CostIndexUSA

Fort Smith, AR vs Monroe, LA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

AR
Fort Smith
85.9
overall index
$1,025/mo rent
More AffordableLA
Monroe
83.6
overall index
$1,100/mo rent

Monroe is slightly cheaper than Fort Smith — 2.7% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Fort Smith, you would need $77,900 in Monroe. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing−19.9%
Fort Smith
53.4
Monroe
42.8
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Fort Smith
93.6
Monroe
93.7
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
Fort Smith
100.1
Monroe
100.5
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Fort Smith
90.6
Monroe
90.9
⚡ Utilities−2.2%
Fort Smith
73.8
Monroe
72.2

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
→
Equivalent salary in Monroe, LA
$77,900
$2,100 less needed in Monroe

Formula: salary × (83.6 ÷ 85.9) = salary × 0.9732. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Fort Smith, AR

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

Monroe, LA

Median Home Price
$157,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,100
Housing Index
42.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
11.9×

Fort Smith has 19.9% lower housing costs compared to Monroe.

Income & Job Market

Fort Smith, AR

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

Monroe, LA

Median Household Income
$50,300
Per Capita Income
$28,700
Unemployment Rate
7.3%
Population
47,252
Top Industries
HealthcareEducationManufacturingGovernmentRetail

Affordability at a Glance

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

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

79% of income left after rent (median)

Monroe, LA
3.8×income-to-rent ratio

74% of income left after rent (median)

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

Monroe vs other cities

Monroe, LA
vs
Baton Rouge, LA
Index: 83.6Index: 90.8
Monroe, LA
vs
Lafayette, LA
Index: 83.6Index: 87.2
Monroe, LA
vs
Lake Charles, LA
Index: 83.6Index: 85.9
Monroe, LA
vs
Charleston, WV
Index: 83.6Index: 88.7
Monroe, LA
vs
San Luis Obispo, CA
Index: 83.6Index: 108.6

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.