Fort Smith vs Plano
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Fort Smith
Plano
The Verdict
Fort Smith is 29.4% less expensive than Plano overall. A household earning $75,000 in Fort Smith would need approximately $106,169 in Plano to maintain the same standard of living.
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 $106,169 in Plano.
Conversely, $75,000 in Plano equals $52,982 in Fort Smith.
Living in Fort Smith vs Plano
Housing Costs
Fort Smith's housing index of 49 is lower Plano's 123, translating to median home prices of $155,000 vs $400,000. The $245,000 difference in home prices means roughly $15,924 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $775/mo in Fort Smith compared to $1,700/mo in Plano, a monthly difference of $925.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 92 in Fort Smith and 98 in Plano. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $437/month in Fort Smith vs $466/month in Plano. Fort Smith offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $348/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 95 in Fort Smith and 99 in Plano. Monthly utility bills average approximately $380 in Fort Smith vs $396 in Plano. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 88 in Fort Smith and 100 in Plano. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 12-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 $96,348 in Plano. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $58,701 and $88,393 respectively. Plano 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 $2,248/month in Plano. In Fort Smith, median rent of $775/mo fits within this budget. In Plano, median rent of $1,700/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 74 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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