Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas
A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $990 in Fayetteville, AR versus $780 in Fort Smith, AR. Overall, Fort Smith, AR is roughly 21% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Fayetteville, AR, driven mainly by rent.
Median household income is $59,074 in Fayetteville, AR and $52,692 in Fort Smith, AR — about 11% higher in Fayetteville, AR. Both cities are in Arkansas, so state taxes are identical: a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax.
Rent
Buying a Home
Income
People & Lifestyle
Crime (per 100k/yr)
FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.
Climate
Gas
Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs Gulf Coast (PADD 3).
Utilities
Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.
Groceries
Average prices — South vs South (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.
State Taxes
Fayetteville vs Fort Smith — FAQ
- Is it cheaper to live in Fayetteville or Fort Smith?
- Fort Smith, AR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $780 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 21% below Fayetteville, AR's $990, mainly because of rent.
- How much more do you need to earn to live in Fayetteville than in Fort Smith?
- To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Fayetteville versus $24,000 in Fort Smith.
- Which has lower taxes, Fayetteville or Fort Smith?
- Neither — both are in Arkansas, so they share the same state tax rates: 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).