SalaryCompareTool

Atlanta, GA vs Fort Smith, AR

Moving from Atlanta to Fort Smith? Here's what changes — from your equivalent salary to housing ($382,938 → $205,554 median home) and taxes.

Atlanta vs Fort Smith at a glance

Bars scaled to the range across all 200 metros; labels show actual values.

Atlanta, GA Fort Smith, AR Cost-of-living index Atlanta, GA — Cost-of-living index: 100 100 Fort Smith, AR — Cost-of-living index: 85 85 Median home price Atlanta, GA — Median home price: $383k $383k Fort Smith, AR — Median home price: $206k $206k Price per sqft Atlanta, GA — Price per sqft: $187 $187 Fort Smith, AR — Price per sqft: $103 $103 Median rent Atlanta, GA — Median rent: $1,840 $1,840 Fort Smith, AR — Median rent: $1,021 $1,021 Combined sales tax Atlanta, GA — Combined sales tax: 7.4% 7.4% Fort Smith, AR — Combined sales tax: 9.5% 9.5% Property tax rate Atlanta, GA — Property tax rate: 0.85% 0.85% Fort Smith, AR — Property tax rate: 0.62% 0.62% Violent crime /100k Atlanta, GA — Violent crime /100k: 370 370 Fort Smith, AR — Violent crime /100k: 640 640 Electricity ¢/kWh Atlanta, GA — Electricity ¢/kWh: 15.4 15.4 Fort Smith, AR — Electricity ¢/kWh: 14.2 14.2 Avg commute (min) Atlanta, GA — Avg commute (min): 32 32 Fort Smith, AR — Avg commute (min): 22 22 Avg summer high °F Atlanta, GA — Avg summer high °F: 89° 89° Fort Smith, AR — Avg summer high °F: 93° 93° Avg winter low °F Atlanta, GA — Avg winter low °F: 34° 34° Fort Smith, AR — Avg winter low °F: 30° 30°

To keep the same standard of living as $100,000 in Atlanta, GA, you'd need about $84,903 in Fort Smith, AR (−$15,097).

Livability — Atlanta, GA: 66 · Fort Smith, AR: 73 (0–100).

What your home budget buys

A $500,000 home budget gets you about 2,677 sqft in Atlanta vs 4,864 sqft in Fort Smith ($187 vs $103 per sqft).

Annual cost breakdown (at $100,000)

CategoryAtlanta, GAFort Smith, ARDifference
Housing $22,080 $12,252 −$9,828
Groceries $4,926 $4,657 −$270
Transportation $3,515 $3,405 −$110
Utilities $1,656 $1,524 −$132
Insurance $2,100 $2,800 +$700
Taxes $10,533 $8,127 −$2,406
Total $44,810 $32,764 −$12,046

Side by side

MetricAtlanta, GAFort Smith, AR
Cost-of-living index100.585.3
Unemployment rate5.04%5.23%
Population growth (5-yr)6.9%-12.6%
Air quality (median AQI)5644
Big Mac price (est.)$5.72$4.85
Median home price$382,938$205,554
Home price ÷ income4.6×3.9×
1-yr home appreciation-2.1%4.6%
Price per square foot$187$103
Median rent$1,840$1,021
Total tax burden (% income)8.9%10.2%
Combined sales tax7.38%9.47%
Capital gains tax5.39%3.90%
Property tax rate0.85%0.62%
Healthcare (annual)$6,400$6,000
Childcare (annual, infant)$9,500$7,500
Vehicle property taxNone1.02%
Avg commute (min)3222
Home insurance / yr$2,100$2,800
Auto insurance / yr$1,900$1,900
Flood insurance / yr$700$750
Earthquake insurance / yr$100$350
Electricity ¢/kWh15.414.2
Gas $/gal3.152.95
Violent crime /100k370640
Avg summer high °F8993
Avg winter low °F3430
Permit difficulty (1–5)22

Ad · affiliate links