Living Cost Compare
Fort Smith

Arkansas

$780/mo est.

vs
Idaho Falls

Idaho

$970/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 $970 in Idaho Falls, ID. Overall, Fort Smith, AR is roughly 20% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Idaho Falls, ID, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $52,692 in Fort Smith, AR and $69,630 in Idaho Falls, ID — about 24% higher in Idaho Falls, ID. Arkansas has a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax; Idaho has a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% state sales tax.

Fort Smith, AR
Idaho Falls, ID

Rent

Studio
$634
$818
+29% in Idaho Falls, ID
1 Bedroom
$603
$827
+37% in Idaho Falls, ID
2 Bedroom
$863
$957
+11% in Idaho Falls, ID
3 Bedroom
$1,087
$1,278
+18% in Idaho Falls, ID

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$168,100
$298,600
+78% in Idaho Falls, ID

Income

Median Household Income
$52,692
$69,630
+32% in Idaho Falls, ID
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$39,560
$46,800
+18% in Idaho Falls, ID

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.6 yr
33.5 yr
+3.1 yr in Fort Smith, AR
Homeownership
53.0%
64.1%
+11.1 pp in Idaho Falls, ID
Bachelor's+ (25+)
25.3%
31.0%
+5.7 pp in Idaho Falls, ID
Avg Commute
17.3 min
18.2 min
+0.9 min in Idaho Falls, ID

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
844.7
365.3
+57% in Fort Smith, AR
Property Crime
3,697.6
1,235.5
+67% 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
44.2°F
+17.5°F in Fort Smith, AR
Annual Precipitation
45.5 in
10.4 in
+35.1 in in Fort Smith, AR

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$4.27/gal
+18% in Idaho Falls, ID

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs Rocky Mountain (PADD 4).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.1
14.4
+2% in Idaho Falls, ID
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$27.86
$11.33
+59% in Fort Smith, AR

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.82
+20% in Idaho Falls, ID
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$2.04
+17% in Idaho Falls, ID
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.19
+1% in Fort Smith, AR
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$7.36
+14% in Idaho Falls, ID
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.01
+6% in Idaho Falls, ID
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.70
+14% in Idaho Falls, ID

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (AR / ID)
6.5%
6%
+0.5 pp in AR
Income Tax (top rate)
3.90%
5.30%
+1.4 pp in ID

Fort Smith vs Idaho Falls — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Fort Smith or Idaho Falls?
Fort Smith, AR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $780 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 20% below Idaho Falls, ID's $970, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Fort Smith than in Idaho Falls?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $24,000 a year in Fort Smith versus $33,000 in Idaho Falls.
Which has lower taxes, Fort Smith or Idaho Falls?
Fort Smith is taxed under Arkansas's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax); Idaho Falls under Idaho's (a top state income tax rate of 5.30% 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).