Fort Smith vs Naperville
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Fort Smith
Naperville
The Verdict
The cost gap between these cities is 31.2%, with Fort Smith being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Fort Smith has equivalent purchasing power to $109,091 in Naperville.
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 $109,091 in Naperville.
Conversely, $75,000 in Naperville equals $51,563 in Fort Smith.
Living in Fort Smith vs Naperville
Housing Costs
Fort Smith's housing index of 49 is lower Naperville's 130, translating to median home prices of $155,000 vs $430,000. The $275,000 difference in home prices means roughly $17,880 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $775/mo in Fort Smith compared to $1,800/mo in Naperville, a monthly difference of $1,025.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 92 in Fort Smith and 104 in Naperville. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $437/month in Fort Smith vs $494/month in Naperville. Fort Smith offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $684/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 95 in Fort Smith and 99 in Naperville. Monthly utility bills average approximately $380 in Fort Smith vs $396 in Naperville. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 88 in Fort Smith and 101 in Naperville. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 13-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 $118,254 in Naperville. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $58,701 and $105,584 respectively. Naperville 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 $2,759/month in Naperville. In Fort Smith, median rent of $775/mo fits within this budget. In Naperville, median rent of $1,800/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 81 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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