Is it cheaper to live in Fort Smith or Green Bay?

Fort Smith, AR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $780 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 16% below Green Bay, WI's $930, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $24,000 a year in Fort Smith versus $29,000 in Green Bay.

Which has lower taxes, Fort Smith or Green Bay?

Fort Smith is taxed under Arkansas's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax); Green Bay under Wisconsin's (a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax).

Fort Smith vs Green Bay Cost of Living 2026

Fort Smith

Arkansas

$780/mo est.

Green Bay

Wisconsin

$930/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 $930 in Green Bay, WI. Overall, Fort Smith, AR is roughly 16% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Green Bay, WI, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $52,692 in Fort Smith, AR and $62,546 in Green Bay, WI — about 16% higher in Green Bay, WI. Arkansas has a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax; Wisconsin has a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax.

Fort Smith, AR

Green Bay, WI

Rent

Studio

$634

$707

+12% in Green Bay, WI

1 Bedroom

$603

$730

+21% in Green Bay, WI

2 Bedroom

$863

$956

+11% in Green Bay, WI

3 Bedroom

$1,087

$1,287

+18% in Green Bay, WI

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$168,100

$191,500

+14% in Green Bay, WI

Income

Median Household Income

$52,692

$62,546

+19% in Green Bay, WI

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$39,560

$49,940

+26% in Green Bay, WI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

36.6 yr

35.7 yr

+0.9 yr in Fort Smith, AR

Homeownership

53.0%

55.9%

+2.9 pp in Green Bay, WI

Bachelor's+ (25+)

25.3%

25.5%

+0.2 pp in Green Bay, WI

Avg Commute

17.3 min

18.9 min

+1.6 min in Green Bay, WI

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

844.7

501.7

+41% in Fort Smith, AR

Property Crime

3,697.6

1,331.2

+64% 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

44.3°F

+17.4°F in Fort Smith, AR

Annual Precipitation

45.5 in

29.5 in

+15.9 in in Fort Smith, AR

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.62/gal

$3.85/gal

+6% in Green Bay, WI

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.1

19.6

+39% in Green Bay, WI

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$27.86

$18.17

+35% in Fort Smith, AR

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.31

+8% in Green Bay, WI

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$1.66

+5% in Fort Smith, AR

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$3.63

+64% in Green Bay, WI

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$6.77

+5% in Green Bay, WI

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.10

+10% in Green Bay, WI

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (AR / WI)

6.5%

+1.5 pp in AR

Income Tax (top rate)

3.90%

7.65%

+3.8 pp in WI

Fort Smith vs Green Bay — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Fort Smith or Green Bay?: Fort Smith, AR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $780 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 16% below Green Bay, WI's $930, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Fort Smith than in Green Bay?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $24,000 a year in Fort Smith versus $29,000 in Green Bay.
Which has lower taxes, Fort Smith or Green Bay?: Fort Smith is taxed under Arkansas's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax); Green Bay under Wisconsin's (a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 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).