Is it cheaper to live in Fort Smith or Pittsburgh?

Fort Smith, AR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $780 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 41% below Pittsburgh, PA's $1,320, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $24,000 a year in Fort Smith versus $43,000 in Pittsburgh.

Which has lower taxes, Fort Smith or Pittsburgh?

Fort Smith is taxed under Arkansas's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax); Pittsburgh under Pennsylvania's (a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax).

Fort Smith vs Pittsburgh Cost of Living 2026

Fort Smith

Arkansas

$780/mo est.

Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania

$1,320/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 $1,320 in Pittsburgh, PA. Overall, Fort Smith, AR is roughly 41% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Pittsburgh, PA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $52,692 in Fort Smith, AR and $64,137 in Pittsburgh, PA — about 18% higher in Pittsburgh, PA. Arkansas has a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax; Pennsylvania has a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax.

Fort Smith, AR

Pittsburgh, PA

Rent

Studio

$634

$1,109

+75% in Pittsburgh, PA

1 Bedroom

$603

$1,079

+79% in Pittsburgh, PA

2 Bedroom

$863

$1,269

+47% in Pittsburgh, PA

3 Bedroom

$1,087

$1,450

+33% in Pittsburgh, PA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$168,100

$193,200

+15% in Pittsburgh, PA

Income

Median Household Income

$52,692

$64,137

+22% in Pittsburgh, PA

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$39,560

$49,650

+26% in Pittsburgh, PA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

36.6 yr

33.5 yr

+3.1 yr in Fort Smith, AR

Homeownership

53.0%

47.2%

+5.8 pp in Fort Smith, AR

Bachelor's+ (25+)

25.3%

47.8%

+22.5 pp in Pittsburgh, PA

Avg Commute

17.3 min

23.1 min

+5.8 min in Pittsburgh, PA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

844.7

436

+48% in Fort Smith, AR

Property Crime

3,697.6

2,315.7

+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

51.8°F

+9.9°F in Fort Smith, AR

Annual Precipitation

45.5 in

39.3 in

+6.2 in in Fort Smith, AR

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.62/gal

$3.94/gal

+9% in Pittsburgh, PA

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.1

21.7

+54% in Pittsburgh, PA

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$27.86

$26.08

+6% in Fort Smith, AR

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.31

+8% in Pittsburgh, PA

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$1.92

+10% in Pittsburgh, PA

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$2.19

+1% in Fort Smith, AR

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$6.90

+7% in Pittsburgh, PA

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.19

+15% in Pittsburgh, PA

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.69

+12% in Pittsburgh, PA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (AR / PA)

6.5%

+0.5 pp in AR

Income Tax (top rate)

3.90%

3.07%

+0.8 pp in AR

Fort Smith vs Pittsburgh — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Fort Smith or Pittsburgh?: Fort Smith, AR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $780 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 41% below Pittsburgh, PA's $1,320, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Fort Smith than in Pittsburgh?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $24,000 a year in Fort Smith versus $43,000 in Pittsburgh.
Which has lower taxes, Fort Smith or Pittsburgh?: Fort Smith is taxed under Arkansas's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax); Pittsburgh under Pennsylvania's (a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 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).