Living Cost Compare
Fort Smith

Arkansas

$780/mo est.

vs
Wilmington

Delaware

$1,250/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 $1,250 in Wilmington, DE. Overall, Fort Smith, AR is roughly 38% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Wilmington, DE, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $52,692 in Fort Smith, AR and $55,269 in Wilmington, DE — about 5% higher in Wilmington, DE. Arkansas has a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax; Delaware has a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax.

Fort Smith, AR
Wilmington, DE

Rent

Studio
$634
$1,103
+74% in Wilmington, DE
1 Bedroom
$603
$1,024
+70% in Wilmington, DE
2 Bedroom
$863
$1,213
+41% in Wilmington, DE
3 Bedroom
$1,087
$1,394
+28% in Wilmington, DE

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$168,100
$224,500
+34% in Wilmington, DE

Income

Median Household Income
$52,692
$55,269
+5% in Wilmington, DE
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$39,560
$54,310
+37% in Wilmington, DE

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.6 yr
37.0 yr
+0.4 yr in Wilmington, DE
Homeownership
53.0%
46.0%
+7.0 pp in Fort Smith, AR
Bachelor's+ (25+)
25.3%
33.1%
+7.8 pp in Wilmington, DE
Avg Commute
17.3 min
23.0 min
+5.7 min in Wilmington, DE

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
844.7
1,138.2
+35% in Wilmington, DE
Property Crime
3,697.6
3,182.4
+14% 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
54.9°F
+6.8°F in Fort Smith, AR
Annual Precipitation
45.5 in
43.1 in
+2.4 in in Fort Smith, AR

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.94/gal
+9% in Wilmington, DE

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.1
19.3
+37% in Wilmington, DE
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$27.86
$29.73
+7% in Wilmington, DE

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 / DE)
6.5%
None
+6.5 pp in AR
Income Tax (top rate)
3.90%
6.60%
+2.7 pp in DE

Fort Smith vs Wilmington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Fort Smith or Wilmington?
Fort Smith, AR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $780 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 38% below Wilmington, DE's $1,250, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Fort Smith than in Wilmington?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $24,000 a year in Fort Smith versus $41,000 in Wilmington.
Which has lower taxes, Fort Smith or Wilmington?
Fort Smith is taxed under Arkansas's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax); Wilmington under Delaware's (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no 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).