Is it cheaper to live in Fort Smith or Manchester?

Fort Smith, AR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $780 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 45% below Manchester, NH's $1,420, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $24,000 a year in Fort Smith versus $46,000 in Manchester.

Which has lower taxes, Fort Smith or Manchester?

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

Fort Smith vs Manchester Cost of Living 2026

Fort Smith

Arkansas

$780/mo est.

Manchester

New Hampshire

$1,420/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 $1,420 in Manchester, NH. Overall, Fort Smith, AR is roughly 45% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Manchester, NH, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $52,692 in Fort Smith, AR and $77,415 in Manchester, NH — about 32% higher in Manchester, NH. Arkansas has a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax; New Hampshire has no state income tax and no state sales tax.

Fort Smith, AR

Manchester, NH

Rent

Studio

$634

$880

+39% in Manchester, NH

1 Bedroom

$603

$1,150

+91% in Manchester, NH

2 Bedroom

$863

$1,593

+85% in Manchester, NH

3 Bedroom

$1,087

$1,661

+53% in Manchester, NH

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$168,100

$336,300

+100% in Manchester, NH

Income

Median Household Income

$52,692

$77,415

+47% in Manchester, NH

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$39,560

$56,530

+43% in Manchester, NH

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

36.6 yr

37.9 yr

+1.3 yr in Manchester, NH

Homeownership

53.0%

49.3%

+3.7 pp in Fort Smith, AR

Bachelor's+ (25+)

25.3%

33.5%

+8.2 pp in Manchester, NH

Avg Commute

17.3 min

23.8 min

+6.5 min in Manchester, NH

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

844.7

339.5

+60% in Fort Smith, AR

Property Crime

3,697.6

1,691.4

+54% 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

49.2°F

+12.5°F in Fort Smith, AR

Annual Precipitation

45.5 in

44.6 in

+0.9 in in Fort Smith, AR

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.62/gal

$3.94/gal

+9% in Manchester, NH

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.1

27.0

+91% in Manchester, NH

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$27.86

$21.67

+22% in Fort Smith, AR

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.31

+8% in Manchester, NH

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$1.92

+10% in Manchester, NH

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$2.19

+1% in Fort Smith, AR

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$6.90

+7% in Manchester, NH

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.19

+15% in Manchester, NH

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.69

+12% in Manchester, NH

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (AR / NH)

6.5%

None

+6.5 pp in AR

Income Tax (top rate)

3.90%

None

+3.9 pp in AR

Fort Smith vs Manchester — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Fort Smith or Manchester?: Fort Smith, AR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $780 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 45% below Manchester, NH's $1,420, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Fort Smith than in Manchester?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $24,000 a year in Fort Smith versus $46,000 in Manchester.
Which has lower taxes, Fort Smith or Manchester?: Fort Smith is taxed under Arkansas's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax); Manchester under New Hampshire's (no state income tax and no 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).