Living Cost Compare
Fort Smith

Arkansas

$780/mo est.

vs
Lexington

Kentucky

$1,080/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 $1,080 in Lexington, KY. Overall, Fort Smith, AR is roughly 28% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Lexington, KY, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $52,692 in Fort Smith, AR and $67,631 in Lexington, KY — about 22% higher in Lexington, KY. Arkansas has a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax; Kentucky has a top state income tax rate of 3.50% and a 6% state sales tax.

Fort Smith, AR
Lexington, KY

Rent

Studio
$634
$769
+21% in Lexington, KY
1 Bedroom
$603
$887
+47% in Lexington, KY
2 Bedroom
$863
$1,119
+30% in Lexington, KY
3 Bedroom
$1,087
$1,408
+30% in Lexington, KY

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$168,100
$272,100
+62% in Lexington, KY

Income

Median Household Income
$52,692
$67,631
+28% in Lexington, KY
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$39,560
$48,620
+23% in Lexington, KY

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.6 yr
35.2 yr
+1.4 yr in Fort Smith, AR
Homeownership
53.0%
53.6%
+0.6 pp in Lexington, KY
Bachelor's+ (25+)
25.3%
47.3%
+22.0 pp in Lexington, KY
Avg Commute
17.3 min
20.8 min
+3.5 min in Lexington, KY

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
844.7
269.1
+68% in Fort Smith, AR
Property Crime
3,697.6
2,304.4
+38% 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
55.6°F
+6.1°F in Fort Smith, AR
Annual Precipitation
45.5 in
45.2 in
+0.3 in in Fort Smith, AR

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.85/gal
+6% in Lexington, KY

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.1
14.3
+1% in Lexington, KY
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$27.86
$33.20
+19% in Lexington, KY

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 / KY)
6.5%
6%
+0.5 pp in AR
Income Tax (top rate)
3.90%
3.50%
+0.4 pp in AR

Fort Smith vs Lexington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Fort Smith or Lexington?
Fort Smith, AR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $780 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 28% below Lexington, KY's $1,080, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Fort Smith than in Lexington?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $24,000 a year in Fort Smith versus $35,000 in Lexington.
Which has lower taxes, Fort Smith or Lexington?
Fort Smith is taxed under Arkansas's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax); Lexington under Kentucky's (a top state income tax rate of 3.50% and a 6% 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).