Is it cheaper to live in Fort Smith or Omaha?

Fort Smith, AR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $780 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 32% below Omaha, NE's $1,140, mainly because of rent.

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

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 Omaha.

Which has lower taxes, Fort Smith or Omaha?

Fort Smith is taxed under Arkansas's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax); Omaha under Nebraska's (a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax).

Fort Smith vs Omaha Cost of Living 2026

Fort Smith

Arkansas

$780/mo est.

Omaha

Nebraska

$1,140/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 $1,140 in Omaha, NE. Overall, Fort Smith, AR is roughly 32% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Omaha, NE, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $52,692 in Fort Smith, AR and $72,708 in Omaha, NE — about 28% higher in Omaha, NE. Arkansas has a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax; Nebraska has a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax.

Fort Smith, AR

Omaha, NE

Rent

Studio

$634

$908

+43% in Omaha, NE

1 Bedroom

$603

$984

+63% in Omaha, NE

2 Bedroom

$863

$1,193

+38% in Omaha, NE

3 Bedroom

$1,087

$1,437

+32% in Omaha, NE

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$168,100

$230,100

+37% in Omaha, NE

Income

Median Household Income

$52,692

$72,708

+38% in Omaha, NE

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$39,560

$49,660

+26% in Omaha, NE

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

36.6 yr

35.3 yr

+1.3 yr in Fort Smith, AR

Homeownership

53.0%

57.7%

+4.7 pp in Omaha, NE

Bachelor's+ (25+)

25.3%

40.3%

+15.0 pp in Omaha, NE

Avg Commute

17.3 min

19.6 min

+2.3 min in Omaha, NE

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

844.7

359

+57% in Fort Smith, AR

Property Crime

3,697.6

3,153.5

+15% 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

51.1°F

+10.6°F in Fort Smith, AR

Annual Precipitation

45.5 in

30.6 in

+14.8 in in Fort Smith, AR

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.62/gal

$3.85/gal

+6% in Omaha, NE

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$1.25

Adult base one-way fare — — vs Metro Transit (Omaha) (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.1

13.3

+6% in Fort Smith, AR

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$27.86

$20.10

+28% in Fort Smith, AR

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.31

+8% in Omaha, NE

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$1.66

+5% in Fort Smith, AR

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$3.63

+64% in Omaha, NE

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$6.77

+5% in Omaha, NE

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.10

+10% in Omaha, NE

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (AR / NE)

6.5%

5.5%

+1.0 pp in AR

Income Tax (top rate)

3.90%

4.55%

+0.6 pp in NE

Fort Smith vs Omaha — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Fort Smith or Omaha?: Fort Smith, AR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $780 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 32% below Omaha, NE's $1,140, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Fort Smith than in Omaha?: 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 Omaha.
Which has lower taxes, Fort Smith or Omaha?: Fort Smith is taxed under Arkansas's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax); Omaha under Nebraska's (a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% 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).