Fort Smith cost of living
Prices in the Fort Smith, AR-OK metro area run at 85.9 against a national average of 100, ranking it #367 of 387 metros. Rents there sit at 53.4.
What drives the number
Prices in Fort Smith run at 85.9 where the national average is 100, so about 14.1 per cent below the country as a whole. It ranks #367 of 387 metro areas. Against Arkansas as a whole it is 1 point less expensive, which is the unusual direction, and it means the expensive part of the state is somewhere else.
Housing is unusually cheap relative to everything else here. Rents sit at 53.4 against goods at 93.6 and other services at 73.8, so the overall figure of 85.9 understates how affordable the housing itself is. That combination, ordinary prices with cheap rent, is what people are usually looking for and rarely find. Goods at 93.6 are themselves 6.4 points off national, which is a wide gap for a category that is mostly shipped in.
A salary here goes further than the same salary somewhere at 100. Divide by 85.9 and multiply by 100 to get the nationally comparable figure, and it will come out higher than the headline.
The vertical line is the national average of 100. Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities, SARPP, 2024.
What the biggest local jobs are really worth
The same pay buys different amounts in different places, so a salary quoted in Fort Smith is not comparable to one quoted elsewhere until it is divided by the local parity. These are the occupations that employ the most people here, with the quoted median alongside what that median is worth at national prices.
| Occupation | Employed | Median pay | Worth nationally | U.S. median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | 3,310 | $60,190 | $70,070 | $57,440 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | 2,860 | $24,610 | $28,650 | $30,480 |
| Retail Salespersons | 2,590 | $28,810 | $33,539 | $34,580 |
| General and Operations Managers | 2,560 | $62,010 | $72,189 | $102,950 |
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | 2,390 | $27,570 | $32,095 | $34,900 |
| Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers | 2,330 | $36,160 | $42,095 | $37,700 |
| Cashiers | 2,230 | $26,950 | $31,374 | $31,190 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | 2,230 | $31,190 | $36,310 | $37,090 |
Pay from the BLS metro survey, adjusted by dividing by the metro parity of 85.9.
Nearby metro areas
| Metro area | All items | Rents | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Memphis | 92.2 | 79.8 | #237 |
| Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers | 91.4 | 76.9 | #261 |
| Oklahoma City | 90.4 | 73.9 | #282 |
| Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway | 89.4 | 68.3 | #302 |
| Tulsa | 89.2 | 68.2 | #308 |
| Jonesboro | 85.9 | 53.8 | #369 |
Fort Smith: common questions
Is Fort Smith expensive?
Prices are 14.1% below the national average, a parity of 85.9 where the country is 100. It ranks #367 of the 387 metro areas BEA measures. Against Arkansas as a whole it is 1 point less expensive.
What salary do you need in Fort Smith?
The median worker there earns $38,340, which buys what $44,633 buys nationally once local prices are taken into account. Comparing a salary offer between cities without this adjustment is comparing nothing useful.
Is housing the reason?
Usually. Rents here are at 53.4 against goods at 93.6. Goods barely vary between American cities because most are shipped and priced nationally; housing varies enormously, and it dominates any cost of living comparison.