Is it cheaper to live in Detroit or Fort Smith?

Fort Smith, AR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $780 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 21% below Detroit, MI's $990, mainly because of rent.

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

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

Which has lower taxes, Detroit or Fort Smith?

Detroit is taxed under Michigan's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.25% 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).

Detroit vs Fort Smith Cost of Living 2026

Detroit

Michigan

$990/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 $990 in Detroit, MI versus $780 in Fort Smith, AR. Overall, Fort Smith, AR is roughly 21% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Detroit, MI, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $39,575 in Detroit, MI and $52,692 in Fort Smith, AR — about 25% higher in Fort Smith, AR. Michigan has a top state income tax rate of 4.25% and a 6% state sales tax; Arkansas has a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax.

Detroit, MI

Fort Smith, AR

Rent

Studio

$801

$634

+21% in Detroit, MI

1 Bedroom

$752

$603

+20% in Detroit, MI

2 Bedroom

$1,001

$863

+14% in Detroit, MI

3 Bedroom

$1,195

$1,087

+9% in Detroit, MI

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$76,800

$168,100

+119% in Fort Smith, AR

Income

Median Household Income

$39,575

$52,692

+33% in Fort Smith, AR

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$52,080

$39,560

+24% in Detroit, MI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.1 yr

36.6 yr

+1.5 yr in Fort Smith, AR

Homeownership

49.7%

53.0%

+3.3 pp in Fort Smith, AR

Bachelor's+ (25+)

17.6%

25.3%

+7.7 pp in Fort Smith, AR

Avg Commute

25.4 min

17.3 min

+8.1 min in Detroit, MI

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

1,783.4

844.7

+53% in Detroit, MI

Property Crime

4,391.6

3,697.6

+16% in Detroit, MI

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

50.3°F

61.7°F

+11.4°F in Fort Smith, AR

Annual Precipitation

31.3 in

45.5 in

+14.1 in in Fort Smith, AR

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.85/gal

$3.62/gal

+6% in Detroit, MI

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

23.0

14.1

+39% in Detroit, MI

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$19.72

$27.86

+41% in Fort Smith, AR

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.00

+7% in Detroit, MI

Bread (lb)

$1.66

$1.75

+5% in Fort Smith, AR

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

$2.21

+39% in Detroit, MI

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$6.45

+5% in Detroit, MI

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$1.90

+9% in Detroit, MI

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MI / AR)

6.5%

+0.5 pp in AR

Income Tax (top rate)

4.25%

3.90%

+0.4 pp in MI

Detroit vs Fort Smith — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Detroit or Fort Smith?: Fort Smith, AR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $780 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 21% below Detroit, MI's $990, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Detroit than in Fort Smith?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $30,000 a year in Detroit versus $24,000 in Fort Smith.
Which has lower taxes, Detroit or Fort Smith?: Detroit is taxed under Michigan's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.25% 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).