Living Cost Compare
Fort Smith

Arkansas

$780/mo est.

vs
Jackson

Mississippi

$1,000/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 $1,000 in Jackson, MS. Overall, Fort Smith, AR is roughly 22% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Jackson, MS, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $52,692 in Fort Smith, AR and $43,238 in Jackson, MS — 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; Mississippi has a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax.

Fort Smith, AR
Jackson, MS

Rent

Studio
$634
$1,085
+71% in Jackson, MS
1 Bedroom
$603
$816
+35% in Jackson, MS
2 Bedroom
$863
$991
+15% in Jackson, MS
3 Bedroom
$1,087
$1,121
+3% in Jackson, MS

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$168,100
$108,200
+36% in Fort Smith, AR

Income

Median Household Income
$52,692
$43,238
+18% in Fort Smith, AR
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$39,560
$42,850
+8% in Jackson, MS

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.6 yr
34.7 yr
+1.9 yr in Fort Smith, AR
Homeownership
53.0%
48.6%
+4.4 pp in Fort Smith, AR
Bachelor's+ (25+)
25.3%
28.6%
+3.3 pp in Jackson, MS
Avg Commute
17.3 min
20.2 min
+2.9 min in Jackson, MS

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
844.7
—
Property Crime
3,697.6
—

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
65.3°F
+3.6°F in Jackson, MS
Annual Precipitation
45.5 in
54.3 in
+8.9 in in Jackson, MS

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.62/gal
about equal

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.1
14.9
+5% in Jackson, MS
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$27.86
$29.04
+4% in Jackson, MS

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 / MS)
6.5%
7%
+0.5 pp in MS
Income Tax (top rate)
3.90%
4.00%
+0.1 pp in MS

Fort Smith vs Jackson — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Fort Smith or Jackson?
Fort Smith, AR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $780 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 22% below Jackson, MS's $1,000, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Fort Smith than in Jackson?
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 Jackson.
Which has lower taxes, Fort Smith or Jackson?
Fort Smith is taxed under Arkansas's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax); Jackson under Mississippi's (a top state income tax rate of 4.00% 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).