Boulder vs Fort Smith
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Boulder
Fort Smith
The Verdict
Fort Smith is 92.2% less expensive than Boulder overall. A household earning $75,000 in Boulder would need approximately $39,020 in Fort Smith to maintain the same standard of living.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable
Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Boulder has the same purchasing power as $39,020 in Fort Smith.
Conversely, $75,000 in Fort Smith equals $144,156 in Boulder.
Living in Boulder vs Fort Smith
Housing Costs
Boulder's housing index of 230 is higher Fort Smith's 49, translating to median home prices of $750,000 vs $155,000. The $595,000 difference in home prices means roughly $38,676 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $2,300/mo in Boulder compared to $775/mo in Fort Smith, a monthly difference of $1,525.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 107 in Boulder and 92 in Fort Smith. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $508/month in Boulder 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 94 in Boulder and 95 in Fort Smith. Monthly utility bills average approximately $376 in Boulder vs $380 in Fort Smith. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 104 in Boulder and 88 in Fort Smith. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 16-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $73,123 in Boulder and $45,200 in Fort Smith. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $49,407 and $58,701 respectively. Fort Smith residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,706/month to housing in Boulder vs $1,055/month in Fort Smith. In Boulder, median rent of $2,300/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. 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 181 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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