Fort Smith, AR vs Little Rock, AR

There is a significant gap in the cost of living between these two cities. Fort Smith is 15.1% cheaper than Little Rock. With a cost index of 69 vs 82, the difference would have a meaningful impact on a household's monthly budget. Someone relocating from Fort Smith to Little Rock should plan for substantially higher expenses across most categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Fort Smith is $852/month compared to $1,067/month in Little Rock — a 20% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Fort Smith is more affordable at $168,100 median vs $221,200.

Median household income in Fort Smith is $52,692 compared to $60,583 in Little Rock (-13%). The higher salaries in Little Rock partially offset the cost difference, but don't fully close the gap. Looking at affordability, residents of Fort Smith spend roughly 19.4% of their income on rent, less than the 21.1% in Little Rock.