Fort Smith vs Green Bay
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Fort Smith
Green Bay
The Verdict
Fort Smith is 10.5% less expensive than Green Bay overall. A household earning $75,000 in Fort Smith would need approximately $83,766 in Green Bay 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 Fort Smith has the same purchasing power as $83,766 in Green Bay.
Conversely, $75,000 in Green Bay equals $67,151 in Fort Smith.
Living in Fort Smith vs Green Bay
Housing Costs
Fort Smith's housing index of 49 is lower Green Bay's 72, translating to median home prices of $155,000 vs $235,000. The $80,000 difference in home prices means roughly $5,196 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $775/mo in Fort Smith compared to $950/mo in Green Bay, a monthly difference of $175.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 92 in Fort Smith and 98 in Green Bay. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $437/month in Fort Smith vs $466/month in Green Bay. Fort Smith offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $348/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 95 in Fort Smith and 84 in Green Bay. Monthly utility bills average approximately $380 in Fort Smith vs $336 in Green Bay. Climate differences between the two cities drive much of this gap, with heating and cooling costs varying substantially by region.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 88 in Fort Smith and 96 in Green Bay. 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 $45,200 in Fort Smith and $55,200 in Green Bay. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $58,701 and $64,186 respectively. Green Bay residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,055/month to housing in Fort Smith vs $1,288/month in Green Bay. In Fort Smith, median rent of $775/mo fits within this budget. In Green Bay, median rent of $950/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 23 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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