Is it cheaper to live in Fort Smith or Providence?

Fort Smith, AR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $780 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 41% below Providence, RI's $1,330, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $24,000 a year in Fort Smith versus $41,000 in Providence.

Which has lower taxes, Fort Smith or Providence?

Fort Smith is taxed under Arkansas's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax); Providence under Rhode Island's (a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% state sales tax).

Fort Smith vs Providence Cost of Living 2026

Fort Smith

Arkansas

$780/mo est.

Providence

Rhode Island

$1,330/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 $1,330 in Providence, RI. Overall, Fort Smith, AR is roughly 41% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Providence, RI, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $52,692 in Fort Smith, AR and $66,772 in Providence, RI — about 21% higher in Providence, RI. Arkansas has a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax; Rhode Island has a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% state sales tax.

Fort Smith, AR

Providence, RI

Rent

Studio

$634

$1,116

+76% in Providence, RI

1 Bedroom

$603

$1,030

+71% in Providence, RI

2 Bedroom

$863

$1,323

+53% in Providence, RI

3 Bedroom

$1,087

$1,627

+50% in Providence, RI

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$168,100

$322,800

+92% in Providence, RI

Income

Median Household Income

$52,692

$66,772

+27% in Providence, RI

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$39,560

$53,680

+36% in Providence, RI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

36.6 yr

32.9 yr

+3.7 yr in Fort Smith, AR

Homeownership

53.0%

41.2%

+11.8 pp in Fort Smith, AR

Bachelor's+ (25+)

25.3%

34.7%

+9.4 pp in Providence, RI

Avg Commute

17.3 min

25.0 min

+7.7 min in Providence, RI

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

844.7

282.4

+67% in Fort Smith, AR

Property Crime

3,697.6

1,665.6

+55% 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

51.6°F

+10.1°F in Fort Smith, AR

Annual Precipitation

45.5 in

47.2 in

+1.7 in in Providence, RI

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.62/gal

$3.94/gal

+9% in Providence, RI

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.1

29.2

+107% in Providence, RI

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$27.86

$25.75

+8% in Fort Smith, AR

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.31

+8% in Providence, RI

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$1.92

+10% in Providence, RI

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$2.19

+1% in Fort Smith, AR

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$6.90

+7% in Providence, RI

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.19

+15% in Providence, RI

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.69

+12% in Providence, RI

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (AR / RI)

6.5%

+0.5 pp in RI

Income Tax (top rate)

3.90%

5.99%

+2.1 pp in RI

Fort Smith vs Providence — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Fort Smith or Providence?: Fort Smith, AR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $780 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 41% below Providence, RI's $1,330, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Fort Smith than in Providence?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $24,000 a year in Fort Smith versus $41,000 in Providence.
Which has lower taxes, Fort Smith or Providence?: Fort Smith is taxed under Arkansas's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax); Providence under Rhode Island's (a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% 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).