Living Cost Compare
Fort Smith

Arkansas

$780/mo est.

vs
Richmond

Virginia

$1,400/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 $1,400 in Richmond, VA. Overall, Fort Smith, AR is roughly 44% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Richmond, VA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $52,692 in Fort Smith, AR and $62,671 in Richmond, VA — about 16% higher in Richmond, VA. Arkansas has a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax; Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% state sales tax.

Fort Smith, AR
Richmond, VA

Rent

Studio
$634
$1,183
+87% in Richmond, VA
1 Bedroom
$603
$1,195
+98% in Richmond, VA
2 Bedroom
$863
$1,374
+59% in Richmond, VA
3 Bedroom
$1,087
$1,447
+33% in Richmond, VA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$168,100
$328,100
+95% in Richmond, VA

Income

Median Household Income
$52,692
$62,671
+19% in Richmond, VA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$39,560
$51,460
+30% in Richmond, VA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.6 yr
34.5 yr
+2.1 yr in Fort Smith, AR
Homeownership
53.0%
43.5%
+9.5 pp in Fort Smith, AR
Bachelor's+ (25+)
25.3%
44.1%
+18.8 pp in Richmond, VA
Avg Commute
17.3 min
22.1 min
+4.8 min in Richmond, VA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
844.7
349
+59% in Fort Smith, AR
Property Crime
3,697.6
3,240.2
+12% 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
58.9°F
+2.8°F in Fort Smith, AR
Annual Precipitation
45.5 in
43.6 in
+1.9 in in Fort Smith, AR

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.94/gal
+9% in Richmond, VA

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.1
17.2
+22% in Richmond, VA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$27.86
$27.20
+2% in Fort Smith, AR

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.00
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.75
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.21
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.45
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$1.90
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (AR / VA)
6.5%
5.3%
+1.2 pp in AR
Income Tax (top rate)
3.90%
5.75%
+1.9 pp in VA

Fort Smith vs Richmond — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Fort Smith or Richmond?
Fort Smith, AR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $780 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 44% below Richmond, VA's $1,400, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Fort Smith than in Richmond?
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 Richmond.
Which has lower taxes, Fort Smith or Richmond?
Fort Smith is taxed under Arkansas's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax); Richmond under Virginia's (a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% 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).