Living Cost Compare
Fort Smith

Arkansas

$780/mo est.

vs
Montgomery

Alabama

$1,020/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 $1,020 in Montgomery, AL. Overall, Fort Smith, AR is roughly 24% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Montgomery, AL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $52,692 in Fort Smith, AR and $55,687 in Montgomery, AL — about 5% higher in Montgomery, AL. Arkansas has a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax; Alabama has a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax.

Fort Smith, AR
Montgomery, AL

Rent

Studio
$634
$864
+36% in Montgomery, AL
1 Bedroom
$603
$831
+38% in Montgomery, AL
2 Bedroom
$863
$982
+14% in Montgomery, AL
3 Bedroom
$1,087
$1,172
+8% in Montgomery, AL

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$168,100
$148,500
+12% in Fort Smith, AR

Income

Median Household Income
$52,692
$55,687
+6% in Montgomery, AL
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$39,560
$44,950
+14% in Montgomery, AL

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.6 yr
36.2 yr
+0.4 yr in Fort Smith, AR
Homeownership
53.0%
54.3%
+1.3 pp in Montgomery, AL
Bachelor's+ (25+)
25.3%
33.5%
+8.2 pp in Montgomery, AL
Avg Commute
17.3 min
20.5 min
+3.2 min in Montgomery, AL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
844.7
605.5
+28% in Fort Smith, AR
Property Crime
3,697.6
2,258.3
+39% 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
65.1°F
+3.4°F in Montgomery, AL
Annual Precipitation
45.5 in
53.1 in
+7.6 in in Montgomery, AL

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
16.4
+16% in Montgomery, AL
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$27.86
$24.06
+14% in Fort Smith, AR

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 / AL)
6.5%
4%
+2.5 pp in AR
Income Tax (top rate)
3.90%
5.00%
+1.1 pp in AL

Fort Smith vs Montgomery — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Fort Smith or Montgomery?
Fort Smith, AR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $780 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 24% below Montgomery, AL's $1,020, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Fort Smith than in Montgomery?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $24,000 a year in Fort Smith versus $33,000 in Montgomery.
Which has lower taxes, Fort Smith or Montgomery?
Fort Smith is taxed under Arkansas's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax); Montgomery under Alabama's (a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% 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).