City Comparison

Antioch vs Fort Smith

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Antioch

California
147
Expensive
$610,000
Median Home
$2,250/mo
Median Rent
$97,500
Median Income

Fort Smith

Arkansas
77
Very Affordable
$155,000
Median Home
$775/mo
Median Rent
$45,200
Median Income

The Verdict

90.9%

Living in Fort Smith costs 90.9% less than Antioch. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Antioch, you would need $39,286 in Fort Smith.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable

Housing
193
Antioch
49
Fort Smith
Groceries
107
Antioch
92
Fort Smith
Utilities
156
Antioch
95
Fort Smith
Transportation
140
Antioch
90
Fort Smith
Healthcare
122
Antioch
88
Fort Smith

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Antioch has the same purchasing power as $39,286 in Fort Smith.

Conversely, $75,000 in Fort Smith equals $143,182 in Antioch.

Living in Antioch vs Fort Smith

Housing Costs

Antioch's housing index of 193 is higher Fort Smith's 49, translating to median home prices of $610,000 vs $155,000. The $455,000 difference in home prices means roughly $29,580 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $2,250/mo in Antioch compared to $775/mo in Fort Smith, a monthly difference of $1,475.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 107 in Antioch and 92 in Fort Smith. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $508/month in Antioch vs $437/month in Fort Smith. Fort Smith offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $852/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 156 in Antioch and 95 in Fort Smith. Monthly utility bills average approximately $624 in Antioch vs $380 in Fort Smith. Climate differences between the two cities drive much of this gap, with heating and cooling costs varying substantially by region.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 122 in Antioch and 88 in Fort Smith. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 34-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $97,500 in Antioch and $45,200 in Fort Smith. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $66,327 and $58,701 respectively. Antioch residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $2,275/month to housing in Antioch vs $1,055/month in Fort Smith. In Antioch, median rent of $2,250/mo fits within this budget. In Fort Smith, median rent of $775/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 144 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Fort Smith is 90.9% more affordable overall with an index of 77 vs 147.
A $75,000 salary in Antioch has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $39,286 in Fort Smith, based on the cost of living difference.
Antioch's housing index is 193 with median homes at $610,000, while Fort Smith's is 49 with median homes at $155,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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