CostIndexUSA

Clarksville, TN vs Fort Smith, AR Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

TN
Clarksville
90.9
overall index
$1,350/mo rent
More AffordableAR
Fort Smith
85.9
overall index
$1,025/mo rent

Fort Smith is moderately cheaper than Clarksville — 5.5% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Clarksville, you would need $75,600 in Fort Smith. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing27.6%
Clarksville
73.8
Fort Smith
53.4
🛒 Groceries2.7%
Clarksville
96.2
Fort Smith
93.6
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
Clarksville
100.3
Fort Smith
100.1
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Clarksville
90.7
Fort Smith
90.6
Utilities+1.8%
Clarksville
72.5
Fort Smith
73.8

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Fort Smith, AR
$75,600
$4,400 less needed in Fort Smith

Formula: salary × (85.9 ÷ 90.9) = salary × 0.9450. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Clarksville, TN

Median Home Price
$289,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,350
Housing Index
73.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
17.8×

Fort Smith, AR

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

Clarksville has 27.6% lower housing costs compared to Fort Smith.

Income & Job Market

Clarksville, TN

Median Household Income
$67,100
Per Capita Income
$38,200
Unemployment Rate
5.6%
Population
166,722
Top Industries
MilitaryHealthcareManufacturingRetailEducation

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).

Clarksville, TN
4.1×income-to-rent ratio

76% 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.