Fort Smith vs Santa Fe
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Fort Smith
Santa Fe
The Verdict
Fort Smith is 34.2% less expensive than Santa Fe overall. A household earning $75,000 in Fort Smith would need approximately $113,961 in Santa Fe 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 $113,961 in Santa Fe.
Conversely, $75,000 in Santa Fe equals $49,359 in Fort Smith.
Living in Fort Smith vs Santa Fe
Housing Costs
Fort Smith's housing index of 49 is lower Santa Fe's 153, translating to median home prices of $155,000 vs $480,000. The $325,000 difference in home prices means roughly $21,120 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $775/mo in Fort Smith compared to $1,600/mo in Santa Fe, a monthly difference of $825.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 92 in Fort Smith and 103 in Santa Fe. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $437/month in Fort Smith vs $489/month in Santa Fe. Fort Smith offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $624/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 95 in Fort Smith and 96 in Santa Fe. Monthly utility bills average approximately $380 in Fort Smith vs $384 in Santa Fe. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 88 in Fort Smith and 95 in Santa Fe. 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 $61,982 in Santa Fe. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $58,701 and $52,976 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 $1,446/month in Santa Fe. In Fort Smith, median rent of $775/mo fits within this budget. In Santa Fe, median rent of $1,600/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 104 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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