CostIndexUSA

Des Moines, IA vs Fort Smith, AR Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

IA
Des Moines
91.7
overall index
$1,250/mo rent
More AffordableAR
Fort Smith
85.9
overall index
$1,025/mo rent

Fort Smith is moderately cheaper than Des Moines — 6.3% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Des Moines, you would need $74,900 in Fort Smith. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing−37.0%
Des Moines
84.7
Fort Smith
53.4
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Des Moines
93.7
Fort Smith
93.6
🚗 Transportation+2.6%
Des Moines
97.6
Fort Smith
100.1
🏥 Healthcare+2.6%
Des Moines
88.3
Fort Smith
90.6
⚡ Utilities−12.8%
Des Moines
84.6
Fort Smith
73.8

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
→
Equivalent salary in Fort Smith, AR
$74,900
$5,100 less needed in Fort Smith

Formula: salary × (85.9 ÷ 91.7) = salary × 0.9368. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Des Moines, IA

Median Home Price
$285,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,250
Housing Index
84.7
Price-to-Rent Ratio
19.0×

Fort Smith, AR

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

Des Moines has 37.0% lower housing costs compared to Fort Smith.

Income & Job Market

Des Moines, IA

Median Household Income
$82,700
Per Capita Income
$47,100
Unemployment Rate
3.1%
Population
214,237
Top Industries
FinanceInsuranceHealthcareGovernmentManufacturing

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).

Des Moines, IA
5.5×income-to-rent ratio

82% of income left after rent (median)

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

79% of income left after rent (median)

Des Moines vs other cities

Des Moines, IA
vs
Cedar Rapids, IA
Index: 91.7Index: 89
Des Moines, IA
vs
Davenport, IA
Index: 91.7Index: 89.1
Des Moines, IA
vs
Iowa City, IA
Index: 91.7Index: 91.5
Des Moines, IA
vs
Fontana, CA
Index: 91.7Index: 106.4
Des Moines, IA
vs
Huntsville, AL
Index: 91.7Index: 93.1

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

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.