Clarksville vs Fort Smith
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Clarksville
Fort Smith
The Verdict
Fort Smith is 15.6% less expensive than Clarksville overall. A household earning $75,000 in Clarksville would need approximately $64,888 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 Clarksville has the same purchasing power as $64,888 in Fort Smith.
Conversely, $75,000 in Fort Smith equals $86,688 in Clarksville.
Living in Clarksville vs Fort Smith
Housing Costs
Clarksville's housing index of 91 is higher Fort Smith's 49, translating to median home prices of $304,000 vs $155,000. The $149,000 difference in home prices means roughly $9,684 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,225/mo in Clarksville compared to $775/mo in Fort Smith, a monthly difference of $450.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 100 in Clarksville and 92 in Fort Smith. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $475/month in Clarksville vs $437/month in Fort Smith. Fort Smith offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $456/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 103 in Clarksville and 95 in Fort Smith. Monthly utility bills average approximately $412 in Clarksville vs $380 in Fort Smith. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 93 in Clarksville and 88 in Fort Smith. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. Healthcare costs are relatively similar between these two cities, though individual plan costs can still vary.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $63,700 in Clarksville and $45,200 in Fort Smith. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $71,573 and $58,701 respectively. Clarksville residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,486/month to housing in Clarksville vs $1,055/month in Fort Smith. In Clarksville, median rent of $1,225/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 42 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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