Fort Smith vs Newport News

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 $89,610 in Newport News.

Conversely, $75,000 in Newport News equals $62,772 in Fort Smith.

Living in Fort Smith vs Newport News

Housing Costs

Fort Smith's housing index of 49 is lower Newport News's 75, translating to median home prices of $155,000 vs $261,000. The $106,000 difference in home prices means roughly $6,888 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $775/mo in Fort Smith compared to $1,175/mo in Newport News, a monthly difference of $400.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 92 in Fort Smith and 99 in Newport News. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $437/month in Fort Smith vs $470/month in Newport News. Fort Smith offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $396/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 95 in Fort Smith and 104 in Newport News. Monthly utility bills average approximately $380 in Fort Smith vs $416 in Newport News. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 88 in Fort Smith and 111 in Newport News. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 23-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 $69,600 in Newport News. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $58,701 and $75,652 respectively. Newport News 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 $1,624/month in Newport News. In Fort Smith, median rent of $775/mo fits within this budget. In Newport News, median rent of $1,175/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 26 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Moving & Relocation Resources

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