Cary vs Fort Smith
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Cary
Fort Smith
The Verdict
Fort Smith is 37.7% less expensive than Cary overall. A household earning $75,000 in Cary would need approximately $54,481 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 Cary has the same purchasing power as $54,481 in Fort Smith.
Conversely, $75,000 in Fort Smith equals $103,247 in Cary.
Living in Cary vs Fort Smith
Housing Costs
Cary's housing index of 152 is higher Fort Smith's 49, translating to median home prices of $500,000 vs $155,000. The $345,000 difference in home prices means roughly $22,428 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,850/mo in Cary compared to $775/mo in Fort Smith, a monthly difference of $1,075.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 101 in Cary and 92 in Fort Smith. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $480/month in Cary vs $437/month in Fort Smith. Fort Smith offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $516/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 97 in Cary and 95 in Fort Smith. Monthly utility bills average approximately $388 in Cary vs $380 in Fort Smith. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 113 in Cary and 88 in Fort Smith. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 25-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $117,400 in Cary and $45,200 in Fort Smith. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $110,755 and $58,701 respectively. Cary residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $2,739/month to housing in Cary vs $1,055/month in Fort Smith. In Cary, median rent of $1,850/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 103 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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