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

🙂 Solo nomad: Fort Smith, AR is 31.4% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 40.6% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Fort Smith, AR is 40.2% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 42% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Fort Smith, AR
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.88 $14.88
$20.82 $20.82
-28.53%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$50.2 $50.2
$100 $100
-49.93%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.64 $8.64
$11.97 $11.97
-27.82%
Cappuccino
$4.3 $4.3
$5.56 $5.56
-22.66%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.3 $2.3
$3.11 $3.11
-26.05%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.88 $1.88
$2.42 $2.42
-22.31%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.08 $4.08
$6.86 $6.86
-40.52%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.9 $5.9
$8.45 $8.45
-30.18%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Fort Smith, AR
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.97 $0.97
$1.04 $1.04
-6.73%
White Bread (500g)
$2.94 $2.94
$4.15 $4.15
-29.16%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.07 $2.07
$5.52 $5.52
-62.50%
Eggs
$2.99 $2.99
$4.65 $4.65
-35.70%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.28 $7.28
$14.33 $14.33
-49.20%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.29 $9.29
$14.88 $14.88
-37.57%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.16 $14.16
$19.34 $19.34
-26.78%
Apples (1kg)
$4.55 $4.55
$5.17 $5.17
-11.99%
Banana (1kg)
$1.29 $1.29
$1.71 $1.71
-24.56%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.51 $2.51
$4.41 $4.41
-43.08%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.18 $2.18
$4.51 $4.51
-51.66%
Potato (1kg)
$1.62 $1.62
$2.53 $2.53
-35.97%
Onion (1kg)
$1.58 $1.58
$2.74 $2.74
-42.34%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.75 $1.75
$2.43 $2.43
-27.98%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.89 $1.89
$2.7 $2.7
-30.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.15 $7.15
$15.19 $15.19
-52.93%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.3 $11.3
$16.42 $16.42
-31.18%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66 $1.66
$2.35 $2.35
-29.36%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.52 $2.52
$3.7 $3.7
-31.89%
🚌 Getting Around
Fort Smith, AR
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.22 $1.22
$2.53 $2.53
-51.78%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$35.53 $35.53
$74.1 $74.1
-52.07%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.05 $3.05
$3.34 $3.34
-8.68%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.28 $1.28
$1.42 $1.42
-9.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$36.04 $36.04
$25.42 $25.42
41.78%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.78 $0.78
$1.08 $1.08
-27.78%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.3K $26.3K
$32.4K $32.4K
-18.96%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26K $26K
$26.2K $26.2K
-0.86%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Fort Smith, AR
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$232 $232
$188 $188
23.12%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$56.8 $56.8
$63.7 $63.7
-10.78%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$73.6 $73.6
$65.2 $65.2
12.88%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Fort Smith, AR
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$27.13 $27.13
$76.7 $76.7
-64.64%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.88 $15.88
$13.03 $13.03
21.87%
Cinema Ticket
$11.2 $11.2
$14.93 $14.93
-24.98%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Fort Smith, AR
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$754 $754
$2,063 $2,063
-63.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.9K $23.9K
$39.2K $39.2K
-38.98%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Fort Smith, AR
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.2 $53.2
$64.3 $64.3
-17.21%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.98 $32.98
$52.4 $52.4
-37.05%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$70 $70
$95.2 $95.2
-26.44%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77 $77
$145 $145
-46.79%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Fort Smith, AR
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$670 $670
$2,378 $2,378
-71.82%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$681 $681
$1,584 $1,584
-57.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,479 $1,479
$4,763 $4,763
-68.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,306 $1,306
$2,815 $2,815
-53.62%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,521 $1,521
$3,588 $3,588
-57.60%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,513 $1,513
$2,490 $2,490
-39.26%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Fort Smith, AR
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,269 $3,269
$5,275 $5,275
-38.03%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.45
6.6
-2.27%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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