Hot Springs, AR vs Fort Smith, AR: cost of living compared
Price levels from BEA (2024); rent and home values from Zillow (September 2026).
The short answer
- Overall, living costs in Fort Smith, AR and Hot Springs, AR are within 1% of each other (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Hot Springs works out to about $75,100 in Fort Smith, before taxes.
- Housing is 6.7% lower in Fort Smith, goods 0.0% higher and other services 0.0% higher, which roughly cancel out.
- Typical asking rent is $1,074 a month in Fort Smith and $1,236 in Hot Springs, $1,944 a year less in Fort Smith (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $203,000 in Fort Smith and $244,000 in Hot Springs.
- The gap has narrowed since 2019, when Fort Smith was 2.1% more expensive than Hot Springs.
derived Calculated from BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) and Zillow data. Based on an average household's spending; taxes not included. How we calculate.
Category by category
Both cities against the US average (100). The gap in each row is what matters for a move.
Overall prices are about the same in Hot Springs and Fort Smith
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Hot Springs, AR
- Fort Smith, AR
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Hot Springs, AR | Fort Smith, AR | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 85.7 | 85.9 |
| Goods | 93.6 | 93.6 |
| Housing (rents) | 57.3 | 53.4 |
| Utilities | 74.3 | 73.8 |
| Other services | 95.3 | 95.3 |
| Category | Hot Springs | Fort Smith | Fort Smith vs Hot Springs |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 85.7 | 85.9 | +0.2% |
| Goods | 93.6 | 93.6 | 0.0% |
| Housing (rents) | 57.3 | 53.4 | −6.7% |
| Utilities | 74.3 | 73.8 | −0.6% |
| Other services | 95.3 | 95.3 | 0.0% |
| Typical asking rent | $1,236 | $1,074 | −13.1% |
| Typical home value | $244,000 | $203,000 | −16.9% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Hot Springs | $75,000 | $75,100 | +0.2% |
Index values: BEA, 2024, US = 100. Rent and home values: Data Provided by Zillow Group, September 2026.
How the gap has changed since 2008
The price gap between Hot Springs and Fort Smith has narrowed since 2008: 4.0 points then, 0.2 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Hot Springs, AR
- Fort Smith, AR
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Hot Springs, AR | Fort Smith, AR | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 86.7 | 90.7 |
| 2009 | 84.8 | 88.3 |
| 2010 | 86.7 | 90.1 |
| 2011 | 88.8 | 89.9 |
| 2012 | 88.2 | 89.8 |
| 2013 | 87.5 | 90.2 |
| 2014 | 85.2 | 91.3 |
| 2015 | 86.1 | 88.9 |
| 2016 | 88.4 | 89.3 |
| 2017 | 85.6 | 89.2 |
| 2018 | 85.7 | 86.1 |
| 2019 | 86.3 | 88.1 |
| 2020 | 87.2 | 87.1 |
| 2021 | 88.6 | 87.7 |
| 2022 | 86.2 | 85.8 |
| 2023 | 86.1 | 85.3 |
| 2024 | 85.7 | 85.9 |
Goods
- Hot Springs, AR
- Fort Smith, AR
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Hot Springs, AR | Fort Smith, AR | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 94.6 | 97.1 |
| 2009 | 92.2 | 95.2 |
| 2010 | 96.5 | 96.8 |
| 2011 | 94.9 | 97.0 |
| 2012 | 91.1 | 97.3 |
| 2013 | 92.9 | 97.4 |
| 2014 | 91.2 | 97.7 |
| 2015 | 90.7 | 96.6 |
| 2016 | 92.2 | 97.1 |
| 2017 | 91.5 | 97.0 |
| 2018 | 93.1 | 93.1 |
| 2019 | 94.8 | 94.8 |
| 2020 | 94.3 | 94.4 |
| 2021 | 95.6 | 95.7 |
| 2022 | 93.1 | 93.2 |
| 2023 | 93.1 | 93.1 |
| 2024 | 93.6 | 93.6 |
Housing (rents)
- Hot Springs, AR
- Fort Smith, AR
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Hot Springs, AR | Fort Smith, AR | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 59.5 | 63.8 |
| 2009 | 60.7 | 59.0 |
| 2010 | 62.8 | 60.7 |
| 2011 | 68.9 | 58.5 |
| 2012 | 65.0 | 57.2 |
| 2013 | 60.3 | 57.7 |
| 2014 | 57.0 | 61.6 |
| 2015 | 59.0 | 54.5 |
| 2016 | 66.6 | 53.8 |
| 2017 | 58.1 | 55.4 |
| 2018 | 56.9 | 51.7 |
| 2019 | 56.6 | 58.5 |
| 2020 | 58.5 | 54.5 |
| 2021 | 60.6 | 54.0 |
| 2022 | 56.6 | 50.9 |
| 2023 | 56.9 | 50.8 |
| 2024 | 57.3 | 53.4 |
Utilities
- Hot Springs, AR
- Fort Smith, AR
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Hot Springs, AR | Fort Smith, AR | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 76.8 | 83.8 |
| 2009 | 75.3 | 81.7 |
| 2010 | 75.5 | 82.9 |
| 2011 | 75.7 | 82.0 |
| 2012 | 80.9 | 82.1 |
| 2013 | 80.2 | 82.2 |
| 2014 | 80.9 | 82.3 |
| 2015 | 85.4 | 84.0 |
| 2016 | 85.1 | 82.7 |
| 2017 | 86.4 | 80.7 |
| 2018 | 78.5 | 79.1 |
| 2019 | 78.2 | 78.8 |
| 2020 | 80.9 | 80.9 |
| 2021 | 82.0 | 82.0 |
| 2022 | 81.4 | 82.1 |
| 2023 | 81.2 | 81.6 |
| 2024 | 74.3 | 73.8 |
Other services
- Hot Springs, AR
- Fort Smith, AR
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Hot Springs, AR | Fort Smith, AR | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 95.4 | 98.6 |
| 2009 | 93.1 | 98.2 |
| 2010 | 94.3 | 100.0 |
| 2011 | 95.6 | 101.6 |
| 2012 | 97.8 | 101.8 |
| 2013 | 98.4 | 100.8 |
| 2014 | 98.9 | 100.6 |
| 2015 | 97.6 | 101.1 |
| 2016 | 96.3 | 102.1 |
| 2017 | 94.6 | 100.9 |
| 2018 | 97.9 | 97.9 |
| 2019 | 97.2 | 97.2 |
| 2020 | 99.5 | 99.5 |
| 2021 | 97.2 | 97.3 |
| 2022 | 95.9 | 96.0 |
| 2023 | 95.7 | 95.7 |
| 2024 | 95.3 | 95.3 |
Rent and home values
Typical asking rent: $1,074 in Fort Smith vs $1,236 in Hot Springs
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- Hot Springs, AR
- Fort Smith, AR
- United States
Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index (typical asking rent, all homes, smoothed), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Hot Springs, AR | Fort Smith, AR | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | – | – | $1,145 |
| Jun 2015 | – | $641 | $1,170 |
| Sep 2015 | – | $652 | $1,181 |
| Dec 2015 | – | $645 | $1,182 |
| Mar 2016 | – | $661 | $1,195 |
| Jun 2016 | – | $663 | $1,219 |
| Sep 2016 | – | $657 | $1,225 |
| Dec 2016 | – | $666 | $1,222 |
| Mar 2017 | – | $669 | $1,245 |
| Jun 2017 | – | $674 | $1,270 |
| Sep 2017 | – | $672 | $1,276 |
| Dec 2017 | – | $676 | $1,275 |
| Mar 2018 | – | $672 | $1,296 |
| Jun 2018 | – | $690 | $1,320 |
| Sep 2018 | – | $686 | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | – | $688 | $1,329 |
| Mar 2019 | – | $693 | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | – | $700 | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | – | $707 | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | – | $708 | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | – | $716 | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | – | $723 | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | – | $740 | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | – | $752 | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | – | $771 | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | $942 | $792 | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | $914 | $831 | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | $995 | $843 | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | $991 | $875 | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | $1,011 | $892 | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | $1,029 | $902 | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $1,019 | $929 | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $1,073 | $938 | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $1,071 | $954 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $1,089 | $954 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $1,108 | $956 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $1,130 | $976 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $1,142 | $1,010 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $1,153 | $1,007 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $1,157 | $1,006 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $1,165 | $1,013 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $1,160 | $1,024 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $1,188 | $1,038 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $1,189 | $1,041 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $1,225 | $1,045 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $1,223 | $1,071 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $1,236 | $1,074 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $203,000 in Fort Smith vs $244,000 in Hot Springs
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- Hot Springs, AR
- Fort Smith, AR
- United States
Source: Zillow Home Value Index (typical home value, middle tier, smoothed, seasonally adjusted), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Hot Springs, AR | Fort Smith, AR | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $127K | $112K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $128K | $114K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $130K | $115K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $130K | $116K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $131K | $117K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $131K | $118K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $132K | $119K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $133K | $120K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $133K | $121K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $134K | $121K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $135K | $121K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $136K | $122K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $138K | $124K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $140K | $125K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $141K | $126K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $143K | $127K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $145K | $129K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $147K | $132K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $148K | $134K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $150K | $136K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $154K | $137K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $156K | $139K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $160K | $144K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $168K | $147K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $177K | $151K | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $188K | $156K | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $198K | $162K | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $205K | $169K | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $215K | $175K | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $226K | $180K | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $227K | $181K | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $229K | $181K | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $229K | $181K | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $233K | $185K | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $236K | $185K | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $236K | $186K | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $238K | $186K | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $242K | $190K | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $244K | $191K | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $244K | $191K | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $244K | $194K | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $243K | $194K | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $243K | $194K | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $242K | $197K | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $243K | $202K | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $244K | $203K | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $244K | $203K | $366K |
More about each city
What this comparison leaves out
- Taxes. State and local income, sales and property taxes can change the result a lot, especially between states.
- Neighborhoods. These are metro-wide averages; a city center and its outer suburbs can differ by more than two metros do.
- Your own spending mix. The default uses an average household. Use the housing slider above if rent is a bigger share of your budget.
- Timing. BEA price levels are for 2024; Zillow figures are monthly and newer.