Fort Smith vs San Antonio
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Fort Smith
San Antonio
The Verdict
Fort Smith is 14.4% less expensive than San Antonio overall. A household earning $75,000 in Fort Smith would need approximately $87,662 in San Antonio 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 $87,662 in San Antonio.
Conversely, $75,000 in San Antonio equals $64,167 in Fort Smith.
Living in Fort Smith vs San Antonio
Housing Costs
Fort Smith's housing index of 49 is lower San Antonio's 78, translating to median home prices of $155,000 vs $250,000. The $95,000 difference in home prices means roughly $6,180 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $775/mo in Fort Smith compared to $1,200/mo in San Antonio, a monthly difference of $425.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 92 in Fort Smith and 93 in San Antonio. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $437/month in Fort Smith vs $442/month in San Antonio. 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 96 in San Antonio. Monthly utility bills average approximately $380 in Fort Smith vs $384 in San Antonio. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 88 in Fort Smith and 95 in San Antonio. 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 $53,420 in San Antonio. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $58,701 and $59,356 respectively. San Antonio 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 $1,246/month in San Antonio. In Fort Smith, median rent of $775/mo fits within this budget. In San Antonio, median rent of $1,200/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 29 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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