Fort Smith, AR at a glance
Median household income
$54,816$4,568 per month · U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-YearHow much rent can you afford in Fort Smith, AR?
HUD’s fair market rent for each size, against what a typical household here earns. Change the income to see yours.
How much is rent in Fort Smith, AR? By bedroom, 2026
HUD's fiscal 2026 Fair Market Rents for Fort Smith, AR-OK MSA, with the income each one takes if rent stays under 30% of it.
| Unit Size | Monthly Rent | Annual Rent | 30% Rule Min. Income | % of Median Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / Efficiency | $683 | $8,196 | $27,320 | 15% |
| 1-Bedroom Apartment | $714 | $8,568 | $28,560 | 15.6% |
| 2-Bedroom ApartmentBenchmark | $937 | $11,244 | $37,480 | 20.5% |
| 3-Bedroom Home | $1,266 | $15,192 | $50,640 | 27.7% |
| 4-Bedroom Home | $1,532 | $18,384 | $61,280 | 33.5% |
What a typical income covers in Fort Smith, AR
The 50/30/20 rule applied to the local median of $54,816 a year ($4,568 a month before tax).
What $54,816 leaves after Arkansas taxes
Federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and Arkansas tax on the local median income. Change the salary to see yours.
Rent, jobs and pay in Arkansas
Living in Fort Smith, AR: common questions
What is the median household income in Fort Smith, AR?
According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year survey, the median household income in Fort Smith, AR is $54,816 per year (approximately $4,568 per month).
What is the average rent in Fort Smith, AR?
The closest official figure is HUD's Fair Market Rent for 2026: $683 for a studio, $714 for one bedroom, $937 for two, $1,266 for three and $1,532 for four, utilities included.
It is not an average of listings. HUD sets it at the rent 40% of recent movers paid or less for a standard unit, so a new lease on a nicer place will usually cost more.
Is Fort Smith, AR expensive to live in?
Prices there run 14.1% below the U.S. average. BEA's regional price parity for the metro area is 85.9, where the U.S. is 100. Rent moves the number most: housing is where places differ, while goods cost about the same everywhere.
How much do you need to earn to comfortably afford rent in Fort Smith, AR?
To keep a $937 two-bedroom under 30% of gross income, a household needs about $37,480 a year, or $3,123 a month. That is 68% of what the typical household in Fort Smith, AR earns.
How much do you need to live comfortably in Fort Smith, AR?
On the local median income of $54,816 ($4,568 a month before tax), the 50/30/20 rule leaves $2,284 a month for needs like rent, utilities and groceries, $1,370 for everything else and $914 for savings or debt. A two-bedroom at $937 takes 41% of the needs share.
How much is the electric bill in Fort Smith, AR?
Homes in Arkansas paid 14.1¢ per kWh on average (EIA). At 900 kWh a month, a typical use, that is about $127. Your bill depends mostly on heating and cooling.