Is it cheaper to live in Fort Smith or Laramie?

Fort Smith, AR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $780 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 12% below Laramie, WY's $890, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $24,000 a year in Fort Smith versus $29,000 in Laramie.

Which has lower taxes, Fort Smith or Laramie?

Fort Smith is taxed under Arkansas's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax); Laramie under Wyoming's (no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax).

Fort Smith vs Laramie Cost of Living 2026

Fort Smith

Arkansas

$780/mo est.

Laramie

Wyoming

$890/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 $890 in Laramie, WY. Overall, Fort Smith, AR is roughly 12% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Laramie, WY, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $52,692 in Fort Smith, AR and $52,414 in Laramie, WY — about 1% higher in Fort Smith, AR. Arkansas has a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax; Wyoming has no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax.

Fort Smith, AR

Laramie, WY

Rent

Studio

$634

$667

+5% in Laramie, WY

1 Bedroom

$603

$728

+21% in Laramie, WY

2 Bedroom

$863

$883

+2% in Laramie, WY

3 Bedroom

$1,087

$1,423

+31% in Laramie, WY

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$168,100

$302,200

+80% in Laramie, WY

Income

Median Household Income

$52,692

$52,414

+1% in Fort Smith, AR

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$39,560

—

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

36.6 yr

26.9 yr

+9.7 yr in Fort Smith, AR

Homeownership

53.0%

44.1%

+8.9 pp in Fort Smith, AR

Bachelor's+ (25+)

25.3%

55.8%

+30.5 pp in Laramie, WY

Avg Commute

17.3 min

13.5 min

+3.8 min in Fort Smith, AR

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

844.7

129.6

+85% in Fort Smith, AR

Property Crime

3,697.6

1,175.9

+68% 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

41.0°F

+20.7°F in Fort Smith, AR

Annual Precipitation

45.5 in

10.9 in

+34.5 in in Fort Smith, AR

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.62/gal

$4.27/gal

+18% in Laramie, WY

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.1

15.2

+8% in Laramie, WY

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$27.86

$18.28

+34% in Fort Smith, AR

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.82

+20% in Laramie, WY

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$2.04

+17% in Laramie, WY

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$2.19

+1% in Fort Smith, AR

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$7.36

+14% in Laramie, WY

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.01

+6% in Laramie, WY

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.70

+14% in Laramie, WY

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (AR / WY)

6.5%

+2.5 pp in AR

Income Tax (top rate)

3.90%

None

+3.9 pp in AR

Fort Smith vs Laramie — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Fort Smith or Laramie?: Fort Smith, AR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $780 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 12% below Laramie, WY's $890, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Fort Smith than in Laramie?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $24,000 a year in Fort Smith versus $29,000 in Laramie.
Which has lower taxes, Fort Smith or Laramie?: Fort Smith is taxed under Arkansas's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax); Laramie under Wyoming's (no state income tax and a 4% 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).