CostIndexUSA

Fort Smith, AR vs Lubbock, TX Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableAR
Fort Smith
85.9
overall index
$1,025/mo rent
TX
Lubbock
91.3
overall index
$1,350/mo rent

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

To match an $80,000 salary in Fort Smith, you would need $85,000 in Lubbock. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+43.1%
Fort Smith
53.4
Lubbock
76.4
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Fort Smith
93.6
Lubbock
93.8
🚗 Transportation+1.0%
Fort Smith
100.1
Lubbock
101.1
🏥 Healthcare+0.9%
Fort Smith
90.6
Lubbock
91.4
Utilities+12.2%
Fort Smith
73.8
Lubbock
82.8

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Lubbock, TX
$85,000
$5,000 more needed in Lubbock

Formula: salary × (91.3 ÷ 85.9) = salary × 1.0629. 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×

Lubbock, TX

Median Home Price
$206,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,350
Housing Index
76.4
Price-to-Rent Ratio
12.7×

Lubbock has 43.1% 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

Lubbock, TX

Median Household Income
$57,100
Per Capita Income
$32,500
Unemployment Rate
3.9%
Population
258,862
Top Industries
EducationHealthcareAgricultureManufacturingGovernment

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)

Lubbock, TX
3.5×income-to-rent ratio

72% 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.