Is it cheaper to live in Fort Smith or Juneau?

Fort Smith, AR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $780 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 49% below Juneau, AK's $1,530, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $24,000 a year in Fort Smith versus $50,000 in Juneau.

Which has lower taxes, Fort Smith or Juneau?

Fort Smith is taxed under Arkansas's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax); Juneau under Alaska's (no state income tax and no state sales tax).

Fort Smith vs Juneau Cost of Living 2026

Fort Smith

Arkansas

$780/mo est.

Juneau

Alaska

$1,530/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 $1,530 in Juneau, AK. Overall, Fort Smith, AR is roughly 49% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Juneau, AK, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $52,692 in Fort Smith, AR and $100,513 in Juneau, AK — about 48% higher in Juneau, AK. Arkansas has a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax; Alaska has no state income tax and no state sales tax.

Fort Smith, AR

Juneau, AK

Rent

Studio

$634

$993

+57% in Juneau, AK

1 Bedroom

$603

$1,257

+108% in Juneau, AK

2 Bedroom

$863

$1,647

+91% in Juneau, AK

3 Bedroom

$1,087

$1,949

+79% in Juneau, AK

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$168,100

$432,500

+157% in Juneau, AK

Income

Median Household Income

$52,692

$100,513

+91% in Juneau, AK

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$39,560

—

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

36.6 yr

39.8 yr

+3.2 yr in Juneau, AK

Homeownership

53.0%

64.4%

+11.4 pp in Juneau, AK

Bachelor's+ (25+)

25.3%

40.5%

+15.2 pp in Juneau, AK

Avg Commute

17.3 min

15.8 min

+1.5 min in Fort Smith, AR

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

844.7

515.6

+39% in Fort Smith, AR

Property Crime

3,697.6

2,113.1

+43% 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

42.1°F

+19.6°F in Fort Smith, AR

Annual Precipitation

45.5 in

62.3 in

+16.8 in in Juneau, AK

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.62/gal

$5.21/gal

+44% in Juneau, AK

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.1

28.2

+100% in Juneau, AK

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$27.86

$17.35

+38% in Fort Smith, AR

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.82

+20% in Juneau, AK

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$2.04

+17% in Juneau, AK

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$2.19

+1% in Fort Smith, AR

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$7.36

+14% in Juneau, AK

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.01

+6% in Juneau, AK

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.70

+14% in Juneau, AK

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (AR / AK)

6.5%

None

+6.5 pp in AR

Income Tax (top rate)

3.90%

None

+3.9 pp in AR

Fort Smith vs Juneau — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Fort Smith or Juneau?: Fort Smith, AR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $780 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 49% below Juneau, AK's $1,530, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Fort Smith than in Juneau?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $24,000 a year in Fort Smith versus $50,000 in Juneau.
Which has lower taxes, Fort Smith or Juneau?: Fort Smith is taxed under Arkansas's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax); Juneau under Alaska's (no state income tax and no 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).