Living Cost Compare
Cambridge

Massachusetts

$2,810/mo est.

vs
Fort Smith

Arkansas

$780/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $2,810 in Cambridge, MA versus $780 in Fort Smith, AR. Overall, Fort Smith, AR is roughly 72% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Cambridge, MA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $126,469 in Cambridge, MA and $52,692 in Fort Smith, AR — about 58% higher in Cambridge, MA. Massachusetts has a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax; Arkansas has a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax.

Cambridge, MA
Fort Smith, AR

Rent

Studio
$2,236
$634
+72% in Cambridge, MA
1 Bedroom
$2,496
$603
+76% in Cambridge, MA
2 Bedroom
$2,980
$863
+71% in Cambridge, MA
3 Bedroom
$3,325
$1,087
+67% in Cambridge, MA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$1,040,500
$168,100
+84% in Cambridge, MA

Income

Median Household Income
$126,469
$52,692
+58% in Cambridge, MA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$66,620
$39,560
+41% in Cambridge, MA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
30.5 yr
36.6 yr
+6.1 yr in Fort Smith, AR
Homeownership
33.7%
53.0%
+19.3 pp in Fort Smith, AR
Bachelor's+ (25+)
80.2%
25.3%
+54.9 pp in Cambridge, MA
Avg Commute
26.1 min
17.3 min
+8.8 min in Cambridge, MA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
436.7
844.7
+93% in Fort Smith, AR
Property Crime
2,657.6
3,697.6
+39% 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
51.5°F
61.7°F
+10.2°F in Fort Smith, AR
Annual Precipitation
43.8 in
45.5 in
+1.7 in in Fort Smith, AR

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.07/gal
$3.62/gal
+11% in Cambridge, MA

Area: Massachusetts vs Gulf Coast (PADD 3).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
29.6
14.1
+52% in Cambridge, MA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$30.66
$27.86
+9% in Cambridge, MA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.00
+7% in Cambridge, MA
Bread (lb)
$1.92
$1.75
+9% in Cambridge, MA
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.21
+1% in Fort Smith, AR
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.90
$6.45
+6% in Cambridge, MA
Chicken (lb)
$2.19
$1.90
+13% in Cambridge, MA
Bananas (lb)
$0.69
$0.62
+11% in Cambridge, MA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MA / AR)
6.25%
6.5%
+0.3 pp in AR
Income Tax (top rate)
9.00%
3.90%
+5.1 pp in MA

Cambridge vs Fort Smith — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cambridge or Fort Smith?
Fort Smith, AR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $780 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 72% below Cambridge, MA's $2,810, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cambridge than in Fort Smith?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $100,000 a year in Cambridge versus $24,000 in Fort Smith.
Which has lower taxes, Cambridge or Fort Smith?
Cambridge is taxed under Massachusetts's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% 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).