Is it cheaper to live in Cranston or Fort Smith?

Fort Smith, AR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $780 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 41% below Cranston, RI's $1,330, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $41,000 a year in Cranston versus $24,000 in Fort Smith.

Which has lower taxes, Cranston or Fort Smith?

Cranston is taxed under Rhode Island's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% state sales tax); Fort Smith under Arkansas's (a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax).

Cranston vs Fort Smith Cost of Living 2026

Cranston

Rhode Island

$1,330/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 $1,330 in Cranston, RI versus $780 in Fort Smith, AR. Overall, Fort Smith, AR is roughly 41% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Cranston, RI, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $87,716 in Cranston, RI and $52,692 in Fort Smith, AR — about 40% higher in Cranston, RI. Rhode Island has a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% state sales tax; Arkansas has a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax.

Cranston, RI

Fort Smith, AR

Rent

Studio

—

$634

1 Bedroom

$1,032

$603

+42% in Cranston, RI

2 Bedroom

$1,438

$863

+40% in Cranston, RI

3 Bedroom

$1,688

$1,087

+36% in Cranston, RI

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$348,800

$168,100

+52% in Cranston, RI

Income

Median Household Income

$87,716

$52,692

+40% in Cranston, RI

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$53,680

$39,560

+26% in Cranston, RI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

40.1 yr

36.6 yr

+3.5 yr in Cranston, RI

Homeownership

67.3%

53.0%

+14.3 pp in Cranston, RI

Bachelor's+ (25+)

35.8%

25.3%

+10.5 pp in Cranston, RI

Avg Commute

23.8 min

17.3 min

+6.5 min in Cranston, RI

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

93.1

844.7

+807% in Fort Smith, AR

Property Crime

1,065.4

3,697.6

+247% 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

51.6°F

61.7°F

+10.1°F in Fort Smith, AR

Annual Precipitation

47.2 in

45.5 in

+1.7 in in Cranston, RI

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$3.62/gal

+8% in Cranston, RI

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

29.2

14.1

+52% in Cranston, RI

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$25.75

$27.86

+8% in Fort Smith, AR

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.00

+7% in Cranston, RI

Bread (lb)

$1.92

$1.75

+9% in Cranston, RI

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$2.21

+1% in Fort Smith, AR

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.90

$6.45

+6% in Cranston, RI

Chicken (lb)

$2.19

$1.90

+13% in Cranston, RI

Bananas (lb)

$0.69

$0.62

+11% in Cranston, RI

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (RI / AR)

6.5%

+0.5 pp in RI

Income Tax (top rate)

5.99%

3.90%

+2.1 pp in RI

Cranston vs Fort Smith — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cranston or Fort Smith?: Fort Smith, AR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $780 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 41% below Cranston, RI's $1,330, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cranston than in Fort Smith?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $41,000 a year in Cranston versus $24,000 in Fort Smith.
Which has lower taxes, Cranston or Fort Smith?: Cranston is taxed under Rhode Island's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% 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).