CostIndexUSA

Aurora, CO vs Fort Smith, AR Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

CO
Aurora
105.8
overall index
$1,850/mo rent
More AffordableAR
Fort Smith
85.9
overall index
$1,025/mo rent

Fort Smith is significantly cheaper than Aurora — 18.8% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Aurora, you would need $65,000 in Fort Smith. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing63.6%
Aurora
146.9
Fort Smith
53.4
🛒 Groceries7.3%
Aurora
101
Fort Smith
93.6
🚗 Transportation4.1%
Aurora
104.4
Fort Smith
100.1
🏥 Healthcare4.1%
Aurora
94.5
Fort Smith
90.6
Utilities16.0%
Aurora
87.9
Fort Smith
73.8

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Fort Smith, AR
$65,000
$15,000 less needed in Fort Smith

Formula: salary × (85.9 ÷ 105.8) = salary × 0.8119. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Aurora, CO

Median Home Price
$559,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,850
Housing Index
146.9
Price-to-Rent Ratio
25.2×

Fort Smith, AR

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

Aurora has 63.6% lower housing costs compared to Fort Smith.

Income & Job Market

Aurora, CO

Median Household Income
$103,100
Per Capita Income
$58,800
Unemployment Rate
3.6%
Population
366,623
Top Industries
HealthcareAerospaceTechnologyGovernmentRetail

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).

Aurora, CO
4.6×income-to-rent ratio

78% of income left after rent (median)

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

79% 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.