Fort Smith vs Morgantown
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Fort Smith
Morgantown
The Verdict
The cost gap between these cities is 14.4%, with Fort Smith being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Fort Smith has equivalent purchasing power to $87,662 in Morgantown.
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 $87,662 in Morgantown.
Conversely, $75,000 in Morgantown equals $64,167 in Fort Smith.
Living in Fort Smith vs Morgantown
Housing Costs
Fort Smith's housing index of 49 is lower Morgantown's 81, translating to median home prices of $155,000 vs $259,000. The $104,000 difference in home prices means roughly $6,756 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $775/mo in Fort Smith compared to $950/mo in Morgantown, a monthly difference of $175.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 92 in Fort Smith and 95 in Morgantown. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $437/month in Fort Smith vs $451/month in Morgantown. 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 91 in Morgantown. Monthly utility bills average approximately $380 in Fort Smith vs $364 in Morgantown. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 88 in Fort Smith and 88 in Morgantown. 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 $44,700 in Morgantown. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $58,701 and $49,667 respectively. Fort Smith residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,055/month to housing in Fort Smith vs $1,043/month in Morgantown. In Fort Smith, median rent of $775/mo fits within this budget. In Morgantown, median rent of $950/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 32 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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