Is it cheaper to live in Bangor or Fort Smith?

Fort Smith, AR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $780 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 36% below Bangor, ME's $1,210, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Bangor versus $24,000 in Fort Smith.

Which has lower taxes, Bangor or Fort Smith?

Bangor is taxed under Maine's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Fort Smith under Arkansas's (a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax).

Bangor vs Fort Smith Cost of Living 2026

Bangor

Maine

$1,210/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 $1,210 in Bangor, ME versus $780 in Fort Smith, AR. Overall, Fort Smith, AR is roughly 36% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Bangor, ME, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $58,096 in Bangor, ME and $52,692 in Fort Smith, AR — about 9% higher in Bangor, ME. Maine has a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax; Arkansas has a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax.

Bangor, ME

Fort Smith, AR

Rent

Studio

$800

$634

+21% in Bangor, ME

1 Bedroom

$889

$603

+32% in Bangor, ME

2 Bedroom

$1,136

$863

+24% in Bangor, ME

3 Bedroom

$1,224

$1,087

+11% in Bangor, ME

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$206,300

$168,100

+19% in Bangor, ME

Income

Median Household Income

$58,096

$52,692

+9% in Bangor, ME

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$47,960

$39,560

+18% in Bangor, ME

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

40.7 yr

36.6 yr

+4.1 yr in Bangor, ME

Homeownership

46.9%

53.0%

+6.1 pp in Fort Smith, AR

Bachelor's+ (25+)

36.3%

25.3%

+11.0 pp in Bangor, ME

Avg Commute

17.0 min

17.3 min

+0.3 min in Fort Smith, AR

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

161.4

844.7

+423% in Fort Smith, AR

Property Crime

4,259.8

3,697.6

+13% in Bangor, ME

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

44.3°F

61.7°F

+17.4°F in Fort Smith, AR

Annual Precipitation

41.9 in

45.5 in

+3.5 in in Fort Smith, AR

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$3.62/gal

+8% in Bangor, ME

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

29.6

14.1

+52% in Bangor, ME

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$31.62

$27.86

+12% in Bangor, ME

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.00

+7% in Bangor, ME

Bread (lb)

$1.92

$1.75

+9% in Bangor, ME

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$2.21

+1% in Fort Smith, AR

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.90

$6.45

+6% in Bangor, ME

Chicken (lb)

$2.19

$1.90

+13% in Bangor, ME

Bananas (lb)

$0.69

$0.62

+11% in Bangor, ME

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (ME / AR)

5.5%

6.5%

+1.0 pp in AR

Income Tax (top rate)

7.15%

3.90%

+3.3 pp in ME

Bangor vs Fort Smith — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bangor or Fort Smith?: Fort Smith, AR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $780 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 36% below Bangor, ME's $1,210, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bangor than in Fort Smith?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Bangor versus $24,000 in Fort Smith.
Which has lower taxes, Bangor or Fort Smith?: Bangor is taxed under Maine's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% 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).