Is it cheaper to live in Boise or Fort Smith?

Fort Smith, AR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $780 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 39% below Boise, ID's $1,280, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $45,000 a year in Boise versus $24,000 in Fort Smith.

Which has lower taxes, Boise or Fort Smith?

Boise is taxed under Idaho's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.30% 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).

Boise vs Fort Smith Cost of Living 2026

Boise

Idaho

$1,280/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 $1,280 in Boise, ID versus $780 in Fort Smith, AR. Overall, Fort Smith, AR is roughly 39% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Boise, ID, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $81,308 in Boise, ID and $52,692 in Fort Smith, AR — about 35% higher in Boise, ID. Idaho has a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% state sales tax; Arkansas has a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax.

Boise, ID

Fort Smith, AR

Rent

Studio

$1,021

$634

+38% in Boise, ID

1 Bedroom

$1,133

$603

+47% in Boise, ID

2 Bedroom

$1,342

$863

+36% in Boise, ID

3 Bedroom

$1,749

$1,087

+38% in Boise, ID

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$456,000

$168,100

+63% in Boise, ID

Income

Median Household Income

$81,308

$52,692

+35% in Boise, ID

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,100

$39,560

+19% in Boise, ID

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

38.2 yr

36.6 yr

+1.6 yr in Boise, ID

Homeownership

63.0%

53.0%

+10.0 pp in Boise, ID

Bachelor's+ (25+)

46.6%

25.3%

+21.3 pp in Boise, ID

Avg Commute

19.1 min

17.3 min

+1.8 min in Boise, ID

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

301

844.7

+181% in Fort Smith, AR

Property Crime

1,135.1

3,697.6

+226% 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

52.5°F

61.7°F

+9.2°F in Fort Smith, AR

Annual Precipitation

11.7 in

45.5 in

+33.7 in in Fort Smith, AR

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.27/gal

$3.62/gal

+15% in Boise, ID

Area: Rocky Mountain (PADD 4) vs Gulf Coast (PADD 3).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.4

14.1

+2% in Boise, ID

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$11.33

$27.86

+146% in Fort Smith, AR

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.82

$4.00

+17% in Boise, ID

Bread (lb)

$2.04

$1.75

+14% in Boise, ID

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$2.21

+1% in Fort Smith, AR

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.45

+12% in Boise, ID

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

$1.90

+6% in Boise, ID

Bananas (lb)

$0.70

$0.62

+12% in Boise, ID

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (ID / AR)

6.5%

+0.5 pp in AR

Income Tax (top rate)

5.30%

3.90%

+1.4 pp in ID

Boise vs Fort Smith — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Boise or Fort Smith?: Fort Smith, AR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $780 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 39% below Boise, ID's $1,280, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Boise than in Fort Smith?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $45,000 a year in Boise versus $24,000 in Fort Smith.
Which has lower taxes, Boise or Fort Smith?: Boise is taxed under Idaho's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.30% 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).