Fort Smith vs Ithaca
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Fort Smith
Ithaca
The Verdict
Living in Fort Smith costs 18.1% less than Ithaca. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Fort Smith, you would need $91,558 in Ithaca.
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 $91,558 in Ithaca.
Conversely, $75,000 in Ithaca equals $61,436 in Fort Smith.
Living in Fort Smith vs Ithaca
Housing Costs
Fort Smith's housing index of 49 is lower Ithaca's 117, translating to median home prices of $155,000 vs $324,000. The $169,000 difference in home prices means roughly $10,980 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $775/mo in Fort Smith compared to $1,475/mo in Ithaca, a monthly difference of $700.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 92 in Fort Smith and 103 in Ithaca. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $437/month in Fort Smith vs $489/month in Ithaca. Fort Smith offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $624/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 95 in Fort Smith and 102 in Ithaca. Monthly utility bills average approximately $380 in Fort Smith vs $408 in Ithaca. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 88 in Fort Smith and 99 in Ithaca. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 11-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 $48,600 in Ithaca. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $58,701 and $51,702 respectively. Fort Smith residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite lower nominal wages.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,055/month to housing in Fort Smith vs $1,134/month in Ithaca. In Fort Smith, median rent of $775/mo fits within this budget. In Ithaca, median rent of $1,475/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 68 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases