Is it cheaper to live in Bismarck or Fort Smith?

Fort Smith, AR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $780 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 19% below Bismarck, ND's $960, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $32,000 a year in Bismarck versus $24,000 in Fort Smith.

Which has lower taxes, Bismarck or Fort Smith?

Bismarck is taxed under North Dakota's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 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).

Bismarck vs Fort Smith Cost of Living 2026

Bismarck

North Dakota

$960/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 $960 in Bismarck, ND versus $780 in Fort Smith, AR. Overall, Fort Smith, AR is roughly 19% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Bismarck, ND, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $77,608 in Bismarck, ND and $52,692 in Fort Smith, AR — about 32% higher in Bismarck, ND. North Dakota has a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5% state sales tax; Arkansas has a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax.

Bismarck, ND

Fort Smith, AR

Rent

Studio

$723

$634

+12% in Bismarck, ND

1 Bedroom

$803

$603

+25% in Bismarck, ND

2 Bedroom

$989

$863

+13% in Bismarck, ND

3 Bedroom

$1,421

$1,087

+24% in Bismarck, ND

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$291,400

$168,100

+42% in Bismarck, ND

Income

Median Household Income

$77,608

$52,692

+32% in Bismarck, ND

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$52,560

$39,560

+25% in Bismarck, ND

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

38.2 yr

36.6 yr

+1.6 yr in Bismarck, ND

Homeownership

65.8%

53.0%

+12.8 pp in Bismarck, ND

Bachelor's+ (25+)

38.7%

25.3%

+13.4 pp in Bismarck, ND

Avg Commute

15.5 min

17.3 min

+1.8 min in Fort Smith, AR

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

278

844.7

+204% in Fort Smith, AR

Property Crime

2,417.1

3,697.6

+53% 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

17.9 in

45.5 in

+27.6 in in Fort Smith, AR

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.85/gal

$3.62/gal

+6% in Bismarck, ND

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.1

about equal

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$18.21

$27.86

+53% in Fort Smith, AR

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.00

+7% in Bismarck, ND

Bread (lb)

$1.66

$1.75

+5% in Fort Smith, AR

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

$2.21

+39% in Bismarck, ND

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$6.45

+5% in Bismarck, ND

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$1.90

+9% in Bismarck, ND

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (ND / AR)

6.5%

+1.5 pp in AR

Income Tax (top rate)

2.50%

3.90%

+1.4 pp in AR

Bismarck vs Fort Smith — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bismarck or Fort Smith?: Fort Smith, AR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $780 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 19% below Bismarck, ND's $960, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bismarck than in Fort Smith?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $32,000 a year in Bismarck versus $24,000 in Fort Smith.
Which has lower taxes, Bismarck or Fort Smith?: Bismarck is taxed under North Dakota's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 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).