Bentonville, AR vs Fort Smith, AR

The cost of living difference between Bentonville, AR and Fort Smith, AR is dramatic. Fort Smith is 43.9% cheaper than Bentonville, a gap that translates to thousands of dollars per year in household expenses. Bentonville has a cost index of 100 while Fort Smith sits at 69, making this one of the more striking comparisons on our site. Relocating between these cities would require a serious reassessment of budget and lifestyle expectations.

On the housing front, median rent in Bentonville is $1,238/month compared to $852/month in Fort Smith — a 45% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Fort Smith is more affordable at $168,100 median vs $370,700.

Median household income in Bentonville is $108,465 compared to $52,692 in Fort Smith (+105.8%). While Bentonville is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Bentonville spend roughly 13.7% of their income on rent, less than the 19.4% in Fort Smith.