Is it cheaper to live in Fort Smith or Henderson?

Fort Smith, AR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $780 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 51% below Henderson, NV's $1,580, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $24,000 a year in Fort Smith versus $57,000 in Henderson.

Which has lower taxes, Fort Smith or Henderson?

Fort Smith is taxed under Arkansas's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax); Henderson under Nevada's (no state income tax and a 6.85% state sales tax).

Fort Smith vs Henderson Cost of Living 2026

Fort Smith

Arkansas

$780/mo est.

Henderson

Nevada

$1,580/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 $1,580 in Henderson, NV. Overall, Fort Smith, AR is roughly 51% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Henderson, NV, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $52,692 in Fort Smith, AR and $88,654 in Henderson, NV — about 41% higher in Henderson, NV. Arkansas has a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax; Nevada has no state income tax and a 6.85% state sales tax.

Fort Smith, AR

Henderson, NV

Rent

Studio

$634

$1,442

+127% in Henderson, NV

1 Bedroom

$603

$1,437

+138% in Henderson, NV

2 Bedroom

$863

$1,694

+96% in Henderson, NV

3 Bedroom

$1,087

$1,982

+82% in Henderson, NV

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$168,100

$465,000

+177% in Henderson, NV

Income

Median Household Income

$52,692

$88,654

+68% in Henderson, NV

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$39,560

$46,670

+18% in Henderson, NV

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

36.6 yr

42.5 yr

+5.9 yr in Henderson, NV

Homeownership

53.0%

65.6%

+12.6 pp in Henderson, NV

Bachelor's+ (25+)

25.3%

36.8%

+11.5 pp in Henderson, NV

Avg Commute

17.3 min

24.7 min

+7.4 min in Henderson, NV

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

844.7

271.8

+68% in Fort Smith, AR

Property Crime

3,697.6

1,725.7

+53% 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

69.4°F

+7.7°F in Henderson, NV

Annual Precipitation

45.5 in

4.2 in

+41.3 in in Fort Smith, AR

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.62/gal

$5.21/gal

+44% in Henderson, NV

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs West Coast (PADD 5).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.1

13.1

+7% in Fort Smith, AR

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$27.86

$13.83

+50% in Fort Smith, AR

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.82

+20% in Henderson, NV

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$2.04

+17% in Henderson, NV

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$2.19

+1% in Fort Smith, AR

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$7.36

+14% in Henderson, NV

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.01

+6% in Henderson, NV

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.70

+14% in Henderson, NV

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (AR / NV)

6.5%

6.85%

+0.3 pp in NV

Income Tax (top rate)

3.90%

None

+3.9 pp in AR

Fort Smith vs Henderson — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Fort Smith or Henderson?: Fort Smith, AR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $780 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 51% below Henderson, NV's $1,580, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Fort Smith than in Henderson?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $24,000 a year in Fort Smith versus $57,000 in Henderson.
Which has lower taxes, Fort Smith or Henderson?: Fort Smith is taxed under Arkansas's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax); Henderson under Nevada's (no state income tax and a 6.85% 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).