania

$1,340/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 $1,340 in Allentown, PA versus $780 in Fort Smith, AR. Overall, Fort Smith, AR is roughly 42% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Allentown, PA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $53,403 in Allentown, PA and $52,692 in Fort Smith, AR — about 1% higher in Allentown, PA. Pennsylvania has a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax; Arkansas has a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax.

Allentown, PA

Fort Smith, AR

Rent

Studio

$1,043

$634

+39% in Allentown, PA

1 Bedroom

$1,100

$603

+45% in Allentown, PA

2 Bedroom

$1,271

$863

+32% in Allentown, PA

3 Bedroom

$1,431

$1,087

+24% in Allentown, PA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$188,900

$168,100

+11% in Allentown, PA

Income

Median Household Income

$53,403

$52,692

+1% in Allentown, PA

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$48,990

$39,560

+19% in Allentown, PA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

32.4 yr

36.6 yr

+4.2 yr in Fort Smith, AR

Homeownership

42.3%

53.0%

+10.7 pp in Fort Smith, AR

Bachelor's+ (25+)

19.4%

25.3%

+5.9 pp in Fort Smith, AR

Avg Commute

24.8 min

17.3 min

+7.5 min in Allentown, PA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

274.5

844.7

+208% in Fort Smith, AR

Property Crime

1,591.5

3,697.6

+132% 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

51.2°F

61.7°F

+10.5°F in Fort Smith, AR

Annual Precipitation

45.4 in

45.5 in

+0.1 in in Fort Smith, AR

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$3.62/gal

+8% in Allentown, PA

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Gulf Coast (PADD 3).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

21.7

14.1

+35% in Allentown, PA

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$26.08

$27.86

+7% in Fort Smith, AR

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.00

+7% in Allentown, PA

Bread (lb)

$1.92

$1.75

+9% in Allentown, PA

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$2.21

+1% in Fort Smith, AR

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.90

$6.45

+6% in Allentown, PA

Chicken (lb)

$2.19

$1.90

+13% in Allentown, PA

Bananas (lb)

$0.69

$0.62

+11% in Allentown, PA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (PA / AR)

6.5%

+0.5 pp in AR

Income Tax (top rate)

3.07%

3.90%

+0.8 pp in AR

Allentown vs Fort Smith — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Allentown or Fort Smith?: Fort Smith, AR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $780 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 42% below Allentown, PA's $1,340, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Allentown than in Fort Smith?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $44,000 a year in Allentown versus $24,000 in Fort Smith.
Which has lower taxes, Allentown or Fort Smith?: Allentown is taxed under Pennsylvania's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% 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).