Living Cost Compare
Fort Smith

Arkansas

$780/mo est.

vs
Norman

Oklahoma

$1,050/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 $1,050 in Norman, OK. Overall, Fort Smith, AR is roughly 26% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Norman, OK, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $52,692 in Fort Smith, AR and $65,060 in Norman, OK — about 19% higher in Norman, OK. Arkansas has a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax; Oklahoma has a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% state sales tax.

Fort Smith, AR
Norman, OK

Rent

Studio
$634
$820
+29% in Norman, OK
1 Bedroom
$603
$863
+43% in Norman, OK
2 Bedroom
$863
$1,056
+22% in Norman, OK
3 Bedroom
$1,087
$1,377
+27% in Norman, OK

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$168,100
$239,300
+42% in Norman, OK

Income

Median Household Income
$52,692
$65,060
+23% in Norman, OK
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$39,560
$47,230
+19% in Norman, OK

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.6 yr
31.6 yr
+5.0 yr in Fort Smith, AR
Homeownership
53.0%
52.7%
+0.3 pp in Fort Smith, AR
Bachelor's+ (25+)
25.3%
46.2%
+20.9 pp in Norman, OK
Avg Commute
17.3 min
22.2 min
+4.9 min in Norman, OK

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
844.7
268.6
+68% in Fort Smith, AR
Property Crime
3,697.6
2,294.1
+38% 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
61.5°F
+0.2°F in Fort Smith, AR
Annual Precipitation
45.5 in
36.5 in
+8.9 in in Fort Smith, AR

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.85/gal
+6% in Norman, OK

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.1
14.3
+1% in Norman, OK
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$27.86
$31.25
+12% in Norman, OK

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 / OK)
6.5%
4.5%
+2.0 pp in AR
Income Tax (top rate)
3.90%
4.50%
+0.6 pp in OK

Fort Smith vs Norman — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Fort Smith or Norman?
Fort Smith, AR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $780 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 26% below Norman, OK's $1,050, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Fort Smith than in Norman?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $24,000 a year in Fort Smith versus $35,000 in Norman.
Which has lower taxes, Fort Smith or Norman?
Fort Smith is taxed under Arkansas's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax); Norman under Oklahoma's (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% 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).