Living Cost Compare
Columbus

Georgia

$1,090/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 $1,090 in Columbus, GA versus $780 in Fort Smith, AR. Overall, Fort Smith, AR is roughly 28% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Columbus, GA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $56,622 in Columbus, GA and $52,692 in Fort Smith, AR — about 7% higher in Columbus, GA. Georgia has a top state income tax rate of 5.19% and a 4% state sales tax; Arkansas has a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax.

Columbus, GA
Fort Smith, AR

Rent

Studio
$826
$634
+23% in Columbus, GA
1 Bedroom
$875
$603
+31% in Columbus, GA
2 Bedroom
$991
$863
+13% in Columbus, GA
3 Bedroom
$1,221
$1,087
+11% in Columbus, GA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$182,300
$168,100
+8% in Columbus, GA

Income

Median Household Income
$56,622
$52,692
+7% in Columbus, GA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$43,540
$39,560
+9% in Columbus, GA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.1 yr
36.6 yr
+1.5 yr in Fort Smith, AR
Homeownership
50.2%
53.0%
+2.8 pp in Fort Smith, AR
Bachelor's+ (25+)
29.7%
25.3%
+4.4 pp in Columbus, GA
Avg Commute
20.2 min
17.3 min
+2.9 min in Columbus, GA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
612.3
844.7
+38% in Fort Smith, AR
Property Crime
2,273.4
3,697.6
+63% 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
65.7°F
61.7°F
+4.0°F in Columbus, GA
Annual Precipitation
46.8 in
45.5 in
+1.3 in in Columbus, GA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.62/gal
+8% in Columbus, GA

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.4
14.1
+14% in Columbus, GA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$38.60
$27.86
+28% in Columbus, GA

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 (GA / AR)
4%
6.5%
+2.5 pp in AR
Income Tax (top rate)
5.19%
3.90%
+1.3 pp in GA

Columbus vs Fort Smith — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Columbus or Fort Smith?
Fort Smith, AR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $780 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 28% below Columbus, GA's $1,090, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Columbus than in Fort Smith?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $35,000 a year in Columbus versus $24,000 in Fort Smith.
Which has lower taxes, Columbus or Fort Smith?
Columbus is taxed under Georgia's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.19% and a 4% 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).