Fort Smith vs Sioux City
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Fort Smith
Sioux City
The Verdict
Fort Smith is 10.5% less expensive than Sioux City overall. A household earning $75,000 in Fort Smith would need approximately $83,766 in Sioux City 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 $83,766 in Sioux City.
Conversely, $75,000 in Sioux City equals $67,151 in Fort Smith.
Living in Fort Smith vs Sioux City
Housing Costs
Fort Smith's housing index of 49 is lower Sioux City's 74, translating to median home prices of $155,000 vs $182,000. The $27,000 difference in home prices means roughly $1,752 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $775/mo in Fort Smith compared to $875/mo in Sioux City, a monthly difference of $100.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 92 in Fort Smith and 97 in Sioux City. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $437/month in Fort Smith vs $461/month in Sioux City. 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 89 in Sioux City. Monthly utility bills average approximately $380 in Fort Smith vs $356 in Sioux City. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 88 in Fort Smith and 101 in Sioux City. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 13-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 $65,500 in Sioux City. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $58,701 and $76,163 respectively. Sioux City 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 $1,528/month in Sioux City. In Fort Smith, median rent of $775/mo fits within this budget. In Sioux City, median rent of $875/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 25 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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