Fort Smith vs Kansas City
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Fort Smith
Kansas City
The Verdict
Fort Smith is 17.2% less expensive than Kansas City overall. A household earning $75,000 in Fort Smith would need approximately $90,584 in Kansas City 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 $90,584 in Kansas City.
Conversely, $75,000 in Kansas City equals $62,097 in Fort Smith.
Living in Fort Smith vs Kansas City
Housing Costs
Fort Smith's housing index of 49 is lower Kansas City's 80, translating to median home prices of $155,000 vs $220,000. The $65,000 difference in home prices means roughly $4,224 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $775/mo in Fort Smith compared to $1,100/mo in Kansas City, a monthly difference of $325.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 92 in Fort Smith and 97 in Kansas City. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $437/month in Fort Smith vs $461/month in Kansas City. 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 95 in Fort Smith and 95 in Kansas City. Monthly utility bills average approximately $380 in Fort Smith vs $380 in Kansas City. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 88 in Fort Smith and 96 in Kansas City. 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 $57,478 in Kansas City. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $58,701 and $61,804 respectively. Kansas City 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 $1,341/month in Kansas City. In Fort Smith, median rent of $775/mo fits within this budget. In Kansas City, median rent of $1,100/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 31 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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