CostIndexUSA

Fort Collins, CO vs Fort Smith, AR Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

CO
Fort Collins
101.1
overall index
$1,875/mo rent
More AffordableAR
Fort Smith
85.9
overall index
$1,025/mo rent

Fort Smith is significantly cheaper than Fort Collins — 15.0% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Fort Collins, you would need $68,000 in Fort Smith. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing−55.7%
Fort Collins
120.6
Fort Smith
53.4
🛒 Groceries−2.6%
Fort Collins
96.1
Fort Smith
93.6
🚗 Transportation−4.5%
Fort Collins
104.8
Fort Smith
100.1
🏥 Healthcare−4.4%
Fort Collins
94.8
Fort Smith
90.6
⚡ Utilities−10.2%
Fort Collins
82.2
Fort Smith
73.8

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Fort Collins to see what you'd need to earn in Fort Smith to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
→
Equivalent salary in Fort Smith, AR
$68,000
$12,000 less needed in Fort Smith

Formula: salary × (85.9 ÷ 101.1) = salary × 0.8497. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Fort Collins, CO

Median Home Price
$540,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,875
Housing Index
120.6
Price-to-Rent Ratio
24.0×

Fort Smith, AR

Median Home Price
$195,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,025
Housing Index
53.4
Price-to-Rent Ratio
15.9×

Fort Collins has 55.7% lower housing costs compared to Fort Smith.

Income & Job Market

Fort Collins, CO

Median Household Income
$88,200
Per Capita Income
$50,300
Unemployment Rate
4.5%
Population
164,672
Top Industries
TechnologyEducationHealthcareAgricultureManufacturing

Fort Smith, AR

Median Household Income
$58,600
Per Capita Income
$33,400
Unemployment Rate
3.8%
Population
88,037
Top Industries
ManufacturingHealthcareRetailGovernmentFinance

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Fort Collins, CO
3.9×income-to-rent ratio

74% of income left after rent (median)

Fort Smith, AR
4.8×income-to-rent ratio

79% of income left after rent (median)

Fort Collins vs other cities

Fort Collins, CO
vs
Aurora, CO
Index: 101.1Index: 105.8
Fort Collins, CO
vs
Boulder, CO
Index: 101.1Index: 105.2
Fort Collins, CO
vs
Colorado Springs, CO
Index: 101.1Index: 100.7
Fort Collins, CO
vs
Salinas, CA
Index: 101.1Index: 109
Fort Collins, CO
vs
Clarksville, TN
Index: 101.1Index: 90.9

Fort Smith vs other cities

Fort Smith, AR
vs
Fayetteville, AR
Index: 85.9Index: 91.4
Fort Smith, AR
vs
Jonesboro, AR
Index: 85.9Index: 85.9
Fort Smith, AR
vs
Little Rock, AR
Index: 85.9Index: 89.4
Fort Smith, AR
vs
Santa Barbara, CA
Index: 85.9Index: 108.8
Fort Smith, AR
vs
Champaign, IL
Index: 85.9Index: 92.7

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.