CostIndexUSA

Fort Smith, AR vs Ocala, FL Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableAR
Fort Smith
85.9
overall index
$1,025/mo rent
FL
Ocala
95.2
overall index
$1,600/mo rent

Fort Smith is moderately cheaper than Ocala — 10.8% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Fort Smith, you would need $88,700 in Ocala. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+61.4%
Fort Smith
53.4
Ocala
86.2
🛒 Groceries+2.8%
Fort Smith
93.6
Ocala
96.2
🚗 Transportation+3.7%
Fort Smith
100.1
Ocala
103.8
🏥 Healthcare+3.6%
Fort Smith
90.6
Ocala
93.9
Utilities+18.0%
Fort Smith
73.8
Ocala
87.1

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Ocala, FL
$88,700
$8,700 more needed in Ocala

Formula: salary × (95.2 ÷ 85.9) = salary × 1.1083. 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×

Ocala, FL

Median Home Price
$271,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,600
Housing Index
86.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
14.1×

Ocala has 61.4% higher housing costs compared to Fort Smith.

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

Ocala, FL

Median Household Income
$58,600
Per Capita Income
$33,400
Unemployment Rate
5.1%
Population
63,591
Top Industries
HealthcareEquestrianManufacturingRetailAgriculture

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)

Ocala, FL
3.1×income-to-rent ratio

67% of income left after rent (median)

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.