Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Fort Smith, AR Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Fort Smith, AR

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 45.8% more expensive than Fort Smith, AR without rent, and 68.2% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 67.3% more expensive than Fort Smith, AR without rent, and 72.4% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Fort Smith, AR
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$14.88 $14.88
39.92%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$50.2 $50.2
99.72%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$8.64 $8.64
38.54%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$4.3 $4.3
29.30%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.3 $2.3
35.22%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$1.88 $1.88
28.72%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$4.08 $4.08
68.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$5.9 $5.9
43.22%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Fort Smith, AR
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$0.97 $0.97
7.22%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$2.94 $2.94
41.16%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$2.07 $2.07
166.67%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$2.99 $2.99
55.52%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$7.28 $7.28
96.84%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$9.29 $9.29
60.17%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$14.16 $14.16
36.58%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$4.55 $4.55
13.63%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.29 $1.29
32.56%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$2.51 $2.51
75.70%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$2.18 $2.18
106.88%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$1.62 $1.62
56.17%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$1.58 $1.58
73.42%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$1.75 $1.75
38.86%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$1.89 $1.89
42.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$7.15 $7.15
112.45%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$11.3 $11.3
45.31%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.66 $1.66
41.57%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$2.52 $2.52
46.83%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Fort Smith, AR
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$1.22 $1.22
107.38%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
$35.53 $35.53
108.64%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$3.05 $3.05
9.51%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.28 $1.28
10.94%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$36.04 $36.04
-29.47%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$0.78 $0.78
38.46%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$26.3K $26.3K
23.39%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$26K $26K
0.87%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Fort Smith, AR
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$232 $232
-18.78%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$56.8 $56.8
12.09%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$73.6 $73.6
-11.41%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Fort Smith, AR
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$27.13 $27.13
182.79%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
$15.88 $15.88
-17.95%
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$11.2 $11.2
33.30%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Fort Smith, AR
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$754 $754
173.68%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$23.9K $23.9K
63.88%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Fort Smith, AR
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$53.2 $53.2
20.79%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$32.98 $32.98
58.85%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$70 $70
35.94%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$77 $77
87.92%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Fort Smith, AR
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$670 $670
254.85%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$681 $681
132.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$1,479 $1,479
221.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$1,306 $1,306
115.60%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$1,521 $1,521
135.86%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$1,513 $1,513
64.64%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Fort Smith, AR
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$3,269 $3,269
61.37%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.45
2.33%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Fort Smith, AR: October 28, 2025

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