Living Cost Compare
Fort Smith

Arkansas

$780/mo est.

vs
Minneapolis

Minnesota

$1,370/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 $1,370 in Minneapolis, MN. Overall, Fort Smith, AR is roughly 43% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Minneapolis, MN, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $52,692 in Fort Smith, AR and $80,269 in Minneapolis, MN — about 34% higher in Minneapolis, MN. Arkansas has a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax; Minnesota has a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax.

Fort Smith, AR
Minneapolis, MN

Rent

Studio
$634
$992
+56% in Minneapolis, MN
1 Bedroom
$603
$1,192
+98% in Minneapolis, MN
2 Bedroom
$863
$1,555
+80% in Minneapolis, MN
3 Bedroom
$1,087
$1,761
+62% in Minneapolis, MN

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$168,100
$345,600
+106% in Minneapolis, MN

Income

Median Household Income
$52,692
$80,269
+52% in Minneapolis, MN
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$39,560
$59,320
+50% in Minneapolis, MN

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.6 yr
33.0 yr
+3.6 yr in Fort Smith, AR
Homeownership
53.0%
48.0%
+5.0 pp in Fort Smith, AR
Bachelor's+ (25+)
25.3%
54.5%
+29.2 pp in Minneapolis, MN
Avg Commute
17.3 min
22.5 min
+5.2 min in Minneapolis, MN

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
844.7
1,168.5
+38% in Minneapolis, MN
Property Crime
3,697.6
5,183.1
+40% in Minneapolis, MN

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
47.4°F
+14.3°F in Fort Smith, AR
Annual Precipitation
45.5 in
32.8 in
+12.6 in in Fort Smith, AR

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.96/gal
+9% in Minneapolis, MN

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs Minnesota.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$2.00

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.1
17.5
+24% in Minneapolis, MN
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$27.86
$14.79
+47% in Fort Smith, AR

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.31
+8% in Minneapolis, MN
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.66
+5% in Fort Smith, AR
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$3.63
+64% in Minneapolis, MN
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.77
+5% in Minneapolis, MN
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.10
+10% in Minneapolis, MN
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (AR / MN)
6.5%
6.875%
+0.4 pp in MN
Income Tax (top rate)
3.90%
9.85%
+5.9 pp in MN

Fort Smith vs Minneapolis — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Fort Smith or Minneapolis?
Fort Smith, AR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $780 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 43% below Minneapolis, MN's $1,370, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Fort Smith than in Minneapolis?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $24,000 a year in Fort Smith versus $48,000 in Minneapolis.
Which has lower taxes, Fort Smith or Minneapolis?
Fort Smith is taxed under Arkansas's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax); Minneapolis under Minnesota's (a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% 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).