Living Cost Compare
Fort Smith

Arkansas

$780/mo est.

vs
New Haven

Connecticut

$1,530/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 $1,530 in New Haven, CT. Overall, Fort Smith, AR is roughly 49% cheaper to live in day-to-day than New Haven, CT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $52,692 in Fort Smith, AR and $53,771 in New Haven, CT — about 2% higher in New Haven, CT. Arkansas has a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax; Connecticut has a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax.

Fort Smith, AR
New Haven, CT

Rent

Studio
$634
$1,159
+83% in New Haven, CT
1 Bedroom
$603
$1,275
+111% in New Haven, CT
2 Bedroom
$863
$1,473
+71% in New Haven, CT
3 Bedroom
$1,087
$1,636
+51% in New Haven, CT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$168,100
$249,000
+48% in New Haven, CT

Income

Median Household Income
$52,692
$53,771
+2% in New Haven, CT
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$39,560
$60,060
+52% in New Haven, CT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.6 yr
31.9 yr
+4.7 yr in Fort Smith, AR
Homeownership
53.0%
28.4%
+24.6 pp in Fort Smith, AR
Bachelor's+ (25+)
25.3%
37.7%
+12.4 pp in New Haven, CT
Avg Commute
17.3 min
21.0 min
+3.7 min in New Haven, CT

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
844.7
536.3
+37% in Fort Smith, AR
Property Crime
3,697.6
3,601.6
+3% 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
52.2°F
+9.5°F in Fort Smith, AR
Annual Precipitation
45.5 in
47.1 in
+1.6 in in New Haven, CT

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.94/gal
+9% in New Haven, CT

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.1
24.3
+72% in New Haven, CT
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$27.86
$23.33
+16% in Fort Smith, AR

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.31
+8% in New Haven, CT
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.92
+10% in New Haven, CT
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.19
+1% in Fort Smith, AR
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.90
+7% in New Haven, CT
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.19
+15% in New Haven, CT
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.69
+12% in New Haven, CT

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (AR / CT)
6.5%
6.35%
+0.2 pp in AR
Income Tax (top rate)
3.90%
6.99%
+3.1 pp in CT

Fort Smith vs New Haven — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Fort Smith or New Haven?
Fort Smith, AR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $780 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 49% below New Haven, CT's $1,530, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Fort Smith than in New Haven?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $24,000 a year in Fort Smith versus $51,000 in New Haven.
Which has lower taxes, Fort Smith or New Haven?
Fort Smith is taxed under Arkansas's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax); New Haven under Connecticut's (a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% 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).