Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas
A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $780 in Fort Smith, AR versus $2,220 in San Diego, CA. Overall, Fort Smith, AR is roughly 65% cheaper to live in day-to-day than San Diego, CA, driven mainly by rent.
Median household income is $52,692 in Fort Smith, AR and $104,321 in San Diego, CA — about 49% higher in San Diego, CA. Arkansas has a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax; California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax.
Rent
Buying a Home
Income
People & Lifestyle
Crime (per 100k/yr)
FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.
Climate
Gas
Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs California.
Public Transit
Adult base one-way fare — — vs MTS (2026).
Utilities
Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.
Groceries
Average prices — South vs West (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.
State Taxes
Fort Smith vs San Diego — FAQ
- Is it cheaper to live in Fort Smith or San Diego?
- Fort Smith, AR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $780 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 65% below San Diego, CA's $2,220, mainly because of rent.
- How much more do you need to earn to live in Fort Smith than in San Diego?
- To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $24,000 a year in Fort Smith versus $75,000 in San Diego.
- Which has lower taxes, Fort Smith or San Diego?
- Fort Smith is taxed under Arkansas's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax); San Diego under California's (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% 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).