Living Cost Compare
Fort Smith

Arkansas

$780/mo est.

vs
Little Rock

Arkansas

$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 Little Rock, AR. Overall, Fort Smith, AR is roughly 28% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Little Rock, AR, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $52,692 in Fort Smith, AR and $60,583 in Little Rock, AR — about 13% higher in Little Rock, AR. Both cities are in Arkansas, so state taxes are identical: a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax.

Fort Smith, AR
Little Rock, AR

Rent

Studio
$634
$981
+55% in Little Rock, AR
1 Bedroom
$603
$904
+50% in Little Rock, AR
2 Bedroom
$863
$1,064
+23% in Little Rock, AR
3 Bedroom
$1,087
$1,292
+19% in Little Rock, AR

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$168,100
$221,200
+32% in Little Rock, AR

Income

Median Household Income
$52,692
$60,583
+15% in Little Rock, AR
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$39,560
$45,790
+16% in Little Rock, AR

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.6 yr
36.4 yr
+0.2 yr in Fort Smith, AR
Homeownership
53.0%
54.2%
+1.2 pp in Little Rock, AR
Bachelor's+ (25+)
25.3%
44.0%
+18.7 pp in Little Rock, AR
Avg Commute
17.3 min
18.3 min
+1.0 min in Little Rock, AR

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
844.7
1,673
+98% in Little Rock, AR
Property Crime
3,697.6
5,251.5
+42% in Little Rock, 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
62.7°F
+1.0°F in Little Rock, AR
Annual Precipitation
45.5 in
49.8 in
+4.3 in in Little Rock, AR

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.62/gal
about equal

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.1
14.1
about equal
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$27.86
$27.86
about equal

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 / AR)
6.5%
6.5%
about equal
Income Tax (top rate)
3.90%
3.90%
about equal

Fort Smith vs Little Rock — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Fort Smith or Little Rock?
Fort Smith, AR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $780 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 28% below Little Rock, AR's $1,080, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Fort Smith than in Little Rock?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $24,000 a year in Fort Smith versus $36,000 in Little Rock.
Which has lower taxes, Fort Smith or Little Rock?
Neither — both are in Arkansas, so they share the same state tax rates: a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% 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).