Cost of living in Fort Smith, AR-OK
234,140 people (Census 2025 estimate). Overall prices are 14.1% below the US average, with housing at 53.4 on BEA’s index (US = 100). A single renter on $60,000 keeps $1,763 a month after 2026 taxes and modeled costs.
Typical household budgets in Fort Smith, AR-OK
Computed by MoveMath’s engine with 2026 tax law, HUD Fair Market Rent for the bedrooms each household needs, DOL 2021 childcare prices for Sebastian County, AR in current dollars, USDA Moderate-Cost food, one car per adult and $1,000 a month of other spending at US-average prices scaled by local price levels.
| Per month | Single, $60k | Couple + toddler, $110k | Family of four, $58,468 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross income | $5,000 | $9,167 | $4,872 |
| Taxes | $945 | $1,565 | $498 |
| Take-home pay | $4,055 | $7,602 | $4,375 |
| Housing | $748 | $979 | $979 |
| Childcare | $0 | $509 | $840 |
| Food | $412 | $925 | $1,201 |
| Transportation | $156 | $313 | $313 |
| Sales tax | $30 | $30 | $30 |
| Other goods & services | $945 | $945 | $945 |
| Left over | $1,763 | $3,901 | $68 |
Family of four = two adults, a preschooler and a school-age child at the metro’s median household income ($58,468). Click a column to open it in the budget planner and change any input.
Price levels: Fort Smith, AR-OK vs Arkansas and the US
BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024. 100 = US average; bars compare the metro (dark) with Arkansas statewide (light).
Within Arkansas, Fort Smith, AR-OK ranks 3rd of 5 metros on overall prices; the state as a whole is at 86.9. The dashed line marks the US average.
Rent and homeownership
| Unit | HUD Fair Market Rent | Income needed at 30% | Share of median income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $741 | $29,640 | 15.2% |
| 1-bedroom | $748 | $29,920 | 15.4% |
| 2-bedroom | $979 | $39,160 | 20.1% |
| 3-bedroom | $1,324 | $52,960 | 27.2% |
| 4-bedroom | $1,625 | $65,000 | 33.4% |
FY2027 FMRs for Fort Smith, AR-OK MSA: 40th-percentile gross rent (rent + tenant-paid utilities) for standard-quality units. Census median gross rent, all unit sizes: $866 (ACS 2020-2024).
Childcare prices in Sebastian County, AR
DOL has no 2022 price for Sebastian County, AR; these are the latest published prices, from 2021, adjusted to current dollars with the BLS CPI change since 2021.
| Age band | Center, weekly (2021) | Center, yearly today* | Home-based, weekly (2021) | Home-based, yearly today* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Infant (under 2) | $88 | $5,782 | $85 | $5,616 |
| Toddler (2) | $93 | $6,112 | $88 | $5,782 |
| Preschool (3–4) | $83 | $5,451 | $83 | $5,451 |
| School-age (5–12) | $70 | $4,625 | $81 | $5,369 |
DOL National Database of Childcare Prices, 2021 county medians for full-time care in Sebastian County, AR (the metro’s principal county). *52 weeks × 1.2707, the BLS CPI change for day care and preschool from the 2021 average to 2026-08.
Taxes: what you keep in Fort Smith
| Single filer, 2026 | $50,000 | $75,000 | $120,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Federal income tax | $3,820 | $7,670 | $17,570 |
| Social Security + Medicare | $3,825 | $5,738 | $9,180 |
| Arkansas income tax | $1,362 | $2,287 | $4,240 |
| Take-home pay / month | $3,416 | $4,942 | $7,418 |
| Share of pay to taxes | 18.0% | 20.9% | 25.8% |
No mandatory local income tax for residents of Fort Smith in our data. State sales tax: 6.5% (state rate only; local rates add on), groceries exempt.
Calculate take-home pay for your household in Fort Smith, AR-OK
Energy and fuel
EIA: electricity 2025, natural gas 2024, gasoline week ending 2026-10-05. Renters’ utilities are already inside gross rent.
Nearby metros
| Metro | Distance | Price level | 2-BR FMR | Single $60k left over |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Smith, AR-OK | — | 85.9 | $979 | $1,763 |
| Fayetteville, AR · compare | 51 mi | 91.4 | $1,256 | $1,455 (−$308) |
| Hot Springs, AR · compare | 96 mi | 85.7 | $1,110 | $1,648 (−$115) |
| Tulsa, OK · compare | 101 mi | 89.2 | $1,229 | $1,468 (−$295) |
| Joplin, MO-KS · compare | 119 mi | 85.7 | $1,153 | $1,595 (−$168) |
| Little Rock, AR · compare | 122 mi | 89.4 | $1,121 | $1,542 (−$221) |
| Texarkana, TX-AR · compare | 132 mi | 84.0 | $1,118 | $1,780 (+$17) |
Frequently asked questions
Is Fort Smith, AR-OK expensive to live in?+
BEA’s Regional Price Parities put overall prices in the Fort Smith, AR-OK metro at 85.9 (US = 100) in 2024 — 14.1% below the national average and the 370th highest of 387 metros. Housing is 53.4, goods 93.6.
What salary do you need to live in Fort Smith, AR-OK?+
A single renter earning $60,000 keeps $4,055 a month after 2026 taxes and has $1,763 left after rent at HUD Fair Market Rent, food, fuel, sales tax and other modeled costs. Use the cost of living calculator to find the salary that matches your current budget.
How much is rent in Fort Smith, AR-OK?+
HUD’s FY2027 Fair Market Rent — the 40th-percentile gross rent including utilities — is $748 for a 1-bedroom and $979 for a 2-bedroom. The Census median gross rent for all units is $866.
Does Fort Smith have a local income tax?+
No mandatory local income tax applies to residents of Fort Smith in our 2026 data. Arkansas state income tax does apply.