El Paso vs Fort Smith
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
El Paso
Fort Smith
The Verdict
Fort Smith is 10.4% less expensive than El Paso overall. A household earning $75,000 in El Paso would need approximately $67,941 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 El Paso has the same purchasing power as $67,941 in Fort Smith.
Conversely, $75,000 in Fort Smith equals $82,792 in El Paso.
Living in El Paso vs Fort Smith
Housing Costs
El Paso's housing index of 69 is higher Fort Smith's 49, translating to median home prices of $185,000 vs $155,000. The $30,000 difference in home prices means roughly $1,956 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,000/mo in El Paso compared to $775/mo in Fort Smith, a monthly difference of $225.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 95 in El Paso and 92 in Fort Smith. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $451/month in El Paso vs $437/month in Fort Smith. The difference in grocery costs between these cities is relatively minor and unlikely to be a deciding factor in relocation.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 93 in El Paso and 95 in Fort Smith. Monthly utility bills average approximately $372 in El Paso vs $380 in Fort Smith. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 89 in El Paso 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 $47,568 in El Paso and $45,200 in Fort Smith. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $55,962 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 $1,110/month to housing in El Paso vs $1,055/month in Fort Smith. In El Paso, median rent of $1,000/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 20 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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