Fort Smith vs St. Paul
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Fort Smith
St. Paul
The Verdict
Fort Smith is 23.0% less expensive than St. Paul overall. A household earning $75,000 in Fort Smith would need approximately $97,403 in St. Paul 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 $97,403 in St. Paul.
Conversely, $75,000 in St. Paul equals $57,750 in Fort Smith.
Living in Fort Smith vs St. Paul
Housing Costs
Fort Smith's housing index of 49 is lower St. Paul's 98, translating to median home prices of $155,000 vs $260,000. The $105,000 difference in home prices means roughly $6,828 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $775/mo in Fort Smith compared to $1,300/mo in St. Paul, a monthly difference of $525.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 92 in Fort Smith and 103 in St. Paul. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $437/month in Fort Smith vs $489/month in St. Paul. 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 97 in St. Paul. Monthly utility bills average approximately $380 in Fort Smith vs $388 in St. Paul. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 88 in Fort Smith and 105 in St. Paul. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 17-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 $57,718 in St. Paul. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $58,701 and $57,718 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 $1,347/month in St. Paul. In Fort Smith, median rent of $775/mo fits within this budget. In St. Paul, median rent of $1,300/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 49 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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