Fort Smith vs Long Beach
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026 Data
Fort Smith
Long Beach
💡 The Verdict
Fort Smith is 53% cheaper than Long Beach overall. A $75,000 salary in Fort Smith is equivalent to $159,247 in Long Beach.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values for Fort Smith (left) vs Long Beach (right). National average = 100.
Detailed Price Comparison
Estimated item-level prices in Fort Smith versus Long Beach. Differences shown from Fort Smith perspective.
| Item | Fort Smith | Long Beach | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-Bed Rent | $760/mo | $1,580/mo | $-820.00 |
| 2-Bed Rent | $1,110/mo | $2,200/mo | $-1090.00 |
| 3-Bed Rent | $1,460/mo | $2,950/mo | $-1490.00 |
| Bread (loaf) | $1.86 | $3.14 | $-1.28 |
| Milk (gallon) | $2.57 | $4.19 | $-1.62 |
| Eggs (dozen) | $2.47 | $3.34 | $-0.87 |
| Coffee (latte) | $4.29 | $5.87 | $-1.58 |
| Gas (gallon) | $3.05 | $3.71 | $-0.66 |
| Restaurant Meal | $13.75 | $20.86 | $-7.11 |
💰 Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Fort Smith has the same purchasing power as $159,247 in Long Beach.
Conversely, $75,000 in Long Beach equals $35,323 in Fort Smith.
💼 Take-Home Pay Comparison
Estimated annual take-home pay on a $75,000 salary after federal, FICA, and state income taxes.
The $1350 difference is driven by California having a higher state income tax rate. Arkansas details → · California details →
Reading These Numbers: Fort Smith (73) vs Long Beach (155)
Fort Smith at 73 is 27% below the US average, while Long Beach at 155 is 55% above average. There is a meaningful cost gap between these two cities that affects day-to-day budgeting.
In Fort Smith, the composite index of 73 reflects a weighted calculation where housing carries the most influence at 92, followed by groceries (75), utilities (77), transportation (80), and healthcare (80). Housing is the primary cost driver here.
For renters: With median rents of $1,110/mo in Fort Smith and $2,200/mo in Long Beach, the annual rent difference is approximately $13,080.0. Over a 5-year period, that compounds to $65,400.0 in savings by choosing the more affordable city.
For homebuyers: The $424,000.0 difference in median home prices between Fort Smith and Long Beach translates to meaningful differences in mortgage payments at current rates. Factor this into your budget alongside property taxes and insurance, which also vary by location.
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Making Your Decision: Fort Smith vs Long Beach
Choosing between Fort Smith and Long Beach involves more than just comparing index numbers. Consider how each category aligns with your personal spending patterns. If you work from home, transportation costs matter less than housing and utilities. If you eat out frequently, the groceries index may understate your actual food spending — look at the restaurant meal prices in the detailed comparison table above instead.
Long-term affordability in Fort Smith versus Long Beach depends partly on cost trajectory. Cities experiencing rapid population growth tend to see costs rise faster than established metros where supply has caught up with demand. While our index captures current conditions, consider whether the city trending cheaper today might converge toward average over the next five to ten years as more people discover it. Our quarterly updates help track these shifts over time.