Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Fort Smith, AR Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Fort Smith, AR

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,715 in Austin, TX versus $1,969 in Fort Smith, AR.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,156 in Austin, TX versus $3,022 in Fort Smith, AR.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,596 in Austin, TX versus $4,074 in Fort Smith, AR.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 38% more expensive than in Fort Smith, AR, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 98% above, Fort Smith, AR 44% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.66 $19.66

$19.91 $19.91

-1.26%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$84.6 $84.6

$65.1 $65.1

30.12%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.30 $12.30

$11.68 $11.68

5.31%

Cappuccino

$5.45 $5.45

$5.15 $5.15

5.83%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.62 $3.62

$2.28 $2.28

58.77%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.41 $2.41

$2.04 $2.04

18.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.91 $7.91

$6.03 $6.03

31.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.89 $8.89

$8.46 $8.46

5.08%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.07 $1.07

$1.01 $1.01

5.94%

White Bread (500g)

$3.68 $3.68

$3.32 $3.32

10.84%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.34 $3.34

$3.41 $3.41

-2.05%

Eggs

$4.29 $4.29

$2.89 $2.89

48.44%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.00 $13.00

$7.29 $7.29

78.33%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.24 $14.24

$10.86 $10.86

31.12%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.68 $16.68

$18.25 $18.25

-8.60%

Apples (1kg)

$4.49 $4.49

$4.53 $4.53

-0.88%

Banana (1kg)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.46 $1.46

-2.74%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.59 $4.59

$2.56 $2.56

79.30%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.67 $4.67

$2.14 $2.14

118.22%

Potato (1kg)

$2.71 $2.71

$1.90 $1.90

42.63%

Onion (1kg)

$2.58 $2.58

$1.58 $1.58

63.29%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.89 $1.89

$1.76 $1.76

7.39%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.19 $2.19

$2.25 $2.25

-2.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.04 $10.04

$8.19 $8.19

22.59%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.08 $15.08

$15.28 $15.28

-1.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.92 $2.92

$1.88 $1.88

55.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.29 $3.29

$2.66 $2.66

23.68%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.53 $1.53

$1.24 $1.24

23.39%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.52 $41.52

$34.36 $34.36

20.84%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.70 $2.70

$2.67 $2.67

1.12%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.23 $1.23

34.15%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.05 $35.05

$30.37 $30.37

15.41%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.89 $0.89

$0.77 $0.77

15.58%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$36.4K $36.4K

$25.6K $25.6K

42.19%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$27.1K $27.1K

$25.8K $25.8K

5.09%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$223 $223

$280 $280

-20.24%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$57.4 $57.4

$69.8 $69.8

-17.78%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$68.3 $68.3

$68.2 $68.2

0.21%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$65.6 $65.6

$26.42 $26.42

148.15%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.61 $14.61

$15.72 $15.72

-7.06%

Cinema Ticket

$13.95 $13.95

$13.63 $13.63

2.35%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,523 $1,523

$905 $905

68.16%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.4K $21.4K

$23.3K $23.3K

-8.17%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.1 $53.1

$52.6 $52.6

0.95%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.81 $42.81

$38.82 $38.82

10.28%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.3 $85.3

$93.0 $93.0

-8.34%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$103 $103

$75.8 $75.8

35.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,948 $1,948

$672 $672

189.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,267 $1,267

$648 $648

95.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,765 $3,765

$1,525 $1,525

146.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,553 $2,553

$1,297 $1,297

96.91%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,179 $7,179

$1,554 $1,554

362.01%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,140 $3,140

$1,543 $1,543

103.47%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,955 $4,955

$3,157 $3,157

56.93%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.47

6.04

7.12%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Austin, TX: September 14, 2026

Last update for Fort Smith, AR: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,948 in Austin, TX and $672 in Fort Smith, AR. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 57% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $85.0 in Austin, TX vs $65.0 in Fort Smith, AR for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $409 vs $340 per month, with Fort Smith, AR cheaper across the board.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Austin, TX vs Fort Smith, AR: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Fort Smith, AR wins on cost – living expenses run 38% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Fort Smith, AR the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 57% higher in Austin, TX, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,948 in Austin, TX versus $672 in Fort Smith, AR. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,715 per month in Austin, TX versus $1,969 in Fort Smith, AR – a 38% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Fort Smith, AR runs roughly 21% less than in Austin, TX. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,969 in Fort Smith, AR versus $2,715 in Austin, TX, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Fort Smith, AR but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Fort Smith, AR the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Fort Smith, AR gentler on the wallet – expenses run 38% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.