Conway, AR vs Fort Smith, AR

There is a significant gap in the cost of living between these two cities. Fort Smith is 15.8% cheaper than Conway. With a cost index of 69 vs 80, the difference would have a meaningful impact on a household's monthly budget. Someone relocating from Fort Smith to Conway should plan for substantially higher expenses across most categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Conway is $986/month compared to $852/month in Fort Smith — a 16% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Fort Smith is more affordable at $168,100 median vs $234,600.

Median household income in Conway is $58,461 compared to $52,692 in Fort Smith (+10.9%). The higher salaries in Conway partially offset the cost difference, but don't fully close the gap. Looking at affordability, residents of Conway spend roughly 20.2% of their income on rent, more than the 19.4% in Fort Smith.