Is it cheaper to live in Fort Smith or Hartford?

Fort Smith, AR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $780 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 40% below Hartford, CT's $1,300, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $24,000 a year in Fort Smith versus $42,000 in Hartford.

Which has lower taxes, Fort Smith or Hartford?

Fort Smith is taxed under Arkansas's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax); Hartford under Connecticut's (a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax).

Fort Smith vs Hartford Cost of Living 2026

Fort Smith

Arkansas

$780/mo est.

Hartford

Connecticut

$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 Hartford, CT. Overall, Fort Smith, AR is roughly 40% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Hartford, CT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $52,692 in Fort Smith, AR and $45,300 in Hartford, CT — about 14% higher in Fort Smith, AR. Arkansas has a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax; Connecticut has a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax.

Fort Smith, AR

Hartford, CT

Rent

Studio

$634

$973

+53% in Hartford, CT

1 Bedroom

$603

$1,042

+73% in Hartford, CT

2 Bedroom

$863

$1,296

+50% in Hartford, CT

3 Bedroom

$1,087

$1,433

+32% in Hartford, CT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$168,100

$217,200

+29% in Hartford, CT

Income

Median Household Income

$52,692

$45,300

+14% in Fort Smith, AR

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$39,560

$59,940

+52% in Hartford, CT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

36.6 yr

33.4 yr

+3.2 yr in Fort Smith, AR

Homeownership

53.0%

25.7%

+27.3 pp in Fort Smith, AR

Bachelor's+ (25+)

25.3%

18.3%

+7.0 pp in Fort Smith, AR

Avg Commute

17.3 min

22.8 min

+5.5 min in Hartford, CT

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

844.7

527.5

+38% in Fort Smith, AR

Property Crime

3,697.6

2,949.2

+20% 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

51.2°F

+10.5°F in Fort Smith, AR

Annual Precipitation

45.5 in

43.6 in

+1.9 in in Fort Smith, AR

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.62/gal

$3.94/gal

+9% in Hartford, CT

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.1

24.3

+72% in Hartford, CT

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$27.86

$23.33

+16% in Fort Smith, AR

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.31

+8% in Hartford, CT

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$1.92

+10% in Hartford, CT

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$2.19

+1% in Fort Smith, AR

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$6.90

+7% in Hartford, CT

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.19

+15% in Hartford, CT

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.69

+12% in Hartford, CT

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (AR / CT)

6.5%

6.35%

+0.2 pp in AR

Income Tax (top rate)

3.90%

6.99%

+3.1 pp in CT

Fort Smith vs Hartford — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Fort Smith or Hartford?: Fort Smith, AR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $780 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 40% below Hartford, CT's $1,300, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Fort Smith than in Hartford?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $24,000 a year in Fort Smith versus $42,000 in Hartford.
Which has lower taxes, Fort Smith or Hartford?: Fort Smith is taxed under Arkansas's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax); Hartford under Connecticut's (a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% 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).