Living Cost Compare
Fort Smith

Arkansas

$780/mo est.

vs
Fort Wayne

Indiana

$980/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $780 in Fort Smith, AR versus $980 in Fort Wayne, IN. Overall, Fort Smith, AR is roughly 20% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Fort Wayne, IN, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $52,692 in Fort Smith, AR and $60,293 in Fort Wayne, IN — about 13% higher in Fort Wayne, IN. Arkansas has a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax; Indiana has a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax.

Fort Smith, AR
Fort Wayne, IN

Rent

Studio
$634
$798
+26% in Fort Wayne, IN
1 Bedroom
$603
$782
+30% in Fort Wayne, IN
2 Bedroom
$863
$984
+14% in Fort Wayne, IN
3 Bedroom
$1,087
$1,100
+1% in Fort Wayne, IN

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$168,100
$169,700
+1% in Fort Wayne, IN

Income

Median Household Income
$52,692
$60,293
+14% in Fort Wayne, IN
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$39,560
$47,700
+21% in Fort Wayne, IN

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.6 yr
35.0 yr
+1.6 yr in Fort Smith, AR
Homeownership
53.0%
62.2%
+9.2 pp in Fort Wayne, IN
Bachelor's+ (25+)
25.3%
28.5%
+3.2 pp in Fort Wayne, IN
Avg Commute
17.3 min
21.4 min
+4.1 min in Fort Wayne, IN

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
844.7
308.9
+63% in Fort Smith, AR
Property Crime
3,697.6
2,245.4
+39% 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
61.7°F
50.5°F
+11.2°F in Fort Smith, AR
Annual Precipitation
45.5 in
38.3 in
+7.1 in in Fort Smith, AR

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.85/gal
+6% in Fort Wayne, IN

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.1
17.5
+24% in Fort Wayne, IN
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$27.86
$24.52
+12% in Fort Smith, AR

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.31
+8% in Fort Wayne, IN
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.66
+5% in Fort Smith, AR
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$3.63
+64% in Fort Wayne, IN
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.77
+5% in Fort Wayne, IN
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.10
+10% in Fort Wayne, IN
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (AR / IN)
6.5%
7%
+0.5 pp in IN
Income Tax (top rate)
3.90%
2.95%
+0.9 pp in AR

Fort Smith vs Fort Wayne — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Fort Smith or Fort Wayne?
Fort Smith, AR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $780 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 20% below Fort Wayne, IN's $980, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Fort Smith than in Fort Wayne?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $24,000 a year in Fort Smith versus $31,000 in Fort Wayne.
Which has lower taxes, Fort Smith or Fort Wayne?
Fort Smith is taxed under Arkansas's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax); Fort Wayne under Indiana's (a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% 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).