Living Cost Compare
Fort Smith

Arkansas

$780/mo est.

vs
Morgantown

West Virginia

$950/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 $950 in Morgantown, WV. Overall, Fort Smith, AR is roughly 18% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Morgantown, WV, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $52,692 in Fort Smith, AR and $42,245 in Morgantown, WV — about 20% higher in Fort Smith, AR. Arkansas has a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax; West Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax.

Fort Smith, AR
Morgantown, WV

Rent

Studio
$634
$836
+32% in Morgantown, WV
1 Bedroom
$603
$770
+28% in Morgantown, WV
2 Bedroom
$863
$969
+12% in Morgantown, WV
3 Bedroom
$1,087
$1,038
+5% in Fort Smith, AR

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$168,100
$238,200
+42% in Morgantown, WV

Income

Median Household Income
$52,692
$42,245
+20% in Fort Smith, AR
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$39,560
$47,350
+20% in Morgantown, WV

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.6 yr
24.0 yr
+12.6 yr in Fort Smith, AR
Homeownership
53.0%
44.3%
+8.7 pp in Fort Smith, AR
Bachelor's+ (25+)
25.3%
58.1%
+32.8 pp in Morgantown, WV
Avg Commute
17.3 min
17.3 min
about equal

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
844.7
216.3
+74% in Fort Smith, AR
Property Crime
3,697.6
1,976.4
+47% 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
53.0°F
+8.7°F in Fort Smith, AR
Annual Precipitation
45.5 in
41.8 in
+3.6 in in Fort Smith, AR

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.94/gal
+9% in Morgantown, WV

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.1
15.4
+9% in Morgantown, WV
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$27.86
$24.68
+11% 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 / WV)
6.5%
6%
+0.5 pp in AR
Income Tax (top rate)
3.90%
4.82%
+0.9 pp in WV

Fort Smith vs Morgantown — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Fort Smith or Morgantown?
Fort Smith, AR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $780 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 18% below Morgantown, WV's $950, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Fort Smith than in Morgantown?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $24,000 a year in Fort Smith versus $31,000 in Morgantown.
Which has lower taxes, Fort Smith or Morgantown?
Fort Smith is taxed under Arkansas's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax); Morgantown under West Virginia's (a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% 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).