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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,565 in Seattle, WA versus $1,783 in Fort Smith, AR.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,605 in Seattle, WA versus $2,712 in Fort Smith, AR.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,645 in Seattle, WA versus $3,641 in Fort Smith, AR.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 100% more expensive than in Fort Smith, AR, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 167% above, Fort Smith, AR 33% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.79 $24.79

$15.15 $15.15

63.63%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$119 $119

$50.5 $50.5

135.55%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.15 $14.15

$8.32 $8.32

70.07%

Cappuccino

$5.71 $5.71

$4.11 $4.11

38.93%

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

$2.93 $2.93

$2.27 $2.27

29.07%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.52 $2.52

$1.96 $1.96

28.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.89 $7.89

$3.90 $3.90

102.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.05 $8.05

$6.02 $6.02

33.72%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.36 $1.36

$1.04 $1.04

30.77%

White Bread (500g)

$5.07 $5.07

$2.88 $2.88

76.04%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.25 $5.25

$2.00 $2.00

162.50%

Eggs

$6.91 $6.91

$2.90 $2.90

138.28%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$24.95 $24.95

$7.66 $7.66

225.72%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.75 $15.75

$9.39 $9.39

67.73%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.72 $20.72

$14.45 $14.45

43.39%

Apples (1kg)

$6.19 $6.19

$4.45 $4.45

39.10%

Banana (1kg)

$2.79 $2.79

$1.24 $1.24

125.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$2.51 $2.51

119.92%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.42 $6.42

$2.20 $2.20

191.82%

Potato (1kg)

$3.16 $3.16

$1.60 $1.60

97.50%

Onion (1kg)

$3.89 $3.89

$1.51 $1.51

157.62%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.70 $2.70

$1.77 $1.77

52.54%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.94 $1.94

30.41%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.37 $11.37

$6.79 $6.79

67.45%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.67 $15.67

$15.04 $15.04

4.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.87 $2.87

$1.74 $1.74

64.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.26 $4.26

$2.52 $2.52

69.05%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.71 $2.71

$1.28 $1.28

111.72%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$98.8 $98.8

$35.43 $35.43

178.97%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.58 $2.58

$3.07 $3.07

-15.96%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.63 $1.63

$1.26 $1.26

29.37%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.68 $29.68

$35.83 $35.83

-17.16%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$0.72 $0.72

58.33%

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

$32.8K $32.8K

$25.9K $25.9K

26.82%

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

$26.4K $26.4K

$25.7K $25.7K

2.85%

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

$264 $264

$239 $239

10.57%

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

$61.6 $61.6

$56.1 $56.1

9.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.5 $75.5

$72.5 $72.5

4.07%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$78.0 $78.0

$26.73 $26.73

191.88%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.28 $40.28

$16.11 $16.11

150.03%

Cinema Ticket

$16.11 $16.11

$11.08 $11.08

45.40%

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

$2,212 $2,212

$752 $752

194.05%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.0K $29.0K

$23.7K $23.7K

22.45%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.3 $69.3

$51.6 $51.6

34.37%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.8 $53.8

$33.54 $33.54

60.29%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$119 $119

$70.1 $70.1

69.97%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$142 $142

$75.8 $75.8

86.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,357 $2,357

$690 $690

241.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,834 $1,834

$670 $670

173.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,686 $4,686

$1,465 $1,465

219.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,571 $3,571

$1,299 $1,299

174.82%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,539 $7,539

$1,547 $1,547

387.21%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,046 $5,046

$1,514 $1,514

233.33%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,473 $6,473

$3,135 $3,135

106.47%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.45

-0.47%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: July 12, 2026

Last update for Fort Smith, AR: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,357 in Seattle, WA and $690 in Fort Smith, AR. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 106% 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: $119 in Seattle, WA vs $50.0 in Fort Smith, AR for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $543 vs $305 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

Seattle, WA vs Fort Smith, AR: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Fort Smith, AR wins on cost – living expenses run 100% 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.

Average pay runs 106% higher in Seattle, WA, 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: $2,357 in Seattle, WA versus $690 in Fort Smith, AR. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $3,565 per month in Seattle, WA versus $1,783 in Fort Smith, AR – a 100% 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 179% less than in Seattle, WA. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,783 in Fort Smith, AR versus $3,565 in Seattle, WA, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Fort Smith, AR but tight or insufficient in Seattle, WA. The gap between the two cities makes Fort Smith, AR the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Fort Smith, AR delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,783 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Fort Smith, AR hard to pass up.

Expats usually find Fort Smith, AR gentler on the wallet – expenses run 100% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.