Is it cheaper to live in Fort Smith or Reno?

Fort Smith, AR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $780 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 42% below Reno, NV's $1,350, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $24,000 a year in Fort Smith versus $48,000 in Reno.

Which has lower taxes, Fort Smith or Reno?

Fort Smith is taxed under Arkansas's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax); Reno under Nevada's (no state income tax and a 6.85% state sales tax).

Fort Smith vs Reno Cost of Living 2026

Fort Smith

Arkansas

$780/mo est.

Reno

Nevada

$1,350/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 $1,350 in Reno, NV. Overall, Fort Smith, AR is roughly 42% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Reno, NV, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $52,692 in Fort Smith, AR and $78,448 in Reno, NV — about 33% higher in Reno, NV. Arkansas has a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax; Nevada has no state income tax and a 6.85% state sales tax.

Fort Smith, AR

Reno, NV

Rent

Studio

$634

$964

+52% in Reno, NV

1 Bedroom

$603

$1,206

+100% in Reno, NV

2 Bedroom

$863

$1,518

+76% in Reno, NV

3 Bedroom

$1,087

$1,885

+73% in Reno, NV

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$168,100

$498,600

+197% in Reno, NV

Income

Median Household Income

$52,692

$78,448

+49% in Reno, NV

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$39,560

$49,660

+26% in Reno, NV

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

36.6 yr

37.3 yr

+0.7 yr in Reno, NV

Homeownership

53.0%

49.4%

+3.6 pp in Fort Smith, AR

Bachelor's+ (25+)

25.3%

35.7%

+10.4 pp in Reno, NV

Avg Commute

17.3 min

20.6 min

+3.3 min in Reno, NV

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

844.7

528.9

+37% in Fort Smith, AR

Property Crime

3,697.6

2,489.3

+33% 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

53.8°F

+7.9°F in Fort Smith, AR

Annual Precipitation

45.5 in

7.4 in

+38.1 in in Fort Smith, AR

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.62/gal

$5.21/gal

+44% in Reno, NV

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.1

13.1

+7% in Fort Smith, AR

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$27.86

$13.83

+50% in Fort Smith, AR

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.82

+20% in Reno, NV

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$2.04

+17% in Reno, NV

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$2.19

+1% in Fort Smith, AR

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$7.36

+14% in Reno, NV

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.01

+6% in Reno, NV

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.70

+14% in Reno, NV

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (AR / NV)

6.5%

6.85%

+0.3 pp in NV

Income Tax (top rate)

3.90%

None

+3.9 pp in AR

Fort Smith vs Reno — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Fort Smith or Reno?: Fort Smith, AR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $780 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 42% below Reno, NV's $1,350, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Fort Smith than in Reno?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $24,000 a year in Fort Smith versus $48,000 in Reno.
Which has lower taxes, Fort Smith or Reno?: Fort Smith is taxed under Arkansas's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax); Reno under Nevada's (no state income tax and a 6.85% 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).