Living Cost Compare
Fort Smith

Arkansas

$780/mo est.

vs
Springfield

Missouri

$970/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 $970 in Springfield, MO. Overall, Fort Smith, AR is roughly 20% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Springfield, MO, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $52,692 in Fort Smith, AR and $45,984 in Springfield, MO — about 13% higher in Fort Smith, AR. Arkansas has a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax; Missouri has a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% state sales tax.

Fort Smith, AR
Springfield, MO

Rent

Studio
$634
$760
+20% in Springfield, MO
1 Bedroom
$603
$772
+28% in Springfield, MO
2 Bedroom
$863
$926
+7% in Springfield, MO
3 Bedroom
$1,087
$1,158
+7% in Springfield, MO

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$168,100
$165,200
+2% in Fort Smith, AR

Income

Median Household Income
$52,692
$45,984
+13% in Fort Smith, AR
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$39,560
$45,780
+16% in Springfield, MO

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.6 yr
33.6 yr
+3.0 yr in Fort Smith, AR
Homeownership
53.0%
42.9%
+10.1 pp in Fort Smith, AR
Bachelor's+ (25+)
25.3%
30.3%
+5.0 pp in Springfield, MO
Avg Commute
17.3 min
18.0 min
+0.7 min in Springfield, MO

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
844.7
1,189.8
+41% in Springfield, MO
Property Crime
3,697.6
4,231.6
+14% in Springfield, MO

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
56.3°F
+5.4°F in Fort Smith, AR
Annual Precipitation
45.5 in
45.6 in
+0.1 in in Springfield, MO

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.85/gal
+6% in Springfield, MO

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.1
16.2
+15% in Springfield, MO
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$27.86
$28.78
+3% in Springfield, MO

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.31
+8% in Springfield, MO
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.66
+5% in Fort Smith, AR
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$3.63
+64% in Springfield, MO
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.77
+5% in Springfield, MO
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.10
+10% in Springfield, MO
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 / MO)
6.5%
4.225%
+2.3 pp in AR
Income Tax (top rate)
3.90%
4.70%
+0.8 pp in MO

Fort Smith vs Springfield — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Fort Smith or Springfield?
Fort Smith, AR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $780 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 20% below Springfield, MO's $970, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Fort Smith than in Springfield?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $24,000 a year in Fort Smith versus $31,000 in Springfield.
Which has lower taxes, Fort Smith or Springfield?
Fort Smith is taxed under Arkansas's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax); Springfield under Missouri's (a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% 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).