Is it cheaper to live in Fort Smith or Rochester?

Fort Smith, AR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $780 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 33% below Rochester, NY's $1,160, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $24,000 a year in Fort Smith versus $34,000 in Rochester.

Which has lower taxes, Fort Smith or Rochester?

Fort Smith is taxed under Arkansas's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax); Rochester under New York's (a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% state sales tax).

Fort Smith vs Rochester Cost of Living 2026

Fort Smith

Arkansas

$780/mo est.

Rochester

New York

$1,160/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 $1,160 in Rochester, NY. Overall, Fort Smith, AR is roughly 33% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Rochester, NY, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $52,692 in Fort Smith, AR and $46,628 in Rochester, NY — about 12% higher in Fort Smith, AR. Arkansas has a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax; New York has a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% state sales tax.

Fort Smith, AR

Rochester, NY

Rent

Studio

$634

$750

+18% in Rochester, NY

1 Bedroom

$603

$857

+42% in Rochester, NY

2 Bedroom

$863

$1,114

+29% in Rochester, NY

3 Bedroom

$1,087

$1,240

+14% in Rochester, NY

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$168,100

$120,600

+28% in Fort Smith, AR

Income

Median Household Income

$52,692

$46,628

+12% in Fort Smith, AR

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$39,560

$51,210

+29% in Rochester, NY

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

36.6 yr

33.5 yr

+3.1 yr in Fort Smith, AR

Homeownership

53.0%

37.2%

+15.8 pp in Fort Smith, AR

Bachelor's+ (25+)

25.3%

29.9%

+4.6 pp in Rochester, NY

Avg Commute

17.3 min

18.9 min

+1.6 min in Rochester, NY

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

844.7

690

+18% in Fort Smith, AR

Property Crime

3,697.6

3,533.4

+4% 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

48.2°F

+13.5°F in Fort Smith, AR

Annual Precipitation

45.5 in

34.3 in

+11.2 in in Fort Smith, AR

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.62/gal

$4.13/gal

+14% in Rochester, NY

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs New York.

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.1

29.5

+109% in Rochester, NY

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$27.86

$27.01

+3% in Fort Smith, AR

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.31

+8% in Rochester, NY

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$1.92

+10% in Rochester, NY

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$2.19

+1% in Fort Smith, AR

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$6.90

+7% in Rochester, NY

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.19

+15% in Rochester, NY

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.69

+12% in Rochester, NY

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (AR / NY)

6.5%

+2.5 pp in AR

Income Tax (top rate)

3.90%

10.90%

+7.0 pp in NY

Fort Smith vs Rochester — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Fort Smith or Rochester?: Fort Smith, AR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $780 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 33% below Rochester, NY's $1,160, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Fort Smith than in Rochester?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $24,000 a year in Fort Smith versus $34,000 in Rochester.
Which has lower taxes, Fort Smith or Rochester?: Fort Smith is taxed under Arkansas's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax); Rochester under New York's (a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% 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).