Uprootmap
Phoenix vs Fort Smith
Phoenix and Fort Smith
Photo: Xltel / Wikimedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
Assumed income $83,730, same in both cities. Example, until you change it.
Other cities
So you know: homicide deaths in Fort Smith are under the US rate in this release, 5.7 versus 6.5 per 100,000. CDC via County Health Rankings, CDC NVSS 2017–2023 (CHR 2025 release).
Why people look at Phoenix to Fort Smith
In 2022-2023, 27 households filed a move from Phoenix to Fort Smith (about 59 people, average adjusted gross income $37,741). Source: IRS migration.
A one-bedroom asking rent is about $1,277 in Phoenix and $776 in Fort Smith. Phoenix has a state tax on wages. Fort Smith has a state tax on wages. Local pay in Fort Smith is 84% of the national level for the same work, against 97% in Phoenix.
Fort Smith averages 223 sunny days, with July highs around 91°F and January nights around 30°F. Phoenix is 299 sunny days, 106°F in July, 46°F in January. Commutes average 22 minutes in Fort Smith and 26 in Phoenix.
These figures are projections built from available public data. Conditions change, and the numbers may not reflect current prices, taxes, or immigration rules. Check official sources before you make decisions.
Who already made this move
In 2022-2023, 27 households moved Phoenix → Fort Smith (about 59 people, average AGI $37,741). The reverse flow is too small for the IRS to publish.
Source: IRS SOI county-to-county migration. Not a moving company; not a recommendation.
The monthly number is take-home pay minus rent and the other bills. The gap between Phoenix and Fort Smith changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this.
What the move itself costs
About 1,219 road miles, 1 bedroom. Typical ranges, not quotes.
- Full-service mover
- $2,900–$5,450
- Container or pod
- $2,050–$3,850
- Rent a truck
- $1,150–$2,150
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Dig into Fort Smith
Questions
Is Fort Smith cheaper than Phoenix after tax and rent?
Yes. Fort Smith leaves about $552 more a month, so the cost of living is lower there for this household. A one-bedroom is about $1,277 in Phoenix and $776 in Fort Smith.
Does Fort Smith have state income tax?
Fort Smith is in Arkansas, which taxes wage income.
Did people actually move from Phoenix to Fort Smith?
Yes, when the IRS published that flow. The count and their average income are on this page. Leftover prices the same household in both cities.