Living Cost Compare
Fort Smith

Arkansas

$780/mo est.

vs
Grand Rapids

Michigan

$1,200/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 $1,200 in Grand Rapids, MI. Overall, Fort Smith, AR is roughly 35% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Grand Rapids, MI, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $52,692 in Fort Smith, AR and $65,526 in Grand Rapids, MI — about 20% higher in Grand Rapids, MI. Arkansas has a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax; Michigan has a top state income tax rate of 4.25% and a 6% state sales tax.

Fort Smith, AR
Grand Rapids, MI

Rent

Studio
$634
$992
+56% in Grand Rapids, MI
1 Bedroom
$603
$964
+60% in Grand Rapids, MI
2 Bedroom
$863
$1,206
+40% in Grand Rapids, MI
3 Bedroom
$1,087
$1,421
+31% in Grand Rapids, MI

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$168,100
$225,500
+34% in Grand Rapids, MI

Income

Median Household Income
$52,692
$65,526
+24% in Grand Rapids, MI
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$39,560
$47,570
+20% in Grand Rapids, MI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.6 yr
32.1 yr
+4.5 yr in Fort Smith, AR
Homeownership
53.0%
54.6%
+1.6 pp in Grand Rapids, MI
Bachelor's+ (25+)
25.3%
40.1%
+14.8 pp in Grand Rapids, MI
Avg Commute
17.3 min
19.4 min
+2.1 min in Grand Rapids, MI

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
844.7
910.1
+8% in Grand Rapids, MI
Property Crime
3,697.6
2,506.2
+32% 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
49.1°F
+12.6°F in Fort Smith, AR
Annual Precipitation
45.5 in
38.3 in
+7.2 in in Fort Smith, AR

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.85/gal
+6% in Grand Rapids, MI

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.1
23.0
+63% in Grand Rapids, MI
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$27.86
$19.72
+29% in Fort Smith, AR

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.31
+8% in Grand Rapids, MI
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.66
+5% in Fort Smith, AR
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$3.63
+64% in Grand Rapids, MI
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.77
+5% in Grand Rapids, MI
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.10
+10% in Grand Rapids, MI
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 / MI)
6.5%
6%
+0.5 pp in AR
Income Tax (top rate)
3.90%
4.25%
+0.4 pp in MI

Fort Smith vs Grand Rapids — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Fort Smith or Grand Rapids?
Fort Smith, AR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $780 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 35% below Grand Rapids, MI's $1,200, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Fort Smith than in Grand Rapids?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $24,000 a year in Fort Smith versus $39,000 in Grand Rapids.
Which has lower taxes, Fort Smith or Grand Rapids?
Fort Smith is taxed under Arkansas's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax); Grand Rapids under Michigan's (a top state income tax rate of 4.25% and a 6% 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).