Living Cost Compare
Fort Smith

Arkansas

$780/mo est.

vs
Lewiston

Maine

$1,070/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 $1,070 in Lewiston, ME. Overall, Fort Smith, AR is roughly 27% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Lewiston, ME, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $52,692 in Fort Smith, AR and $56,558 in Lewiston, ME — about 7% higher in Lewiston, ME. Arkansas has a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax; Maine has a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax.

Fort Smith, AR
Lewiston, ME

Rent

Studio
$634
$559
+12% in Fort Smith, AR
1 Bedroom
$603
$749
+24% in Lewiston, ME
2 Bedroom
$863
$1,047
+21% in Lewiston, ME
3 Bedroom
$1,087
$1,209
+11% in Lewiston, ME

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$168,100
$214,200
+27% in Lewiston, ME

Income

Median Household Income
$52,692
$56,558
+7% in Lewiston, ME
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$39,560
$49,540
+25% in Lewiston, ME

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.6 yr
37.8 yr
+1.2 yr in Lewiston, ME
Homeownership
53.0%
50.3%
+2.7 pp in Fort Smith, AR
Bachelor's+ (25+)
25.3%
21.7%
+3.6 pp in Fort Smith, AR
Avg Commute
17.3 min
20.7 min
+3.4 min in Lewiston, ME

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
844.7
244.5
+71% in Fort Smith, AR
Property Crime
3,697.6
1,616.5
+56% 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
45.8°F
+15.9°F in Fort Smith, AR
Annual Precipitation
45.5 in
51.1 in
+5.6 in in Lewiston, ME

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.94/gal
+9% in Lewiston, ME

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.1
29.6
+110% in Lewiston, ME
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$27.86
$31.62
+13% in Lewiston, ME

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.31
+8% in Lewiston, ME
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.92
+10% in Lewiston, ME
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.19
+1% in Fort Smith, AR
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.90
+7% in Lewiston, ME
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.19
+15% in Lewiston, ME
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.69
+12% in Lewiston, ME

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (AR / ME)
6.5%
5.5%
+1.0 pp in AR
Income Tax (top rate)
3.90%
7.15%
+3.3 pp in ME

Fort Smith vs Lewiston — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Fort Smith or Lewiston?
Fort Smith, AR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $780 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 27% below Lewiston, ME's $1,070, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Fort Smith than in Lewiston?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $24,000 a year in Fort Smith versus $30,000 in Lewiston.
Which has lower taxes, Fort Smith or Lewiston?
Fort Smith is taxed under Arkansas's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax); Lewiston under Maine's (a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% 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).