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: $1,794 in Fort Smith, AR versus $1,815 in Charleston, WV.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,731 in Fort Smith, AR versus $2,666 in Charleston, WV.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,667 in Fort Smith, AR versus $3,517 in Charleston, WV.

Living in Fort Smith, AR costs roughly 1% less than in Charleston, WV, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Fort Smith, AR 34% above, Charleston, WV 35% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.72 $14.72

$15.06 $15.06

-2.26%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$50.4 $50.4

$50.2 $50.2

0.48%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.61 $8.61

$7.89 $7.89

9.13%

Cappuccino

$4.15 $4.15

$2.90 $2.90

43.10%

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

$2.27 $2.27

$2.16 $2.16

5.09%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.88 $1.88

$2.07 $2.07

-9.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.97 $3.97

$2.95 $2.95

34.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.90 $5.90

$6.07 $6.07

-2.80%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.94 $0.94

$0.79 $0.79

18.99%

White Bread (500g)

$2.88 $2.88

$2.25 $2.25

28.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.09 $2.09

$1.69 $1.69

23.67%

Eggs

$2.85 $2.85

$3.18 $3.18

-10.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.59 $7.59

$10.16 $10.16

-25.30%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.41 $9.41

$9.38 $9.38

0.32%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.68 $14.68

$15.32 $15.32

-4.18%

Apples (1kg)

$4.60 $4.60

$4.31 $4.31

6.73%

Banana (1kg)

$1.27 $1.27

$1.02 $1.02

24.51%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.46 $2.46

$2.16 $2.16

13.89%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.14 $2.14

$5.03 $5.03

-57.46%

Potato (1kg)

$1.60 $1.60

$1.92 $1.92

-16.67%

Onion (1kg)

$1.52 $1.52

$2.88 $2.88

-47.22%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.80 $1.80

$1.74 $1.74

3.45%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.89 $1.89

$1.01 $1.01

87.13%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.01 $7.01

$6.01 $6.01

16.64%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.07 $15.07

$10.14 $10.14

48.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.69 $1.69

-2.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.56 $2.56

$1.77 $1.77

44.63%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.27 $1.27

$1.54 $1.54

-17.53%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.16 $35.16

$59.2 $59.2

-40.61%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.04 $3.04

$3.67 $3.67

-17.17%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.28 $1.28

$1.20 $1.20

6.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$36.58 $36.58

$24.91 $24.91

46.85%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.72 $0.72

$0.82 $0.82

-12.20%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$35.5K $35.5K

-26.46%

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

$26.5K $26.5K

$25.3K $25.3K

4.50%

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

$234 $234

$119 $119

97.38%

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

$57.3 $57.3

$45.88 $45.88

24.91%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$73.4 $73.4

$54.9 $54.9

33.72%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$27.08 $27.08

$31.51 $31.51

-14.06%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.32 $16.32

$17.08 $17.08

-4.45%

Cinema Ticket

$10.94 $10.94

$11.96 $11.96

-8.53%

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

$762 $762

$1,569 $1,569

-51.47%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.7K $23.7K

$17.7K $17.7K

34.00%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.2 $53.2

$40.52 $40.52

31.17%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.25 $33.25

$40.01 $40.01

-16.90%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.5 $70.5

$87.3 $87.3

-19.26%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.1 $77.1

$99.7 $99.7

-22.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$679 $679

$919 $919

-26.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$668 $668

$805 $805

-17.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,486 $1,486

$1,779 $1,779

-16.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,294 $1,294

$1,312 $1,312

-1.34%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,517 $1,517

$1,104 $1,104

37.43%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,526 $1,526

$1,127 $1,127

35.42%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,110 $3,110

$3,565 $3,565

-12.74%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.53

-1.23%

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

Last update for Fort Smith, AR: May 31, 2026

Last update for Charleston, WV: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $679 in Fort Smith, AR and $919 in Charleston, WV. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Charleston, WV pays 15% 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: $50.0 in Fort Smith, AR vs $50.0 in Charleston, WV. Groceries flip the comparison at $304 vs $298, with Charleston, WV cheaper for home cooking.

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

Fort Smith, AR is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 1% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Charleston, WV earns 15% less. 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: $679 in Fort Smith, AR versus $919 in Charleston, WV. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Charleston, WV pay roughly 2% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

Dining out is cheaper in Fort Smith, AR – a meal for two runs $50.0 versus $50.0 in Charleston, WV. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $1,794 in Fort Smith, AR versus $1,815 in Charleston, WV, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Fort Smith, AR but tight or insufficient in Charleston, WV. 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.

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 Fort Smith, AR gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1% less than in Charleston, WV. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.