Is it cheaper to live in Fort Smith or Hilo?

Fort Smith, AR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $780 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 50% below Hilo, HI's $1,550, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $24,000 a year in Fort Smith versus $39,000 in Hilo.

Which has lower taxes, Fort Smith or Hilo?

Fort Smith is taxed under Arkansas's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax); Hilo under Hawaii's (a top state income tax rate of 11.00% and a 4% state sales tax).

Fort Smith vs Hilo Cost of Living 2026

Fort Smith

Arkansas

$780/mo est.

Hilo

Hawaii

$1,550/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 $1,550 in Hilo, HI. Overall, Fort Smith, AR is roughly 50% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Hilo, HI, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $52,692 in Fort Smith, AR and $78,713 in Hilo, HI — about 33% higher in Hilo, HI. Arkansas has a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax; Hawaii has a top state income tax rate of 11.00% and a 4% state sales tax.

Fort Smith, AR

Hilo, HI

Rent

Studio

$634

$1,180

+86% in Hilo, HI

1 Bedroom

$603

$964

+60% in Hilo, HI

2 Bedroom

$863

$1,283

+49% in Hilo, HI

3 Bedroom

$1,087

$1,587

+46% in Hilo, HI

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$168,100

$455,100

+171% in Hilo, HI

Income

Median Household Income

$52,692

$78,713

+49% in Hilo, HI

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$39,560

$51,820

+31% in Hilo, HI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

36.6 yr

42.6 yr

+6.0 yr in Hilo, HI

Homeownership

53.0%

65.5%

+12.5 pp in Hilo, HI

Bachelor's+ (25+)

25.3%

34.0%

+8.7 pp in Hilo, HI

Avg Commute

17.3 min

20.1 min

+2.8 min in Hilo, HI

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

844.7

245.4

+71% in Fort Smith, AR

Property Crime

3,697.6

2,043.9

+45% 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

73.9°F

+12.2°F in Hilo, HI

Annual Precipitation

45.5 in

126.7 in

+81.3 in in Hilo, HI

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.62/gal

$5.21/gal

+44% in Hilo, HI

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.1

52.7

+273% in Hilo, HI

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$27.86

$66.84

+140% in Hilo, HI

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.82

+20% in Hilo, HI

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$2.04

+17% in Hilo, HI

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$2.19

+1% in Fort Smith, AR

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$7.36

+14% in Hilo, HI

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.01

+6% in Hilo, HI

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.70

+14% in Hilo, HI

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (AR / HI)

6.5%

+2.5 pp in AR

Income Tax (top rate)

3.90%

11.00%

+7.1 pp in HI

Fort Smith vs Hilo — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Fort Smith or Hilo?: Fort Smith, AR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $780 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 50% below Hilo, HI's $1,550, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Fort Smith than in Hilo?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $24,000 a year in Fort Smith versus $39,000 in Hilo.
Which has lower taxes, Fort Smith or Hilo?: Fort Smith is taxed under Arkansas's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax); Hilo under Hawaii's (a top state income tax rate of 11.00% and a 4% 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).