Is it cheaper to live in Fort Smith or Newark?

Fort Smith, AR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $780 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 37% below Newark, NJ's $1,230, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $24,000 a year in Fort Smith versus $39,000 in Newark.

Which has lower taxes, Fort Smith or Newark?

Fort Smith is taxed under Arkansas's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax); Newark under New Jersey's (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% state sales tax).

Fort Smith vs Newark Cost of Living 2026

Fort Smith

Arkansas

$780/mo est.

Newark

New Jersey

$1,230/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 $1,230 in Newark, NJ. Overall, Fort Smith, AR is roughly 37% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Newark, NJ, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $52,692 in Fort Smith, AR and $48,416 in Newark, NJ — about 8% higher in Fort Smith, AR. Arkansas has a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax; New Jersey has a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% state sales tax.

Fort Smith, AR

Newark, NJ

Rent

Studio

$634

$1,111

+75% in Newark, NJ

1 Bedroom

$603

$978

+62% in Newark, NJ

2 Bedroom

$863

$1,386

+61% in Newark, NJ

3 Bedroom

$1,087

$1,695

+56% in Newark, NJ

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$168,100

$337,800

+101% in Newark, NJ

Income

Median Household Income

$52,692

$48,416

+8% in Fort Smith, AR

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$39,560

$61,430

+55% in Newark, NJ

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

36.6 yr

34.8 yr

+1.8 yr in Fort Smith, AR

Homeownership

53.0%

24.1%

+28.9 pp in Fort Smith, AR

Bachelor's+ (25+)

25.3%

17.4%

+7.9 pp in Fort Smith, AR

Avg Commute

17.3 min

33.2 min

+15.9 min in Newark, NJ

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

844.7

582.5

+31% in Fort Smith, AR

Property Crime

3,697.6

1,961.8

+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

54.9°F

+6.8°F in Fort Smith, AR

Annual Precipitation

45.5 in

46.3 in

+0.8 in in Newark, NJ

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.62/gal

$3.94/gal

+9% in Newark, NJ

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.1

24.9

+77% in Newark, NJ

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$27.86

$17.68

+37% in Fort Smith, AR

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.31

+8% in Newark, NJ

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$1.92

+10% in Newark, NJ

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$2.19

+1% in Fort Smith, AR

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$6.90

+7% in Newark, NJ

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.19

+15% in Newark, NJ

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.69

+12% in Newark, NJ

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (AR / NJ)

6.5%

6.625%

+0.1 pp in NJ

Income Tax (top rate)

3.90%

10.75%

+6.8 pp in NJ

Fort Smith vs Newark — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Fort Smith or Newark?: Fort Smith, AR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $780 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 37% below Newark, NJ's $1,230, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Fort Smith than in Newark?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $24,000 a year in Fort Smith versus $39,000 in Newark.
Which has lower taxes, Fort Smith or Newark?: Fort Smith is taxed under Arkansas's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax); Newark under New Jersey's (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% 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).