Living Cost Compare
Fort Smith

Arkansas

$780/mo est.

vs
Greenville

South Carolina

$1,300/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 $1,300 in Greenville, SC. Overall, Fort Smith, AR is roughly 40% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Greenville, SC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $52,692 in Fort Smith, AR and $68,460 in Greenville, SC — about 23% higher in Greenville, SC. Arkansas has a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax; South Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax.

Fort Smith, AR
Greenville, SC

Rent

Studio
$634
$1,175
+85% in Greenville, SC
1 Bedroom
$603
$1,113
+85% in Greenville, SC
2 Bedroom
$863
$1,325
+54% in Greenville, SC
3 Bedroom
$1,087
$1,550
+43% in Greenville, SC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$168,100
$453,300
+170% in Greenville, SC

Income

Median Household Income
$52,692
$68,460
+30% in Greenville, SC
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$39,560
$46,580
+18% in Greenville, SC

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.6 yr
34.8 yr
+1.8 yr in Fort Smith, AR
Homeownership
53.0%
41.2%
+11.8 pp in Fort Smith, AR
Bachelor's+ (25+)
25.3%
55.0%
+29.7 pp in Greenville, SC
Avg Commute
17.3 min
19.9 min
+2.6 min in Greenville, SC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
844.7
649.8
+23% in Fort Smith, AR
Property Crime
3,697.6
3,479.3
+6% 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
60.5°F
+1.2°F in Fort Smith, AR
Annual Precipitation
45.5 in
50.8 in
+5.3 in in Greenville, SC

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.94/gal
+9% in Greenville, SC

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.1
15.6
+10% in Greenville, SC
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$27.86
$29.07
+4% in Greenville, SC

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.00
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.75
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.21
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.45
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$1.90
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (AR / SC)
6.5%
6%
+0.5 pp in AR
Income Tax (top rate)
3.90%
6.00%
+2.1 pp in SC

Fort Smith vs Greenville — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Fort Smith or Greenville?
Fort Smith, AR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $780 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 40% below Greenville, SC's $1,300, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Fort Smith than in Greenville?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $24,000 a year in Fort Smith versus $45,000 in Greenville.
Which has lower taxes, Fort Smith or Greenville?
Fort Smith is taxed under Arkansas's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax); Greenville under South Carolina's (a top state income tax rate of 6.00% 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).