Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Fort Smith, AR and Seattle, WA

For one person, living is cheaper in Fort Smith, AR: $1,951 a month against $3,785 in Seattle, WA, rent and utilities included – about $22,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

94

Cost of Living Index in Fort Smith, AR
Learn more

Fort Smith, AR Living Index
184

Cost of Living Index in Seattle, WA
Learn more

Seattle, WA Living Index

Jump to prices

Fort Smith, AR

🇺🇸 United States

$1,951

/mo nomad

Seattle, WA

🇺🇸 United States

$3,785

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Fort Smith, AR and in Seattle, WA

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Fort Smith, AR and in Seattle, WA actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,951 in Fort Smith, AR versus $3,785 in Seattle, WA.

Fort Smith, AR $1,951
Seattle, WA $3,785

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,992 in Fort Smith, AR versus $5,688 in Seattle, WA.

Fort Smith, AR $2,992
Seattle, WA $5,688

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,033 in Fort Smith, AR versus $7,592 in Seattle, WA.

Fort Smith, AR $4,033
Seattle, WA $7,592

Living in Fort Smith, AR costs roughly 48% less than in Seattle, WA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Fort Smith, AR 43% above, Seattle, WA 178% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.20 $20.20

$25.30 $25.30

-20.16%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$64.6 $64.6

$101 $101

-35.94%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.43 $11.43

$14.76 $14.76

-22.56%

Cappuccino

$5.32 $5.32

$6.50 $6.50

-18.15%

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

$2.39 $2.39

$3.21 $3.21

-25.55%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.00 $2.00

$3.14 $3.14

-36.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.96 $5.96

$7.97 $7.97

-25.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.04 $9.04

$8.13 $8.13

11.19%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.95 $0.95

$1.17 $1.17

-18.80%

White Bread (500g)

$3.26 $3.26

$5.30 $5.30

-38.49%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.78 $3.78

$6.40 $6.40

-40.94%

Eggs

$2.89 $2.89

$5.06 $5.06

-42.89%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.55 $7.55

$18.71 $18.71

-59.65%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.76 $10.76

$18.72 $18.72

-42.52%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.61 $19.61

$22.88 $22.88

-14.29%

Apples (1kg)

$4.77 $4.77

$6.06 $6.06

-21.29%

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 $1.45

$1.95 $1.95

-25.64%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.48 $2.48

$5.51 $5.51

-54.99%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.11 $2.11

$6.52 $6.52

-67.64%

Potato (1kg)

$1.90 $1.90

$3.49 $3.49

-45.56%

Onion (1kg)

$1.58 $1.58

$3.29 $3.29

-51.98%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.75 $1.75

$2.80 $2.80

-37.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.28 $2.28

$2.58 $2.58

-11.63%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.33 $8.33

$12.49 $12.49

-33.31%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.89 $13.89

$14.87 $14.87

-6.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.82 $1.82

$4.19 $4.19

-56.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.64 $2.64

$5.80 $5.80

-54.48%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.22 $1.22

$3.05 $3.05

-60.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.44 $35.44

$106 $106

-66.55%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.68 $2.68

$2.58 $2.58

3.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 $1.29

$1.64 $1.64

-21.34%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.99 $29.99

$30.12 $30.12

-0.43%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.76 $0.76

$1.41 $1.41

-46.10%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$36.8K $36.8K

-29.46%

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

$25.6K $25.6K

$26.6K $26.6K

-3.79%

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

$276 $276

$308 $308

-10.40%

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

$69.5 $69.5

$69.2 $69.2

0.51%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.1 $69.1

$86.1 $86.1

-19.73%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$27.06 $27.06

$76.5 $76.5

-64.60%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.22 $16.22

$35.50 $35.50

-54.31%

Cinema Ticket

$13.52 $13.52

$18.02 $18.02

-24.97%

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

$918 $918

$2,746 $2,746

-66.58%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.5K $23.5K

$30.6K $30.6K

-23.10%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 $54.7

$79.2 $79.2

-30.85%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.77 $41.77

$54.3 $54.3

-23.09%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.8 $91.8

$127 $127

-27.65%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.6 $77.6

$159 $159

-51.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$683 $683

$2,508 $2,508

-72.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$646 $646

$1,938 $1,938

-66.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,536 $1,536

$5,117 $5,117

-69.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,295 $1,295

$3,542 $3,542

-63.43%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,557 $1,557

$7,374 $7,374

-78.88%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,561 $1,561

$5,002 $5,002

-68.80%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,154 $3,154

$6,470 $6,470

-51.25%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.38

6.89

-7.40%

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

Last update for Fort Smith, AR: October 26, 2026

Last update for Seattle, WA: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Fort Smith, AR

$646 33.1%

Seattle, WA

$1.9K 51.2% 200% $1.3K

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Fort Smith, AR

$414 21.2%

Seattle, WA

$463 12.2% 11.7% $49

Groceries & Markets

Fort Smith, AR

$342 17.6%

Seattle, WA

$547 14.5% 59.7% $205

Eating Out

Fort Smith, AR

$325 16.7%

Seattle, WA

$406 10.7% 24.9% $81

Clothing & Footwear

Fort Smith, AR

$120 6.1%

Seattle, WA

$189 5% 57.7% $69

Sport & Entertainment

Fort Smith, AR

$54 2.8%

Seattle, WA

$112 3% 108% $58

Getting Around

Fort Smith, AR

$49 2.5%

Seattle, WA

$129 3.4% 161% $80

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $683 in Fort Smith, AR and $2,508 in Seattle, WA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays about 2.1 times more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $65 in Fort Smith, AR vs $101 in Seattle, WA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $342 vs $547 per month, with Fort Smith, AR cheaper across the board.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Fort Smith, AR

🇺🇸 Seattle, WA

🕒 Local time

22:38 10:38 PM

20:38 8:38 PM

2 h behind Fort Smith, AR

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

89,142

737,015

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.896 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Fort Smith, AR Seattle, WA 2,670 km ≈ 3 h 45 min nonstop flight

From you

Fort Smith, AR
Seattle, WA

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Seattle, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Fort Smith, AR wins on cost – living expenses run 48% lower than in Seattle, WA. Housing and daily spending are where you’ll feel the difference most, making Fort Smith, AR the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 51% lower in Fort Smith, AR. 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: $683 in Fort Smith, AR versus $2,508 in Seattle, WA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you’ll spend $1,951 per month in Fort Smith, AR versus $3,785 in Seattle, WA – Fort Smith, AR is about 48% cheaper, which adds up to real savings over time.

A monthly transit pass in Fort Smith, AR runs roughly 67% less than in Seattle, WA. The price difference matters if you commute daily and watch your 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 48% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.