Living Cost Compare
Fort Smith

Arkansas

$780/mo est.

vs
New Orleans

Louisiana

$1,170/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 $1,170 in New Orleans, LA. Overall, Fort Smith, AR is roughly 33% cheaper to live in day-to-day than New Orleans, LA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $52,692 in Fort Smith, AR and $55,339 in New Orleans, LA — about 5% higher in New Orleans, LA. Arkansas has a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax; Louisiana has a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax.

Fort Smith, AR
New Orleans, LA

Rent

Studio
$634
$953
+50% in New Orleans, LA
1 Bedroom
$603
$1,019
+69% in New Orleans, LA
2 Bedroom
$863
$1,287
+49% in New Orleans, LA
3 Bedroom
$1,087
$1,392
+28% in New Orleans, LA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$168,100
$296,400
+76% in New Orleans, LA

Income

Median Household Income
$52,692
$55,339
+5% in New Orleans, LA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$39,560
$47,290
+20% in New Orleans, LA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.6 yr
38.4 yr
+1.8 yr in New Orleans, LA
Homeownership
53.0%
50.5%
+2.5 pp in Fort Smith, AR
Bachelor's+ (25+)
25.3%
42.0%
+16.7 pp in New Orleans, LA
Avg Commute
17.3 min
22.7 min
+5.4 min in New Orleans, LA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
844.7
1,361.1
+61% in New Orleans, LA
Property Crime
3,697.6
5,089.6
+38% in New Orleans, LA

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
70.6°F
+8.9°F in New Orleans, LA
Annual Precipitation
45.5 in
62.3 in
+16.8 in in New Orleans, LA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.62/gal
about equal

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$1.25

Adult base one-way fare — — vs New Orleans RTA (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.1
13.5
+4% in Fort Smith, AR
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$27.86
$16.62
+40% 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 / LA)
6.5%
5%
+1.5 pp in AR
Income Tax (top rate)
3.90%
3.00%
+0.9 pp in AR

Fort Smith vs New Orleans — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Fort Smith or New Orleans?
Fort Smith, AR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $780 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 33% below New Orleans, LA's $1,170, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Fort Smith than in New Orleans?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $24,000 a year in Fort Smith versus $41,000 in New Orleans.
Which has lower taxes, Fort Smith or New Orleans?
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 Orleans under Louisiana's (a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% 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).