Living Cost Compare
Fort Smith

Arkansas

$780/mo est.

vs
Gulfport

Mississippi

$1,030/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 $1,030 in Gulfport, MS. Overall, Fort Smith, AR is roughly 24% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Gulfport, MS, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $52,692 in Fort Smith, AR and $46,044 in Gulfport, MS — about 13% higher in Fort Smith, AR. Arkansas has a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax; Mississippi has a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax.

Fort Smith, AR
Gulfport, MS

Rent

Studio
$634
$958
+51% in Gulfport, MS
1 Bedroom
$603
$849
+41% in Gulfport, MS
2 Bedroom
$863
$990
+15% in Gulfport, MS
3 Bedroom
$1,087
$1,171
+8% in Gulfport, MS

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$168,100
$167,100
+1% in Fort Smith, AR

Income

Median Household Income
$52,692
$46,044
+13% in Fort Smith, AR
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$39,560
$43,470
+10% in Gulfport, MS

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.6 yr
36.7 yr
+0.1 yr in Gulfport, MS
Homeownership
53.0%
53.1%
+0.1 pp in Gulfport, MS
Bachelor's+ (25+)
25.3%
22.3%
+3.0 pp in Fort Smith, AR
Avg Commute
17.3 min
21.8 min
+4.5 min in Gulfport, MS

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
844.7
623.5
+26% in Fort Smith, AR
Property Crime
3,697.6
3,881.3
+5% in Gulfport, MS

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
67.6°F
+5.9°F in Gulfport, MS
Annual Precipitation
45.5 in
64.7 in
+19.2 in in Gulfport, MS

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.62/gal
about equal

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.1
14.9
+5% in Gulfport, MS
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$27.86
$29.04
+4% in Gulfport, MS

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 / MS)
6.5%
7%
+0.5 pp in MS
Income Tax (top rate)
3.90%
4.00%
+0.1 pp in MS

Fort Smith vs Gulfport — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Fort Smith or Gulfport?
Fort Smith, AR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $780 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 24% below Gulfport, MS's $1,030, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Fort Smith than in Gulfport?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $24,000 a year in Fort Smith versus $34,000 in Gulfport.
Which has lower taxes, Fort Smith or Gulfport?
Fort Smith is taxed under Arkansas's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax); Gulfport under Mississippi's (a top state income tax rate of 4.00% 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).