Is it cheaper to live in Cleveland or Fort Smith?

Fort Smith, AR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $780 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 17% below Cleveland, OH's $940, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $29,000 a year in Cleveland versus $24,000 in Fort Smith.

Which has lower taxes, Cleveland or Fort Smith?

Cleveland is taxed under Ohio's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% state sales tax); Fort Smith under Arkansas's (a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax).

Cleveland vs Fort Smith Cost of Living 2026

Cleveland

Ohio

$940/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 $940 in Cleveland, OH versus $780 in Fort Smith, AR. Overall, Fort Smith, AR is roughly 17% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Cleveland, OH, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $39,187 in Cleveland, OH and $52,692 in Fort Smith, AR — about 26% higher in Fort Smith, AR. Ohio has a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% state sales tax; Arkansas has a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax.

Cleveland, OH

Fort Smith, AR

Rent

Studio

$678

$634

+6% in Cleveland, OH

1 Bedroom

$732

$603

+18% in Cleveland, OH

2 Bedroom

$903

$863

+4% in Cleveland, OH

3 Bedroom

$1,081

$1,087

+1% in Fort Smith, AR

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$94,100

$168,100

+79% in Fort Smith, AR

Income

Median Household Income

$39,187

$52,692

+34% in Fort Smith, AR

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$50,140

$39,560

+21% in Cleveland, OH

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

36.3 yr

36.6 yr

+0.3 yr in Fort Smith, AR

Homeownership

41.2%

53.0%

+11.8 pp in Fort Smith, AR

Bachelor's+ (25+)

21.3%

25.3%

+4.0 pp in Fort Smith, AR

Avg Commute

22.9 min

17.3 min

+5.6 min in Cleveland, OH

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

1,582

844.7

+47% in Cleveland, OH

Property Crime

4,531.3

3,697.6

+18% in Cleveland, OH

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

52.7°F

61.7°F

+9.0°F in Fort Smith, AR

Annual Precipitation

36.4 in

45.5 in

+9.1 in in Fort Smith, AR

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.80/gal

$3.62/gal

+5% in Cleveland, OH

Area: Ohio vs Gulf Coast (PADD 3).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

19.2

14.1

+26% in Cleveland, OH

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$22.83

$27.86

+22% in Fort Smith, AR

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.00

+7% in Cleveland, OH

Bread (lb)

$1.66

$1.75

+5% in Fort Smith, AR

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

$2.21

+39% in Cleveland, OH

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$6.45

+5% in Cleveland, OH

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$1.90

+9% in Cleveland, OH

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (OH / AR)

5.75%

6.5%

+0.8 pp in AR

Income Tax (top rate)

2.75%

3.90%

+1.1 pp in AR

Cleveland vs Fort Smith — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cleveland or Fort Smith?: Fort Smith, AR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $780 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 17% below Cleveland, OH's $940, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cleveland than in Fort Smith?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $29,000 a year in Cleveland versus $24,000 in Fort Smith.
Which has lower taxes, Cleveland or Fort Smith?: Cleveland is taxed under Ohio's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% 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).