Fort Smith vs Sugar Land

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 $107,143 in Sugar Land.

Conversely, $75,000 in Sugar Land equals $52,500 in Fort Smith.

Living in Fort Smith vs Sugar Land

Housing Costs

Fort Smith's housing index of 49 is lower Sugar Land's 128, translating to median home prices of $155,000 vs $456,000. The $301,000 difference in home prices means roughly $19,560 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $775/mo in Fort Smith compared to $1,625/mo in Sugar Land, a monthly difference of $850.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 92 in Fort Smith and 99 in Sugar Land. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $437/month in Fort Smith vs $470/month in Sugar Land. Fort Smith offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $396/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 95 in Fort Smith and 96 in Sugar Land. Monthly utility bills average approximately $380 in Fort Smith vs $384 in Sugar Land. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 88 in Fort Smith and 96 in Sugar Land. 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 $128,400 in Sugar Land. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $58,701 and $116,727 respectively. Sugar Land 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 $2,996/month in Sugar Land. In Fort Smith, median rent of $775/mo fits within this budget. In Sugar Land, median rent of $1,625/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 79 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Moving & Relocation Resources

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