SalaryCompareTool

Phoenix, AZ vs Fort Smith, AR

Moving from Phoenix to Fort Smith? Here's what changes — from your equivalent salary to housing ($448,352 → $205,554 median home) and taxes.

Phoenix vs Fort Smith at a glance

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

Phoenix, AZ Fort Smith, AR Cost-of-living index Phoenix, AZ — Cost-of-living index: 105 105 Fort Smith, AR — Cost-of-living index: 85 85 Median home price Phoenix, AZ — Median home price: $448k $448k Fort Smith, AR — Median home price: $206k $206k Price per sqft Phoenix, AZ — Price per sqft: $242 $242 Fort Smith, AR — Price per sqft: $103 $103 Median rent Phoenix, AZ — Median rent: $1,742 $1,742 Fort Smith, AR — Median rent: $1,021 $1,021 Combined sales tax Phoenix, AZ — Combined sales tax: 8.4% 8.4% Fort Smith, AR — Combined sales tax: 9.5% 9.5% Property tax rate Phoenix, AZ — Property tax rate: 0.51% 0.51% Fort Smith, AR — Property tax rate: 0.62% 0.62% Violent crime /100k Phoenix, AZ — Violent crime /100k: 430 430 Fort Smith, AR — Violent crime /100k: 640 640 Electricity ¢/kWh Phoenix, AZ — Electricity ¢/kWh: 15.5 15.5 Fort Smith, AR — Electricity ¢/kWh: 14.2 14.2 Avg commute (min) Phoenix, AZ — Avg commute (min): 27 27 Fort Smith, AR — Avg commute (min): 22 22 Avg summer high °F Phoenix, AZ — Avg summer high °F: 104° 104° Fort Smith, AR — Avg summer high °F: 93° 93° Avg winter low °F Phoenix, AZ — Avg winter low °F: 41° 41° Fort Smith, AR — Avg winter low °F: 30° 30°

To keep the same standard of living as $100,000 in Phoenix, AZ, you'd need about $81,500 in Fort Smith, AR (−$18,500).

Livability — Phoenix, AZ: 62 · Fort Smith, AR: 73 (0–100).

What your home budget buys

A $500,000 home budget gets you about 2,063 sqft in Phoenix vs 4,864 sqft in Fort Smith ($242 vs $103 per sqft).

Annual cost breakdown (at $100,000)

CategoryPhoenix, AZFort Smith, ARDifference
Housing $20,904 $12,252 −$8,652
Groceries $4,919 $4,657 −$262
Transportation $3,960 $3,405 −$555
Utilities $1,668 $1,524 −$144
Insurance $1,800 $2,800 +$1,000
Taxes $7,280 $8,127 +$847
Total $40,531 $32,764 −$7,767

Side by side

MetricPhoenix, AZFort Smith, AR
Cost-of-living index104.785.3
Unemployment rate4.88%5.23%
Population growth (5-yr)6.7%-12.6%
Air quality (median AQI)8644
Big Mac price (est.)$5.96$4.85
Median home price$448,352$205,554
Home price ÷ income5.6×3.9×
1-yr home appreciation-1.7%4.6%
Price per square foot$242$103
Median rent$1,742$1,021
Total tax burden (% income)9.5%10.2%
Combined sales tax8.38%9.47%
Capital gains tax2.50%3.90%
Property tax rate0.51%0.62%
Healthcare (annual)$6,300$6,000
Childcare (annual, infant)$12,500$7,500
Vehicle property tax1.68%1.02%
Avg commute (min)2722
Home insurance / yr$1,800$2,800
Auto insurance / yr$1,900$1,900
Flood insurance / yr$550$750
Earthquake insurance / yr$100$350
Electricity ¢/kWh15.514.2
Gas $/gal3.602.95
Violent crime /100k430640
Avg summer high °F10493
Avg winter low °F4130
Permit difficulty (1–5)22
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