Is it cheaper to live in Burlington or Fort Smith?

Fort Smith, AR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $780 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 49% below Burlington, VT's $1,540, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $51,000 a year in Burlington versus $24,000 in Fort Smith.

Which has lower taxes, Burlington or Fort Smith?

Burlington is taxed under Vermont's rules (a top state income tax rate of 8.75% 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).

Burlington vs Fort Smith Cost of Living 2026

Burlington

Vermont

$1,540/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 $1,540 in Burlington, VT versus $780 in Fort Smith, AR. Overall, Fort Smith, AR is roughly 49% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Burlington, VT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $68,854 in Burlington, VT and $52,692 in Fort Smith, AR — about 23% higher in Burlington, VT. Vermont has a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax; Arkansas has a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax.

Burlington, VT

Fort Smith, AR

Rent

Studio

$1,284

$634

+51% in Burlington, VT

1 Bedroom

$1,275

$603

+53% in Burlington, VT

2 Bedroom

$1,731

$863

+50% in Burlington, VT

3 Bedroom

$2,002

$1,087

+46% in Burlington, VT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$400,200

$168,100

+58% in Burlington, VT

Income

Median Household Income

$68,854

$52,692

+23% in Burlington, VT

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$60,020

$39,560

+34% in Burlington, VT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

26.7 yr

36.6 yr

+9.9 yr in Fort Smith, AR

Homeownership

39.8%

53.0%

+13.2 pp in Fort Smith, AR

Bachelor's+ (25+)

60.5%

25.3%

+35.2 pp in Burlington, VT

Avg Commute

19.2 min

17.3 min

+1.9 min in Burlington, VT

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

497.1

844.7

+70% in Fort Smith, AR

Property Crime

4,408.9

3,697.6

+16% in Burlington, VT

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

46.0°F

61.7°F

+15.7°F in Fort Smith, AR

Annual Precipitation

36.8 in

45.5 in

+8.6 in in Fort Smith, AR

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$3.62/gal

+8% in Burlington, VT

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

24.4

14.1

+42% in Burlington, VT

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$26.07

$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 Burlington, VT

Bread (lb)

$1.92

$1.75

+9% in Burlington, VT

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$2.21

+1% in Fort Smith, AR

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.90

$6.45

+6% in Burlington, VT

Chicken (lb)

$2.19

$1.90

+13% in Burlington, VT

Bananas (lb)

$0.69

$0.62

+11% in Burlington, VT

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (VT / AR)

6.5%

+0.5 pp in AR

Income Tax (top rate)

8.75%

3.90%

+4.8 pp in VT

Burlington vs Fort Smith — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Burlington or Fort Smith?: Fort Smith, AR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $780 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 49% below Burlington, VT's $1,540, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Burlington than in Fort Smith?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $51,000 a year in Burlington versus $24,000 in Fort Smith.
Which has lower taxes, Burlington or Fort Smith?: Burlington is taxed under Vermont's rules (a top state income tax rate of 8.75% 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).