Living Cost Compare
Fort Smith

Arkansas

$780/mo est.

vs
Seattle

Washington

$2,030/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 $2,030 in Seattle, WA. Overall, Fort Smith, AR is roughly 62% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Seattle, WA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $52,692 in Fort Smith, AR and $121,984 in Seattle, WA — about 57% higher in Seattle, WA. Arkansas has a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax; Washington has no state income tax and a 6.5% state sales tax.

Fort Smith, AR
Seattle, WA

Rent

Studio
$634
$1,638
+158% in Seattle, WA
1 Bedroom
$603
$1,858
+208% in Seattle, WA
2 Bedroom
$863
$2,359
+173% in Seattle, WA
3 Bedroom
$1,087
$2,918
+168% in Seattle, WA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$168,100
$912,100
+443% in Seattle, WA

Income

Median Household Income
$52,692
$121,984
+132% in Seattle, WA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$39,560
$72,610
+84% in Seattle, WA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.6 yr
35.5 yr
+1.1 yr in Fort Smith, AR
Homeownership
53.0%
44.2%
+8.8 pp in Fort Smith, AR
Bachelor's+ (25+)
25.3%
67.5%
+42.2 pp in Seattle, WA
Avg Commute
17.3 min
26.6 min
+9.3 min in Seattle, WA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
844.7
788.6
+7% in Fort Smith, AR
Property Crime
3,697.6
5,108.8
+38% in Seattle, WA

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
53.5°F
+8.2°F in Fort Smith, AR
Annual Precipitation
45.5 in
37.7 in
+7.7 in in Fort Smith, AR

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$5.41/gal
+50% in Seattle, WA

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs Seattle.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$2.75

Adult base one-way fare — — vs King County Metro (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.1
14.9
+6% in Seattle, WA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$27.86
$21.34
+23% in Fort Smith, AR

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.82
+20% in Seattle, WA
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$2.04
+17% in Seattle, WA
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.19
+1% in Fort Smith, AR
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$7.36
+14% in Seattle, WA
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.01
+6% in Seattle, WA
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.70
+14% in Seattle, WA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (AR / WA)
6.5%
6.5%
about equal
Income Tax (top rate)
3.90%
None
+3.9 pp in AR

Fort Smith vs Seattle — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Fort Smith or Seattle?
Fort Smith, AR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $780 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 62% below Seattle, WA's $2,030, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Fort Smith than in Seattle?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $24,000 a year in Fort Smith versus $74,000 in Seattle.
Which has lower taxes, Fort Smith or Seattle?
Fort Smith is taxed under Arkansas's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax); Seattle under Washington's (no state income tax and a 6.5% 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).