Is it cheaper to live in Denver or Fort Smith?

Fort Smith, AR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $780 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 56% below Denver, CO's $1,760, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $63,000 a year in Denver versus $24,000 in Fort Smith.

Which has lower taxes, Denver or Fort Smith?

Denver is taxed under Colorado's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax); Fort Smith under Arkansas's (a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax).

Denver vs Fort Smith Cost of Living 2026

Denver

Colorado

$1,760/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 $1,760 in Denver, CO versus $780 in Fort Smith, AR. Overall, Fort Smith, AR is roughly 56% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Denver, CO, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $91,681 in Denver, CO and $52,692 in Fort Smith, AR — about 43% higher in Denver, CO. Colorado has a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax; Arkansas has a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax.

Denver, CO

Fort Smith, AR

Rent

Studio

$1,497

$634

+58% in Denver, CO

1 Bedroom

$1,583

$603

+62% in Denver, CO

2 Bedroom

$1,958

$863

+56% in Denver, CO

3 Bedroom

$2,269

$1,087

+52% in Denver, CO

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$586,700

$168,100

+71% in Denver, CO

Income

Median Household Income

$91,681

$52,692

+43% in Denver, CO

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$62,320

$39,560

+37% in Denver, CO

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.2 yr

36.6 yr

+1.4 yr in Fort Smith, AR

Homeownership

49.1%

53.0%

+3.9 pp in Fort Smith, AR

Bachelor's+ (25+)

55.6%

25.3%

+30.3 pp in Denver, CO

Avg Commute

25.4 min

17.3 min

+8.1 min in Denver, CO

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

999.3

844.7

+15% in Denver, CO

Property Crime

4,781.1

3,697.6

+23% in Denver, CO

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

50.2°F

61.7°F

+11.5°F in Fort Smith, AR

Annual Precipitation

15.6 in

45.5 in

+29.9 in in Fort Smith, AR

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.16/gal

$3.62/gal

+13% in Denver, CO

Area: Denver vs Gulf Coast (PADD 3).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$2.75

—

Adult base one-way fare — RTD vs — (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

17.1

14.1

+18% in Denver, CO

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$15.05

$27.86

+85% in Fort Smith, AR

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.82

$4.00

+17% in Denver, CO

Bread (lb)

$2.04

$1.75

+14% in Denver, CO

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$2.21

+1% in Fort Smith, AR

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.45

+12% in Denver, CO

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

$1.90

+6% in Denver, CO

Bananas (lb)

$0.70

$0.62

+12% in Denver, CO

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CO / AR)

2.9%

6.5%

+3.6 pp in AR

Income Tax (top rate)

4.40%

3.90%

+0.5 pp in CO

Denver vs Fort Smith — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Denver or Fort Smith?: Fort Smith, AR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $780 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 56% below Denver, CO's $1,760, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Denver than in Fort Smith?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $63,000 a year in Denver versus $24,000 in Fort Smith.
Which has lower taxes, Denver or Fort Smith?: Denver is taxed under Colorado's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% 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).