Living Cost Compare
Fort Smith

Arkansas

$780/mo est.

vs
Indianapolis

Indiana

$1,160/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 $1,160 in Indianapolis, IN. Overall, Fort Smith, AR is roughly 33% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Indianapolis, IN, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $52,692 in Fort Smith, AR and $62,995 in Indianapolis, IN — about 16% higher in Indianapolis, IN. Arkansas has a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax; Indiana has a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax.

Fort Smith, AR
Indianapolis, IN

Rent

Studio
$634
$933
+47% in Indianapolis, IN
1 Bedroom
$603
$963
+60% in Indianapolis, IN
2 Bedroom
$863
$1,132
+31% in Indianapolis, IN
3 Bedroom
$1,087
$1,304
+20% in Indianapolis, IN

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$168,100
$207,000
+23% in Indianapolis, IN

Income

Median Household Income
$52,692
$62,995
+20% in Indianapolis, IN
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$39,560
$49,340
+25% in Indianapolis, IN

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.6 yr
34.1 yr
+2.5 yr in Fort Smith, AR
Homeownership
53.0%
55.3%
+2.3 pp in Indianapolis, IN
Bachelor's+ (25+)
25.3%
34.2%
+8.9 pp in Indianapolis, IN
Avg Commute
17.3 min
24.3 min
+7.0 min in Indianapolis, IN

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
844.7
936.6
+11% in Indianapolis, IN
Property Crime
3,697.6
3,351.7
+9% 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
53.2°F
+8.5°F in Fort Smith, AR
Annual Precipitation
45.5 in
42.4 in
+3.0 in in Fort Smith, AR

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.85/gal
+6% in Indianapolis, IN

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$1.75

Adult base one-way fare — — vs IndyGo (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.1
17.5
+24% in Indianapolis, IN
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$27.86
$24.52
+12% in Fort Smith, AR

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.31
+8% in Indianapolis, IN
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.66
+5% in Fort Smith, AR
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$3.63
+64% in Indianapolis, IN
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.77
+5% in Indianapolis, IN
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.10
+10% in Indianapolis, IN
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (AR / IN)
6.5%
7%
+0.5 pp in IN
Income Tax (top rate)
3.90%
2.95%
+0.9 pp in AR

Fort Smith vs Indianapolis — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Fort Smith or Indianapolis?
Fort Smith, AR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $780 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 33% below Indianapolis, IN's $1,160, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Fort Smith than in Indianapolis?
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 Indianapolis.
Which has lower taxes, Fort Smith or Indianapolis?
Fort Smith is taxed under Arkansas's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax); Indianapolis under Indiana's (a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% 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).