Fort Smith vs Irvine
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Fort Smith
Irvine
The Verdict
Fort Smith is 56.7% less expensive than Irvine overall. A household earning $75,000 in Fort Smith would need approximately $173,377 in Irvine 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 $173,377 in Irvine.
Conversely, $75,000 in Irvine equals $32,444 in Fort Smith.
Living in Fort Smith vs Irvine
Housing Costs
Fort Smith's housing index of 49 is lower Irvine's 294, translating to median home prices of $155,000 vs $1.1M. The $895,000 difference in home prices means roughly $58,176 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $775/mo in Fort Smith compared to $3,000/mo in Irvine, a monthly difference of $2,225.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 92 in Fort Smith and 108 in Irvine. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $437/month in Fort Smith vs $513/month in Irvine. Fort Smith offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $912/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 95 in Fort Smith and 115 in Irvine. Monthly utility bills average approximately $380 in Fort Smith vs $460 in Irvine. 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 109 in Irvine. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 21-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $45,200 in Fort Smith and $108,038 in Irvine. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $58,701 and $60,696 respectively. Irvine 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 $2,521/month in Irvine. In Fort Smith, median rent of $775/mo fits within this budget. In Irvine, median rent of $3,000/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 245 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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