Is it cheaper to live in Fort Smith or Missoula?

Fort Smith, AR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $780 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 29% below Missoula, MT's $1,100, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $24,000 a year in Fort Smith versus $38,000 in Missoula.

Which has lower taxes, Fort Smith or Missoula?

Fort Smith is taxed under Arkansas's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax); Missoula under Montana's (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax).

Fort Smith vs Missoula Cost of Living 2026

Fort Smith

Arkansas

$780/mo est.

Missoula

Montana

$1,100/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 $1,100 in Missoula, MT. Overall, Fort Smith, AR is roughly 29% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Missoula, MT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $52,692 in Fort Smith, AR and $65,329 in Missoula, MT — about 19% higher in Missoula, MT. Arkansas has a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax; Montana has a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax.

Fort Smith, AR

Missoula, MT

Rent

Studio

$634

$755

+19% in Missoula, MT

1 Bedroom

$603

$953

+58% in Missoula, MT

2 Bedroom

$863

$1,176

+36% in Missoula, MT

3 Bedroom

$1,087

$1,676

+54% in Missoula, MT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$168,100

$427,400

+154% in Missoula, MT

Income

Median Household Income

$52,692

$65,329

+24% in Missoula, MT

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$39,560

$47,830

+21% in Missoula, MT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

36.6 yr

34.3 yr

+2.3 yr in Fort Smith, AR

Homeownership

53.0%

47.8%

+5.2 pp in Fort Smith, AR

Bachelor's+ (25+)

25.3%

51.7%

+26.4 pp in Missoula, MT

Avg Commute

17.3 min

16.6 min

+0.7 min in Fort Smith, AR

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

844.7

601.9

+29% in Fort Smith, AR

Property Crime

3,697.6

3,685.2

+0% 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

45.9°F

+15.8°F in Fort Smith, AR

Annual Precipitation

45.5 in

14.1 in

+31.3 in in Fort Smith, AR

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.62/gal

$4.27/gal

+18% in Missoula, MT

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs Rocky Mountain (PADD 4).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.1

15.1

+7% in Missoula, MT

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$27.86

$10.12

+64% in Fort Smith, AR

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.82

+20% in Missoula, MT

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$2.04

+17% in Missoula, MT

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$2.19

+1% in Fort Smith, AR

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$7.36

+14% in Missoula, MT

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.01

+6% in Missoula, MT

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.70

+14% in Missoula, MT

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (AR / MT)

6.5%

None

+6.5 pp in AR

Income Tax (top rate)

3.90%

5.65%

+1.8 pp in MT

Fort Smith vs Missoula — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Fort Smith or Missoula?: Fort Smith, AR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $780 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 29% below Missoula, MT's $1,100, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Fort Smith than in Missoula?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $24,000 a year in Fort Smith versus $38,000 in Missoula.
Which has lower taxes, Fort Smith or Missoula?: Fort Smith is taxed under Arkansas's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax); Missoula under Montana's (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% 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).