Clearwater vs Fort Smith

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Clearwater has the same purchasing power as $56,068 in Fort Smith.

Conversely, $75,000 in Fort Smith equals $100,325 in Clearwater.

Living in Clearwater vs Fort Smith

Housing Costs

Clearwater's housing index of 115 is higher Fort Smith's 49, translating to median home prices of $385,000 vs $155,000. The $230,000 difference in home prices means roughly $14,952 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,625/mo in Clearwater compared to $775/mo in Fort Smith, a monthly difference of $850.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 102 in Clearwater and 92 in Fort Smith. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $485/month in Clearwater vs $437/month in Fort Smith. Fort Smith offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $576/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 101 in Clearwater and 95 in Fort Smith. Monthly utility bills average approximately $404 in Clearwater vs $380 in Fort Smith. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 92 in Clearwater 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 $66,400 in Clearwater and $45,200 in Fort Smith. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $64,466 and $58,701 respectively. Clearwater residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,549/month to housing in Clearwater vs $1,055/month in Fort Smith. In Clearwater, median rent of $1,625/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 66 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Moving & Relocation Resources

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