Cost of Living Comparison Between Fort Smith, AR and Charleston, WV Cost of Living Comparison Between Fort Smith, AR and Charleston, WV

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,969 in Fort Smith, AR versus $1,826 in Charleston, WV.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,022 in Fort Smith, AR versus $2,671 in Charleston, WV.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,074 in Fort Smith, AR versus $3,516 in Charleston, WV.

Living in Fort Smith, AR is roughly 8% more expensive than in Charleston, WV, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Fort Smith, AR 44% above, Charleston, WV 33% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.91 $19.91

$14.25 $14.25

39.72%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$65.1 $65.1

$50.5 $50.5

28.71%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.68 $11.68

$10.03 $10.03

16.45%

Cappuccino

$5.15 $5.15

$3.07 $3.07

67.75%

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

$2.28 $2.28

$2.35 $2.35

-2.98%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 $2.04

$1.90 $1.90

7.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.03 $6.03

$2.92 $2.92

106.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.46 $8.46

$6.61 $6.61

27.99%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.01 $1.01

$0.79 $0.79

27.85%

White Bread (500g)

$3.32 $3.32

$2.23 $2.23

48.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.41 $3.41

$1.63 $1.63

109.20%

Eggs

$2.89 $2.89

$3.28 $3.28

-11.89%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.29 $7.29

$10.81 $10.81

-32.56%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.86 $10.86

$11.89 $11.89

-8.66%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.25 $18.25

$16.07 $16.07

13.57%

Apples (1kg)

$4.53 $4.53

$4.36 $4.36

3.90%

Banana (1kg)

$1.46 $1.46

$1.03 $1.03

41.75%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.56 $2.56

$2.22 $2.22

15.32%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.14 $2.14

$5.12 $5.12

-58.20%

Potato (1kg)

$1.90 $1.90

$1.94 $1.94

-2.06%

Onion (1kg)

$1.58 $1.58

$2.82 $2.82

-43.97%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.76 $1.76

$1.97 $1.97

-10.66%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.25 $2.25

$1.02 $1.02

120.59%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.19 $8.19

$5.98 $5.98

36.96%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.28 $15.28

$9.82 $9.82

55.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.88 $1.88

$1.75 $1.75

7.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.66 $2.66

$6.17 $6.17

-56.89%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.24 $1.24

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.36 $34.36

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.67 $2.67

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.23 $1.23

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.37 $30.37

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.77 $0.77

$0.90 $0.90

-14.44%

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

$25.6K $25.6K

$36.4K $36.4K

-29.67%

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

$25.8K $25.8K

$25.2K $25.2K

2.12%

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

$280 $280

$203 $203

37.50%

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

$69.8 $69.8

$46.21 $46.21

51.03%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$68.2 $68.2

$55.9 $55.9

21.89%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$26.42 $26.42

$30.66 $30.66

-13.83%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.72 $15.72

$16.71 $16.71

-5.92%

Cinema Ticket

$13.63 $13.63

$11.86 $11.86

14.92%

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

$905 $905

$535 $535

69.30%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.3K $23.3K

$6,401 $6,401

263.80%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.6 $52.6

$39.72 $39.72

32.45%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.82 $38.82

$47.83 $47.83

-18.84%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$93.0 $93.0

$70.2 $70.2

32.50%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.8 $75.8

$123 $123

-38.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$672 $672

$1,035 $1,035

-35.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$648 $648

$771 $771

-15.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,525 $1,525

$1,715 $1,715

-11.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,297 $1,297

$1,339 $1,339

-3.16%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,554 $1,554

$1,128 $1,128

37.81%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,543 $1,543

$1,120 $1,120

37.78%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,157 $3,157

$3,625 $3,625

-12.91%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.04

6.15

-1.79%

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

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

Last update for Charleston, WV: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $672 in Fort Smith, AR and $1,035 in Charleston, WV. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Charleston, WV pays 15% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $65.0 in Fort Smith, AR vs $51.0 in Charleston, WV for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $340 vs $325 per month, with Charleston, WV 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

Fort Smith, AR vs Charleston, WV: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Charleston, WV is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 8% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 15% lower in Charleston, WV. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $672 in Fort Smith, AR versus $1,035 in Charleston, WV. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $905 in Fort Smith, AR versus $535 in Charleston, WV. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Charleston, WV – a meal for two runs $51.0 versus $65.0 in Fort Smith, AR. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $1,826 in Charleston, WV versus $1,969 in Fort Smith, AR, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Charleston, WV but tight or insufficient in Fort Smith, AR. The gap between the two cities makes Charleston, WV 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.

Safety-wise, Fort Smith, AR and Charleston, WV are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Charleston, WV gentler on the wallet – expenses run 8% less than in Fort Smith, AR. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.