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: $3,598 in Seattle, WA versus $1,794 in Fort Smith, AR.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,539 in Seattle, WA versus $2,731 in Fort Smith, AR.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,479 in Seattle, WA versus $3,667 in Fort Smith, AR.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 101% more expensive than Fort Smith, AR, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 168% above, Fort Smith, AR 34% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.80 $24.80

$14.72 $14.72

68.48%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$118 $118

$50.4 $50.4

133.56%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.77 $13.77

$8.61 $8.61

59.93%

Cappuccino

$5.71 $5.71

$4.15 $4.15

37.59%

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

$3.05 $3.05

$2.27 $2.27

34.36%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 $2.50

$1.88 $1.88

32.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.83 $7.83

$3.97 $3.97

97.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.88 $7.88

$5.90 $5.90

33.56%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.35 $1.35

$0.94 $0.94

43.62%

White Bread (500g)

$5.06 $5.06

$2.88 $2.88

75.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$2.09 $2.09

157.89%

Eggs

$6.85 $6.85

$2.85 $2.85

140.35%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.07 $25.07

$7.59 $7.59

230.30%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.85 $15.85

$9.41 $9.41

68.44%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.59 $20.59

$14.68 $14.68

40.26%

Apples (1kg)

$6.14 $6.14

$4.60 $4.60

33.48%

Banana (1kg)

$2.82 $2.82

$1.27 $1.27

122.05%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.51 $5.51

$2.46 $2.46

123.98%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.74 $6.74

$2.14 $2.14

214.95%

Potato (1kg)

$3.15 $3.15

$1.60 $1.60

96.87%

Onion (1kg)

$3.82 $3.82

$1.52 $1.52

151.32%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.69 $2.69

$1.80 $1.80

49.44%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.64 $2.64

$1.89 $1.89

39.68%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.65 $11.65

$7.01 $7.01

66.19%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.69 $15.69

$15.07 $15.07

4.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.93 $2.93

$1.65 $1.65

77.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.24 $4.24

$2.56 $2.56

65.63%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.82 $2.82

$1.27 $1.27

122.05%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$100 $100

$35.16 $35.16

184.87%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.60 $2.60

$3.04 $3.04

-14.47%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.28 $1.28

34.37%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.22 $30.22

$36.58 $36.58

-17.39%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 $1.19

$0.72 $0.72

65.28%

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

$32.7K $32.7K

$26.1K $26.1K

25.43%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$26.5K $26.5K

-1.38%

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

$263 $263

$234 $234

12.22%

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

$60.9 $60.9

$57.3 $57.3

6.23%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.9 $75.9

$73.4 $73.4

3.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.6 $79.6

$27.08 $27.08

193.87%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$39.89 $39.89

$16.32 $16.32

144.42%

Cinema Ticket

$16.27 $16.27

$10.94 $10.94

48.72%

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

$2,281 $2,281

$762 $762

199.54%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.3K $29.3K

$23.7K $23.7K

23.58%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.6 $68.6

$53.2 $53.2

29.09%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.0 $52.0

$33.25 $33.25

56.27%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$116 $116

$70.5 $70.5

64.37%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$77.1 $77.1

86.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,336 $2,336

$679 $679

244.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,863 $1,863

$668 $668

178.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,628 $4,628

$1,486 $1,486

211.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,477 $3,477

$1,294 $1,294

168.61%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,766 $7,766

$1,517 $1,517

412.01%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,232 $5,232

$1,526 $1,526

242.86%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,617 $6,617

$3,110 $3,110

112.72%

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: May 30, 2026

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

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,336 in Seattle, WA and $679 in Fort Smith, AR. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 113% 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: $118 in Seattle, WA vs $50.0 in Fort Smith, AR for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $547 vs $304 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 101% 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.

Seattle, WA pays 113% more on average, 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: $2,336 in Seattle, WA versus $679 in Fort Smith, AR. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $3,598 per month in Seattle, WA versus $1,794 in Fort Smith, AR – a 101% 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 185% less than in Seattle, WA. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,794 in Fort Smith, AR versus $3,598 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 $1,794 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 101% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.