City Comparison

Fort Smith vs Yonkers

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Fort Smith

Arkansas
77
Very Affordable
$155,000
Median Home
$775/mo
Median Rent
$45,200
Median Income

Yonkers

New York
142
Expensive
$635,000
Median Home
$2,200/mo
Median Rent
$80,600
Median Income

The Verdict

45.8%

Living in Fort Smith costs 45.8% less than Yonkers. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Fort Smith, you would need $138,312 in Yonkers.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable

Housing
49
Fort Smith
203
Yonkers
Groceries
92
Fort Smith
106
Yonkers
Utilities
95
Fort Smith
117
Yonkers
Transportation
90
Fort Smith
116
Yonkers
Healthcare
88
Fort Smith
107
Yonkers

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Fort Smith has the same purchasing power as $138,312 in Yonkers.

Conversely, $75,000 in Yonkers equals $40,669 in Fort Smith.

Living in Fort Smith vs Yonkers

Housing Costs

Fort Smith's housing index of 49 is lower Yonkers's 203, translating to median home prices of $155,000 vs $635,000. The $480,000 difference in home prices means roughly $31,200 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $775/mo in Fort Smith compared to $2,200/mo in Yonkers, a monthly difference of $1,425.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 92 in Fort Smith and 106 in Yonkers. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $437/month in Fort Smith vs $504/month in Yonkers. Fort Smith offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $804/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 95 in Fort Smith and 117 in Yonkers. Monthly utility bills average approximately $380 in Fort Smith vs $468 in Yonkers. Climate differences between the two cities drive much of this gap, with heating and cooling costs varying substantially by region.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 88 in Fort Smith and 107 in Yonkers. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 19-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 $80,600 in Yonkers. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $58,701 and $56,761 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 $1,881/month in Yonkers. In Fort Smith, median rent of $775/mo fits within this budget. In Yonkers, median rent of $2,200/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 154 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Fort Smith is 45.8% more affordable overall with an index of 77 vs 142.
A $75,000 salary in Fort Smith has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $138,312 in Yonkers, based on the cost of living difference.
Fort Smith's housing index is 49 with median homes at $155,000, while Yonkers's is 203 with median homes at $635,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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