Is it cheaper to live in Fort Smith or Milwaukee?

Fort Smith, AR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $780 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 26% below Milwaukee, WI's $1,050, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $24,000 a year in Fort Smith versus $34,000 in Milwaukee.

Which has lower taxes, Fort Smith or Milwaukee?

Fort Smith is taxed under Arkansas's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax); Milwaukee under Wisconsin's (a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax).

Fort Smith vs Milwaukee Cost of Living 2026

Fort Smith

Arkansas

$780/mo est.

Milwaukee

Wisconsin

$1,050/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 $1,050 in Milwaukee, WI. Overall, Fort Smith, AR is roughly 26% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Milwaukee, WI, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $52,692 in Fort Smith, AR and $51,888 in Milwaukee, WI — about 2% higher in Fort Smith, AR. Arkansas has a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax; Wisconsin has a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax.

Fort Smith, AR

Milwaukee, WI

Rent

Studio

$634

$841

+33% in Milwaukee, WI

1 Bedroom

$603

$849

+41% in Milwaukee, WI

2 Bedroom

$863

$1,031

+19% in Milwaukee, WI

3 Bedroom

$1,087

$1,193

+10% in Milwaukee, WI

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$168,100

$172,000

+2% in Milwaukee, WI

Income

Median Household Income

$52,692

$51,888

+2% in Fort Smith, AR

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$39,560

$51,160

+29% in Milwaukee, WI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

36.6 yr

32.2 yr

+4.4 yr in Fort Smith, AR

Homeownership

53.0%

41.5%

+11.5 pp in Fort Smith, AR

Bachelor's+ (25+)

25.3%

26.6%

+1.3 pp in Milwaukee, WI

Avg Commute

17.3 min

22.4 min

+5.1 min in Milwaukee, WI

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

844.7

1,452.3

+72% in Milwaukee, WI

Property Crime

3,697.6

2,772.2

+25% 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

47.9°F

+13.8°F in Fort Smith, AR

Annual Precipitation

45.5 in

34.8 in

+10.7 in in Fort Smith, AR

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.62/gal

$3.85/gal

+6% in Milwaukee, WI

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$2.25

Adult base one-way fare — — vs MCTS (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.1

19.6

+39% in Milwaukee, WI

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$27.86

$18.17

+35% in Fort Smith, AR

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.31

+8% in Milwaukee, WI

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$1.66

+5% in Fort Smith, AR

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$3.63

+64% in Milwaukee, WI

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$6.77

+5% in Milwaukee, WI

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.10

+10% in Milwaukee, WI

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (AR / WI)

6.5%

+1.5 pp in AR

Income Tax (top rate)

3.90%

7.65%

+3.8 pp in WI

Fort Smith vs Milwaukee — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Fort Smith or Milwaukee?: Fort Smith, AR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $780 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 26% below Milwaukee, WI's $1,050, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Fort Smith than in Milwaukee?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $24,000 a year in Fort Smith versus $34,000 in Milwaukee.
Which has lower taxes, Fort Smith or Milwaukee?: Fort Smith is taxed under Arkansas's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax); Milwaukee under Wisconsin's (a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 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).