CostIndexUSA

Fort Smith, AR vs Sioux City, IA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableAR
Fort Smith
85.9
overall index
$1,025/mo rent
IA
Sioux City
86.5
overall index
$1,150/mo rent

Fort Smith is slightly cheaper than Sioux City — 0.7% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Fort Smith, you would need $80,600 in Sioux City. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+8.2%
Fort Smith
53.4
Sioux City
57.8
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Fort Smith
93.6
Sioux City
94
🚗 Transportation2.7%
Fort Smith
100.1
Sioux City
97.4
🏥 Healthcare2.8%
Fort Smith
90.6
Sioux City
88.1
Utilities+12.1%
Fort Smith
73.8
Sioux City
82.7

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Sioux City, IA
$80,600
$600 more needed in Sioux City

Formula: salary × (86.5 ÷ 85.9) = salary × 1.0070. 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×

Sioux City, IA

Median Home Price
$211,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,150
Housing Index
57.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
15.3×

Sioux City has 8.2% 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

Sioux City, IA

Median Household Income
$70,700
Per Capita Income
$40,300
Unemployment Rate
3%
Population
82,684
Top Industries
HealthcareManufacturingAgricultureRetailEducation

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)

Sioux City, IA
5.1×income-to-rent ratio

80% 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.