Living Cost Compare
Fort Smith

Arkansas

$780/mo est.

vs
Overland Park

Kansas

$1,410/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 $1,410 in Overland Park, KS. Overall, Fort Smith, AR is roughly 45% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Overland Park, KS, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $52,692 in Fort Smith, AR and $103,838 in Overland Park, KS — about 49% higher in Overland Park, KS. Arkansas has a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax; Kansas has a top state income tax rate of 5.58% and a 6.5% state sales tax.

Fort Smith, AR
Overland Park, KS

Rent

Studio
$634
$1,270
+100% in Overland Park, KS
1 Bedroom
$603
$1,224
+103% in Overland Park, KS
2 Bedroom
$863
$1,589
+84% in Overland Park, KS
3 Bedroom
$1,087
$1,828
+68% in Overland Park, KS

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$168,100
$384,400
+129% in Overland Park, KS

Income

Median Household Income
$52,692
$103,838
+97% in Overland Park, KS
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$39,560
$50,820
+28% in Overland Park, KS

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.6 yr
38.6 yr
+2.0 yr in Overland Park, KS
Homeownership
53.0%
61.5%
+8.5 pp in Overland Park, KS
Bachelor's+ (25+)
25.3%
62.9%
+37.6 pp in Overland Park, KS
Avg Commute
17.3 min
19.9 min
+2.6 min in Overland Park, KS

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
844.7
188.4
+78% in Fort Smith, AR
Property Crime
3,697.6
1,790.5
+52% 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
55.2°F
+6.5°F in Fort Smith, AR
Annual Precipitation
45.5 in
40.0 in
+5.4 in in Fort Smith, AR

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.85/gal
+6% in Overland Park, KS

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.1
15.7
+11% in Overland Park, KS
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$27.86
$25.12
+10% in Fort Smith, AR

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.31
+8% in Overland Park, KS
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.66
+5% in Fort Smith, AR
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$3.63
+64% in Overland Park, KS
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.77
+5% in Overland Park, KS
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.10
+10% in Overland Park, KS
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (AR / KS)
6.5%
6.5%
about equal
Income Tax (top rate)
3.90%
5.58%
+1.7 pp in KS

Fort Smith vs Overland Park — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Fort Smith or Overland Park?
Fort Smith, AR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $780 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 45% below Overland Park, KS's $1,410, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Fort Smith than in Overland Park?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $24,000 a year in Fort Smith versus $49,000 in Overland Park.
Which has lower taxes, Fort Smith or Overland Park?
Fort Smith is taxed under Arkansas's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax); Overland Park under Kansas's (a top state income tax rate of 5.58% and a 6.5% 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).