CostIndexUSA

Fort Smith, AR vs Tucson, AZ Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableAR
Fort Smith
85.9
overall index
$1,025/mo rent
AZ
Tucson
96.9
overall index
$1,475/mo rent

Fort Smith is moderately cheaper than Tucson — 12.8% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Fort Smith, you would need $90,200 in Tucson. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+71.9%
Fort Smith
53.4
Tucson
91.8
🛒 Groceries+2.8%
Fort Smith
93.6
Tucson
96.2
🚗 Transportation+4.7%
Fort Smith
100.1
Tucson
104.8
🏥 Healthcare+4.6%
Fort Smith
90.6
Tucson
94.8
Utilities+21.3%
Fort Smith
73.8
Tucson
89.5

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Tucson, AZ
$90,200
$10,200 more needed in Tucson

Formula: salary × (96.9 ÷ 85.9) = salary × 1.1281. 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×

Tucson, AZ

Median Home Price
$338,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,475
Housing Index
91.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
19.1×

Tucson has 71.9% 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

Tucson, AZ

Median Household Income
$69,800
Per Capita Income
$39,800
Unemployment Rate
4.6%
Population
542,629
Top Industries
MilitaryEducationHealthcareTourismManufacturing

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)

Tucson, AZ
3.9×income-to-rent ratio

75% 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.