Living Cost Compare
Fort Smith

Arkansas

$780/mo est.

vs
Virginia Beach

Virginia

$1,560/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 $1,560 in Virginia Beach, VA. Overall, Fort Smith, AR is roughly 50% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Virginia Beach, VA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $52,692 in Fort Smith, AR and $90,685 in Virginia Beach, VA — about 42% higher in Virginia Beach, VA. Arkansas has a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax; Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% state sales tax.

Fort Smith, AR
Virginia Beach, VA

Rent

Studio
$634
$1,496
+136% in Virginia Beach, VA
1 Bedroom
$603
$1,357
+125% in Virginia Beach, VA
2 Bedroom
$863
$1,559
+81% in Virginia Beach, VA
3 Bedroom
$1,087
$1,857
+71% in Virginia Beach, VA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$168,100
$366,300
+118% in Virginia Beach, VA

Income

Median Household Income
$52,692
$90,685
+72% in Virginia Beach, VA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$39,560
$49,430
+25% in Virginia Beach, VA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.6 yr
37.4 yr
+0.8 yr in Virginia Beach, VA
Homeownership
53.0%
64.9%
+11.9 pp in Virginia Beach, VA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
25.3%
40.4%
+15.1 pp in Virginia Beach, VA
Avg Commute
17.3 min
23.2 min
+5.9 min in Virginia Beach, VA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
844.7
96.9
+89% in Fort Smith, AR
Property Crime
3,697.6
1,664.9
+55% 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
59.9°F
+1.8°F in Fort Smith, AR
Annual Precipitation
45.5 in
44.3 in
+1.1 in in Fort Smith, AR

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.94/gal
+9% in Virginia Beach, VA

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$2.00

Adult base one-way fare — — vs HRT (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.1
17.2
+22% in Virginia Beach, VA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$27.86
$27.20
+2% in Fort Smith, AR

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 / VA)
6.5%
5.3%
+1.2 pp in AR
Income Tax (top rate)
3.90%
5.75%
+1.9 pp in VA

Fort Smith vs Virginia Beach — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Fort Smith or Virginia Beach?
Fort Smith, AR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $780 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 50% below Virginia Beach, VA's $1,560, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Fort Smith than in Virginia Beach?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $24,000 a year in Fort Smith versus $54,000 in Virginia Beach.
Which has lower taxes, Fort Smith or Virginia Beach?
Fort Smith is taxed under Arkansas's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax); Virginia Beach under Virginia's (a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% 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).