Living Cost Compare
Fort Smith

Arkansas

$780/mo est.

vs
Huntington

West Virginia

$940/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 $940 in Huntington, WV. Overall, Fort Smith, AR is roughly 17% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Huntington, WV, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $52,692 in Fort Smith, AR and $43,146 in Huntington, WV — about 18% higher in Fort Smith, AR. Arkansas has a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax; West Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax.

Fort Smith, AR
Huntington, WV

Rent

Studio
$634
$762
+20% in Huntington, WV
1 Bedroom
$603
$758
+26% in Huntington, WV
2 Bedroom
$863
$881
+2% in Huntington, WV
3 Bedroom
$1,087
$1,121
+3% in Huntington, WV

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$168,100
$118,800
+29% in Fort Smith, AR

Income

Median Household Income
$52,692
$43,146
+18% in Fort Smith, AR
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$39,560
$44,600
+13% in Huntington, WV

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.6 yr
34.9 yr
+1.7 yr in Fort Smith, AR
Homeownership
53.0%
52.5%
+0.5 pp in Fort Smith, AR
Bachelor's+ (25+)
25.3%
34.5%
+9.2 pp in Huntington, WV
Avg Commute
17.3 min
18.6 min
+1.3 min in Huntington, WV

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
844.7
800.3
+5% in Fort Smith, AR
Property Crime
3,697.6
3,617.9
+2% 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
55.7°F
+6.0°F in Fort Smith, AR
Annual Precipitation
45.5 in
42.6 in
+2.9 in in Fort Smith, AR

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.94/gal
+9% in Huntington, WV

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.1
15.4
+9% in Huntington, WV
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$27.86
$24.68
+11% in Fort Smith, AR

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 / WV)
6.5%
6%
+0.5 pp in AR
Income Tax (top rate)
3.90%
4.82%
+0.9 pp in WV

Fort Smith vs Huntington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Fort Smith or Huntington?
Fort Smith, AR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $780 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 17% below Huntington, WV's $940, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Fort Smith than in Huntington?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $24,000 a year in Fort Smith versus $30,000 in Huntington.
Which has lower taxes, Fort Smith or Huntington?
Fort Smith is taxed under Arkansas's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax); Huntington under West Virginia's (a top state income tax rate of 4.82% 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).