Is it cheaper to live in Fort Smith or Phoenix?

Fort Smith, AR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $780 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 45% below Phoenix, AZ's $1,430, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $24,000 a year in Fort Smith versus $50,000 in Phoenix.

Which has lower taxes, Fort Smith or Phoenix?

Fort Smith is taxed under Arkansas's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax); Phoenix under Arizona's (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% state sales tax).

Fort Smith vs Phoenix Cost of Living 2026

Fort Smith

Arkansas

$780/mo est.

Phoenix

Arizona

$1,430/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 $1,430 in Phoenix, AZ. Overall, Fort Smith, AR is roughly 45% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Phoenix, AZ, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $52,692 in Fort Smith, AR and $77,041 in Phoenix, AZ — about 32% higher in Phoenix, AZ. Arkansas has a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax; Arizona has a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% state sales tax.

Fort Smith, AR

Phoenix, AZ

Rent

Studio

$634

$1,127

+78% in Phoenix, AZ

1 Bedroom

$603

$1,253

+108% in Phoenix, AZ

2 Bedroom

$863

$1,493

+73% in Phoenix, AZ

3 Bedroom

$1,087

$1,771

+63% in Phoenix, AZ

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$168,100

$381,900

+127% in Phoenix, AZ

Income

Median Household Income

$52,692

$77,041

+46% in Phoenix, AZ

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$39,560

$51,380

+30% in Phoenix, AZ

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

36.6 yr

34.8 yr

+1.8 yr in Fort Smith, AR

Homeownership

53.0%

57.1%

+4.1 pp in Phoenix, AZ

Bachelor's+ (25+)

25.3%

32.3%

+7.0 pp in Phoenix, AZ

Avg Commute

17.3 min

25.7 min

+8.4 min in Phoenix, AZ

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

844.7

799.6

+5% in Fort Smith, AR

Property Crime

3,697.6

2,338.9

+37% 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

75.1°F

+13.4°F in Phoenix, AZ

Annual Precipitation

45.5 in

8.2 in

+37.3 in in Fort Smith, AR

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.62/gal

$5.21/gal

+44% in Phoenix, AZ

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs West Coast (PADD 5).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$2.00

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.1

15.2

+8% in Phoenix, AZ

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$27.86

$24.74

+11% in Fort Smith, AR

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.82

+20% in Phoenix, AZ

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$2.04

+17% in Phoenix, AZ

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$2.19

+1% in Fort Smith, AR

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$7.36

+14% in Phoenix, AZ

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.01

+6% in Phoenix, AZ

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.70

+14% in Phoenix, AZ

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (AR / AZ)

6.5%

5.6%

+0.9 pp in AR

Income Tax (top rate)

3.90%

2.50%

+1.4 pp in AR

Fort Smith vs Phoenix — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Fort Smith or Phoenix?: Fort Smith, AR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $780 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 45% below Phoenix, AZ's $1,430, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Fort Smith than in Phoenix?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $24,000 a year in Fort Smith versus $50,000 in Phoenix.
Which has lower taxes, Fort Smith or Phoenix?: Fort Smith is taxed under Arkansas's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax); Phoenix under Arizona's (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% 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).