Fort Smith vs Pittsburgh
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Fort Smith
Pittsburgh
The Verdict
The cost gap between these cities is 17.2%, with Fort Smith being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Fort Smith has equivalent purchasing power to $90,584 in Pittsburgh.
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 Pittsburgh.
Conversely, $75,000 in Pittsburgh equals $62,097 in Fort Smith.
Living in Fort Smith vs Pittsburgh
Housing Costs
Fort Smith's housing index of 49 is lower Pittsburgh's 79, translating to median home prices of $155,000 vs $195,000. The $40,000 difference in home prices means roughly $2,604 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 Pittsburgh, a monthly difference of $325.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 92 in Fort Smith and 101 in Pittsburgh. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $437/month in Fort Smith vs $480/month in Pittsburgh. Fort Smith offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $516/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 95 in Fort Smith and 100 in Pittsburgh. Monthly utility bills average approximately $380 in Fort Smith vs $400 in Pittsburgh. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 88 in Fort Smith and 95 in Pittsburgh. 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 $52,536 in Pittsburgh. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $58,701 and $56,490 respectively. Fort Smith residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite lower nominal wages.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,055/month to housing in Fort Smith vs $1,226/month in Pittsburgh. In Fort Smith, median rent of $775/mo fits within this budget. In Pittsburgh, median rent of $1,100/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 30 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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