Living Cost Compare
Fort Smith

Arkansas

$780/mo est.

vs
Tulsa

Oklahoma

$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 Tulsa, OK. Overall, Fort Smith, AR is roughly 24% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Tulsa, OK, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $52,692 in Fort Smith, AR and $58,407 in Tulsa, OK — about 10% higher in Tulsa, OK. Arkansas has a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax; Oklahoma has a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% state sales tax.

Fort Smith, AR
Tulsa, OK

Rent

Studio
$634
$786
+24% in Tulsa, OK
1 Bedroom
$603
$847
+40% in Tulsa, OK
2 Bedroom
$863
$1,045
+21% in Tulsa, OK
3 Bedroom
$1,087
$1,265
+16% in Tulsa, OK

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$168,100
$189,600
+13% in Tulsa, OK

Income

Median Household Income
$52,692
$58,407
+11% in Tulsa, OK
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$39,560
$46,670
+18% in Tulsa, OK

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.6 yr
35.5 yr
+1.1 yr in Fort Smith, AR
Homeownership
53.0%
52.0%
+1.0 pp in Fort Smith, AR
Bachelor's+ (25+)
25.3%
33.3%
+8.0 pp in Tulsa, OK
Avg Commute
17.3 min
18.7 min
+1.4 min in Tulsa, OK

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
844.7
948.9
+12% in Tulsa, OK
Property Crime
3,697.6
3,664.6
+1% 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
60.1°F
+1.6°F in Fort Smith, AR
Annual Precipitation
45.5 in
43.7 in
+1.7 in in Fort Smith, AR

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.85/gal
+6% in Tulsa, OK

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.1
14.3
+1% in Tulsa, OK
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$27.86
$31.25
+12% in Tulsa, OK

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.00
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.75
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.21
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.45
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$1.90
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (AR / OK)
6.5%
4.5%
+2.0 pp in AR
Income Tax (top rate)
3.90%
4.50%
+0.6 pp in OK

Fort Smith vs Tulsa — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Fort Smith or Tulsa?
Fort Smith, AR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $780 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 24% below Tulsa, OK's $1,030, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Fort Smith than in Tulsa?
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 Tulsa.
Which has lower taxes, Fort Smith or Tulsa?
Fort Smith is taxed under Arkansas's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax); Tulsa under Oklahoma's (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% 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).