Living Cost Compare
Charleston

West Virginia

$850/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 $850 in Charleston, WV versus $780 in Fort Smith, AR. Overall, Fort Smith, AR is roughly 8% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Charleston, WV, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $64,512 in Charleston, WV and $52,692 in Fort Smith, AR — about 18% higher in Charleston, WV. West Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax; Arkansas has a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax.

Charleston, WV
Fort Smith, AR

Rent

Studio
$630
$634
+1% in Fort Smith, AR
1 Bedroom
$668
$603
+10% in Charleston, WV
2 Bedroom
$980
$863
+12% in Charleston, WV
3 Bedroom
$1,139
$1,087
+5% in Charleston, WV

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$187,300
$168,100
+10% in Charleston, WV

Income

Median Household Income
$64,512
$52,692
+18% in Charleston, WV
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$45,830
$39,560
+14% in Charleston, WV

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
42.6 yr
36.6 yr
+6.0 yr in Charleston, WV
Homeownership
62.8%
53.0%
+9.8 pp in Charleston, WV
Bachelor's+ (25+)
44.1%
25.3%
+18.8 pp in Charleston, WV
Avg Commute
17.9 min
17.3 min
+0.6 min in Charleston, WV

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
542.7
844.7
+56% in Fort Smith, AR
Property Crime
3,148
3,697.6
+17% 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
55.7°F
61.7°F
+6.0°F in Fort Smith, AR
Annual Precipitation
44.0 in
45.5 in
+1.4 in in Fort Smith, AR

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.62/gal
+8% in Charleston, WV

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.4
14.1
+9% in Charleston, WV
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$24.68
$27.86
+13% in Fort Smith, AR

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.00
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.75
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.21
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.45
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$1.90
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (WV / AR)
6%
6.5%
+0.5 pp in AR
Income Tax (top rate)
4.82%
3.90%
+0.9 pp in WV

Charleston vs Fort Smith — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Charleston or Fort Smith?
Fort Smith, AR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $780 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 8% below Charleston, WV's $850, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Charleston than in Fort Smith?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $27,000 a year in Charleston versus $24,000 in Fort Smith.
Which has lower taxes, Charleston or Fort Smith?
Charleston is taxed under West Virginia's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.82% 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).