Is it cheaper to live in Fort Smith or Las Cruces?

Fort Smith, AR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $780 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 17% below Las Cruces, NM's $940, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $24,000 a year in Fort Smith versus $32,000 in Las Cruces.

Which has lower taxes, Fort Smith or Las Cruces?

Fort Smith is taxed under Arkansas's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax); Las Cruces under New Mexico's (a top state income tax rate of 5.90% and a 4.875% state sales tax).

Fort Smith vs Las Cruces Cost of Living 2026

Fort Smith

Arkansas

$780/mo est.

Las Cruces

New Mexico

$940/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 $940 in Las Cruces, NM. Overall, Fort Smith, AR is roughly 17% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Las Cruces, NM, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $52,692 in Fort Smith, AR and $55,176 in Las Cruces, NM — about 5% higher in Las Cruces, NM. Arkansas has a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax; New Mexico has a top state income tax rate of 5.90% and a 4.875% state sales tax.

Fort Smith, AR

Las Cruces, NM

Rent

Studio

$634

$597

+6% in Fort Smith, AR

1 Bedroom

$603

$793

+32% in Las Cruces, NM

2 Bedroom

$863

$888

+3% in Las Cruces, NM

3 Bedroom

$1,087

$1,177

+8% in Las Cruces, NM

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$168,100

$217,400

+29% in Las Cruces, NM

Income

Median Household Income

$52,692

$55,176

+5% in Las Cruces, NM

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$39,560

$42,070

+6% in Las Cruces, NM

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

36.6 yr

32.7 yr

+3.9 yr in Fort Smith, AR

Homeownership

53.0%

55.6%

+2.6 pp in Las Cruces, NM

Bachelor's+ (25+)

25.3%

37.3%

+12.0 pp in Las Cruces, NM

Avg Commute

17.3 min

18.7 min

+1.4 min in Las Cruces, NM

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

844.7

726

+14% in Fort Smith, AR

Property Crime

3,697.6

4,899.2

+32% in Las Cruces, NM

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

58.8°F

+2.9°F in Fort Smith, AR

Annual Precipitation

45.5 in

—

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.62/gal

about equal

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.1

15.1

+7% in Las Cruces, NM

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$27.86

$9.31

+67% in Fort Smith, AR

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.82

+20% in Las Cruces, NM

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$2.04

+17% in Las Cruces, NM

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$2.19

+1% in Fort Smith, AR

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$7.36

+14% in Las Cruces, NM

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.01

+6% in Las Cruces, NM

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.70

+14% in Las Cruces, NM

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (AR / NM)

6.5%

4.875%

+1.6 pp in AR

Income Tax (top rate)

3.90%

5.90%

+2.0 pp in NM

Fort Smith vs Las Cruces — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Fort Smith or Las Cruces?: Fort Smith, AR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $780 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 17% below Las Cruces, NM's $940, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Fort Smith than in Las Cruces?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $24,000 a year in Fort Smith versus $32,000 in Las Cruces.
Which has lower taxes, Fort Smith or Las Cruces?: Fort Smith is taxed under Arkansas's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax); Las Cruces under New Mexico's (a top state income tax rate of 5.90% and a 4.875% 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).