Living Cost Compare
Des Moines

Iowa

$1,050/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 $1,050 in Des Moines, IA versus $780 in Fort Smith, AR. Overall, Fort Smith, AR is roughly 26% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Des Moines, IA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $63,966 in Des Moines, IA and $52,692 in Fort Smith, AR — about 18% higher in Des Moines, IA. Iowa has a top state income tax rate of 3.80% and a 6% state sales tax; Arkansas has a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax.

Des Moines, IA
Fort Smith, AR

Rent

Studio
$870
$634
+27% in Des Moines, IA
1 Bedroom
$870
$603
+31% in Des Moines, IA
2 Bedroom
$1,099
$863
+21% in Des Moines, IA
3 Bedroom
$1,334
$1,087
+19% in Des Moines, IA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$183,700
$168,100
+8% in Des Moines, IA

Income

Median Household Income
$63,966
$52,692
+18% in Des Moines, IA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$51,820
$39,560
+24% in Des Moines, IA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.6 yr
36.6 yr
+2.0 yr in Fort Smith, AR
Homeownership
60.4%
53.0%
+7.4 pp in Des Moines, IA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
29.0%
25.3%
+3.7 pp in Des Moines, IA
Avg Commute
19.6 min
17.3 min
+2.3 min in Des Moines, IA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
707.3
844.7
+19% in Fort Smith, AR
Property Crime
3,156.6
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
50.9°F
61.7°F
+10.8°F in Fort Smith, AR
Annual Precipitation
36.0 in
45.5 in
+9.4 in in Fort Smith, AR

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.85/gal
$3.62/gal
+6% in Des Moines, IA

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Gulf Coast (PADD 3).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.9
14.1
+11% in Des Moines, IA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$22.16
$27.86
+26% in Fort Smith, AR

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.00
+7% in Des Moines, IA
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$1.75
+5% in Fort Smith, AR
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.21
+39% in Des Moines, IA
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$6.45
+5% in Des Moines, IA
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$1.90
+9% in Des Moines, IA
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (IA / AR)
6%
6.5%
+0.5 pp in AR
Income Tax (top rate)
3.80%
3.90%
+0.1 pp in AR

Des Moines vs Fort Smith — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Des Moines or Fort Smith?
Fort Smith, AR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $780 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 26% below Des Moines, IA's $1,050, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Des Moines 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 Des Moines versus $24,000 in Fort Smith.
Which has lower taxes, Des Moines or Fort Smith?
Des Moines is taxed under Iowa's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.80% 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).