Living Cost Compare
Fort Smith

Arkansas

$780/mo est.

vs
Sioux Falls

South Dakota

$1,030/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 $1,030 in Sioux Falls, SD. Overall, Fort Smith, AR is roughly 24% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Sioux Falls, SD, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $52,692 in Fort Smith, AR and $74,714 in Sioux Falls, SD — about 29% higher in Sioux Falls, SD. Arkansas has a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax; South Dakota has no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax.

Fort Smith, AR
Sioux Falls, SD

Rent

Studio
$634
$825
+30% in Sioux Falls, SD
1 Bedroom
$603
$870
+44% in Sioux Falls, SD
2 Bedroom
$863
$1,000
+16% in Sioux Falls, SD
3 Bedroom
$1,087
$1,237
+14% in Sioux Falls, SD

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$168,100
$271,400
+61% in Sioux Falls, SD

Income

Median Household Income
$52,692
$74,714
+42% in Sioux Falls, SD
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$39,560
$47,970
+21% in Sioux Falls, SD

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.6 yr
35.1 yr
+1.5 yr in Fort Smith, AR
Homeownership
53.0%
60.0%
+7.0 pp in Sioux Falls, SD
Bachelor's+ (25+)
25.3%
37.4%
+12.1 pp in Sioux Falls, SD
Avg Commute
17.3 min
17.0 min
+0.3 min in Fort Smith, AR

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
844.7
526.7
+38% in Fort Smith, AR
Property Crime
3,697.6
2,927.1
+21% 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
45.8°F
+15.9°F in Fort Smith, AR
Annual Precipitation
45.5 in
26.4 in
+19.1 in in Fort Smith, AR

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.85/gal
+6% in Sioux Falls, SD

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.1
15.4
+9% in Sioux Falls, SD
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$27.86
$15.26
+45% in Fort Smith, AR

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.31
+8% in Sioux Falls, SD
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.66
+5% in Fort Smith, AR
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$3.63
+64% in Sioux Falls, SD
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.77
+5% in Sioux Falls, SD
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.10
+10% in Sioux Falls, SD
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (AR / SD)
6.5%
4.2%
+2.3 pp in AR
Income Tax (top rate)
3.90%
None
+3.9 pp in AR

Fort Smith vs Sioux Falls — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Fort Smith or Sioux Falls?
Fort Smith, AR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $780 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 24% below Sioux Falls, SD's $1,030, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Fort Smith than in Sioux Falls?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $24,000 a year in Fort Smith versus $35,000 in Sioux Falls.
Which has lower taxes, Fort Smith or Sioux Falls?
Fort Smith is taxed under Arkansas's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax); Sioux Falls under South Dakota's (no state income tax and a 4.2% 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).