Cost of living in Fort Smith, AR Livability score 73 · cost-of-living index 85.3 (US = 100)
How Fort Smith compares Where Fort Smith falls within the range of all 200 metros (marker = this city).
Cost-of-living index (US=100) 85 118 Cost-of-living index (US=100): 85 — range 85 to 118 across all metros 85 Median home price $149k $1610k Median home price: $206k — range $149k to $1610k across all metros $206k Price per sqft (more house = lower) $88 $1074 Price per sqft (more house = lower): $103 — range $88 to $1074 across all metros $103 Combined sales tax 0.0% 11.5% Combined sales tax: 9.5% — range 0.0% to 11.5% across all metros 9.5% Property tax rate 0.28% 2.76% Property tax rate: 0.62% — range 0.28% to 2.76% across all metros 0.62% Violent crime (per 100k) 110 1,000 Violent crime (per 100k): 640 — range 110 to 1,000 across all metros 640 Electricity (¢/kWh) 12.3 46.6 Electricity (¢/kWh): 14.2 — range 12.3 to 46.6 across all metros 14.2 Avg summer high (°F) 65° 104° Avg summer high (°F): 93° — range 65° to 104° across all metros 93° Avg winter low (°F) -2° 72° Avg winter low (°F): 30° — range -2° to 72° across all metros 30° Map of Fort Smith Grocery stores, parks, golf courses and more — real listings. Toggle categories in the legend.
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Cost of living Metric Value US rank Cost-of-living index (US=100) 85.3 #2 of 200 Grocery index (US=100) 93.1 #24 of 200 Big Mac price (est.) $4.85 #2 of 200 Median household income $53,224 #195 of 200 Median wage (all occupations) $34,249 #181 of 200
Economy Metric Value US rank Unemployment rate 5.23% #107 of 200 Population growth (5-yr) -12.6% #199 of 200
Housing — what your money buys Metric Value US rank Median home price $205,554 #14 of 200 Home price ÷ income (affordability) 3.9× #44 of 200 1-yr home appreciation +4.6% #25 of 200 Price per square foot $103 #12 of 200 Typical home size (implied) 2,000 sqft Median rent (monthly) $1,021 #1 of 200 Homes for sale (inventory) 1,223 Median days on market 37 #175 of 200
Taxes Metric Value US rank Total tax burden (est. % of income) 10.2% #111 of 200 Combined sales tax 9.47% #186 of 200 State income tax (top rate) 3.90% Capital gains tax 3.90% #73 of 200 High earners No special surtax Effective property tax rate 0.62% #37 of 200 Median property tax paid $912 #8 of 200
Healthcare & childcare Metric Value US rank Healthcare (annual, single adult) $6,000 #4 of 200 Childcare (annual, infant, center) $7,500 #11 of 200
Vehicles & commute Metric Value US rank Annual registration $30 #1 of 200 Vehicle property tax (annual) 1.02% of value (~$286/yr) #143 of 200 Emissions testing Not required Emissions detail No vehicle emissions testing DMV & license offices 4 Avg commute to work 22 min #31 of 200
Utilities & fuel Metric Value US rank Electricity 14.2¢/kWh #16 of 200 Avg monthly electric bill $127 #16 of 200 Gasoline $2.95/gal #3 of 200 Natural gas (avg monthly bill) $62 #69 of 200 Water & sewer (avg monthly bill) $62 #11 of 200 Home internet (avg monthly bill) $78 #77 of 200
Insurance Metric Value US rank Home insurance (annual) $2,800 #149 of 200 Auto insurance (annual) $1,900 #86 of 200
Disaster risk & supplemental insurance Metric Value US rank Main natural hazards Notable hazards: tornadoes, earthquakes — separate flood/quake/windstorm policies may be needed. Flood insurance (annual, NFIP) $750 #90 of 200 Earthquake insurance (annual) $350 #149 of 200
Climate & air quality Metric Value US rank Air quality (median AQI, lower=cleaner) 42 #1 of 200 Cooling degree-days (AC load) 2,000 #138 of 200 Heating degree-days (heat load) 3,200 #82 of 200 Avg summer high 93°F #174 of 200 Avg winter low 30°F #89 of 200 Annual precipitation 49.0" #150 of 200 Annual snowfall 8.0" #103 of 200 Sunshine (% of possible) 60% #85 of 200 Plant hardiness zone 7b Frost window 04-01 → 11-10
Safety Metric Value US rank Violent crime (per 100k) 640 #195 of 200 Property crime (per 100k) 2,900 #173 of 200
Local amenities & recreation Metric Value US rank Grocery stores 120 #5 of 200 Parks 60 Hiking areas 15 Golf courses 15 Shooting ranges 4 Lakes 4
Permits Metric Value US rank Building permit difficulty (1–5) 2 #1 of 200 Permit detail Generally easy
US rank = this metro's position among all 200 metros (1 = best: cheapest / safest / highest income, etc.). Childcare is a family cost, not included in the salary-equivalence total.
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Estimates for guidance only — not financial or legal advice. Live/official data:
cost-of-living & grocery (BEA RPP); home price, rent, inventory, days-on-market (Zillow);
income & property tax (US Census ACS); electricity (US EIA); plant-hardiness (USDA);
crime (FBI UCR); local grocery, park, hiking, golf, shooting-range, lake & DMV
counts (Google Maps listings) via our own scraper.
Taxes (Tax Foundation) and insurance, emissions, permits, climate, wages and fuel use
sourced state/metro figures.