Colorado Springs vs Fort Smith
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Colorado Springs
Fort Smith
The Verdict
Fort Smith is 36.4% less expensive than Colorado Springs overall. A household earning $75,000 in Colorado Springs would need approximately $55,000 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 Colorado Springs has the same purchasing power as $55,000 in Fort Smith.
Conversely, $75,000 in Fort Smith equals $102,273 in Colorado Springs.
Living in Colorado Springs vs Fort Smith
Housing Costs
Colorado Springs's housing index of 115 is higher Fort Smith's 49, translating to median home prices of $380,000 vs $155,000. The $225,000 difference in home prices means roughly $14,628 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,500/mo in Colorado Springs compared to $775/mo in Fort Smith, a monthly difference of $725.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 100 in Colorado Springs and 92 in Fort Smith. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $475/month in Colorado Springs 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 93 in Colorado Springs and 95 in Fort Smith. Monthly utility bills average approximately $372 in Colorado Springs vs $380 in Fort Smith. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 104 in Colorado Springs 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 $64,712 in Colorado Springs and $45,200 in Fort Smith. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $61,630 and $58,701 respectively. Colorado Springs residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,510/month to housing in Colorado Springs vs $1,055/month in Fort Smith. In Colorado Springs, median rent of $1,500/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 66 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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