Is it cheaper to live in Fort Smith or Provo?

Fort Smith, AR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $780 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 30% below Provo, UT's $1,120, mainly because of rent.

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

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 Provo.

Which has lower taxes, Fort Smith or Provo?

Fort Smith is taxed under Arkansas's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax); Provo under Utah's (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% state sales tax).

Fort Smith vs Provo Cost of Living 2026

Fort Smith

Arkansas

$780/mo est.

Provo

Utah

$1,120/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 $1,120 in Provo, UT. Overall, Fort Smith, AR is roughly 30% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Provo, UT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $52,692 in Fort Smith, AR and $62,800 in Provo, UT — about 16% higher in Provo, UT. Arkansas has a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax; Utah has a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% state sales tax.

Fort Smith, AR

Provo, UT

Rent

Studio

$634

$1,009

+59% in Provo, UT

1 Bedroom

$603

$978

+62% in Provo, UT

2 Bedroom

$863

$1,128

+31% in Provo, UT

3 Bedroom

$1,087

$1,381

+27% in Provo, UT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$168,100

$437,100

+160% in Provo, UT

Income

Median Household Income

$52,692

$62,800

+19% in Provo, UT

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$39,560

$48,010

+21% in Provo, UT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

36.6 yr

23.7 yr

+12.9 yr in Fort Smith, AR

Homeownership

53.0%

39.9%

+13.1 pp in Fort Smith, AR

Bachelor's+ (25+)

25.3%

45.0%

+19.7 pp in Provo, UT

Avg Commute

17.3 min

18.5 min

+1.2 min in Provo, UT

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

844.7

205.7

+76% in Fort Smith, AR

Property Crime

3,697.6

1,280.6

+65% 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

53.4°F

+8.3°F in Fort Smith, AR

Annual Precipitation

45.5 in

19.8 in

+25.7 in in Fort Smith, AR

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.62/gal

$4.27/gal

+18% in Provo, UT

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs Rocky Mountain (PADD 4).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.1

13.4

+5% in Fort Smith, AR

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$27.86

$11.84

+58% in Fort Smith, AR

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.82

+20% in Provo, UT

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$2.04

+17% in Provo, UT

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$2.19

+1% in Fort Smith, AR

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$7.36

+14% in Provo, UT

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.01

+6% in Provo, UT

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.70

+14% in Provo, UT

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (AR / UT)

6.5%

6.1%

+0.4 pp in AR

Income Tax (top rate)

3.90%

4.50%

+0.6 pp in UT

Fort Smith vs Provo — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Fort Smith or Provo?: Fort Smith, AR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $780 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 30% below Provo, UT's $1,120, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Fort Smith than in Provo?: 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 Provo.
Which has lower taxes, Fort Smith or Provo?: Fort Smith is taxed under Arkansas's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax); Provo under Utah's (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% 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).