😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,969 in Fort Smith, AR versus $1,660 in Mexico City.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,022 in Fort Smith, AR versus $2,565 in Mexico City.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,074 in Fort Smith, AR versus $3,470 in Mexico City.
🌍Living in Fort Smith, AR is roughly 19% more expensive than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Fort Smith, AR44% above, Mexico City21% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Fort Smith, AR
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.91$19.91
$11.92MX$206
67.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$65.1$65.1
$51.6MX$890
26.07%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.68$11.68
$11.41MX$197
2.37%
Cappuccino
$5.15$5.15
$3.99MX$68.9
29.07%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28$2.28
$1.66MX$28.61
37.35%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.04$2.04
$1.33MX$22.87
53.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.03$6.03
$3.47MX$59.9
73.78%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$8.46$8.46
$5.90MX$102
43.39%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Fort Smith, AR
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.01$1.01
$1.88MX$32.36
-46.28%
White Bread(500g)
$3.32$3.32
$3.25MX$56.1
2.15%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.41$3.41
$2.16MX$37.26
57.87%
Eggs
$2.89$2.89
$2.90MX$49.94
-0.34%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.29$7.29
$12.86MX$222
-43.31%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.86$10.86
$10.05MX$173
8.06%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.25$18.25
$15.86MX$273
15.07%
Apples(1kg)
$4.53$4.53
$3.29MX$56.8
37.69%
Banana(1kg)
$1.46$1.46
$2.01MX$34.60
-27.36%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.56$2.56
$2.20MX$37.93
16.36%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.14$2.14
$2.36MX$40.63
-9.32%
Potato(1kg)
$1.90$1.90
$2.05MX$35.43
-7.32%
Onion(1kg)
$1.58$1.58
$1.90MX$32.79
-16.84%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.76$1.76
$1.61MX$27.68
9.32%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.25$2.25
$1.40MX$24.09
60.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$8.19$8.19
$5.46MX$94.2
50.00%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.28$15.28
$17.65MX$304
-13.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.88$1.88
$2.06MX$35.44
-8.74%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.66$2.66
$4.68MX$80.8
-43.16%
🚌 Getting Around
Fort Smith, AR
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.24$1.24
$0.34MX$5.84
264.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$34.36$34.36
$20.81MX$359
65.11%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.67$2.67
$2.10MX$36.15
27.14%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.23$1.23
$0.56MX$9.64
119.64%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$30.37$30.37
$5.81MX$100
422.72%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.77$0.77
$1.61MX$27.68
-52.17%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.6K$25.6K
$22.8KMX$393.8K
12.11%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.8K$25.8K
$26.8KMX$461.2K
-3.73%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Fort Smith, AR
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$280$280
$65.2MX$1,124
329.01%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$69.8$69.8
$30.09MX$519
131.94%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$68.2$68.2
$37.18MX$641
83.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Fort Smith, AR
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$26.42$26.42
$59.8MX$1,030
-55.79%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.72$15.72
$26.55MX$458
-40.79%
Cinema Ticket
$13.63$13.63
$7.04MX$121
93.61%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Fort Smith, AR
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$905$905
$465MX$8,012
94.87%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$23.3K$23.3K
$13.3KMX$228.9K
75.42%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Fort Smith, AR
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.6$52.6
$75.9MX$1,308
-30.67%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.82$38.82
$56.0MX$965
-30.62%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.0$93.0
$112MX$1,929
-16.84%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$75.8$75.8
$121MX$2,078
-37.08%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Fort Smith, AR
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$672$672
$1,103MX$19.0K
-39.07%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$648$648
$721MX$12.4K
-10.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,525$1,525
$2,530MX$43.6K
-39.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,297$1,297
$1,293MX$22.3K
0.25%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,554$1,554
$3,991MX$68.8K
-61.07%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,543$1,543
$2,090MX$36.0K
-26.15%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Fort Smith, AR
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,157$3,157
$1,037MX$17.9K
204.36%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.04
11.3
-46.55%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Fort Smith, AR: September 15, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $672 in Fort Smith, AR and $1,103 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Fort Smith, AR pays 204% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $65.0 in Fort Smith, AR vs $52.0 in Mexico City. Groceries flip the comparison at $340 vs $345, with Fort Smith, AR cheaper for home cooking.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Fort Smith, AR vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Fort Smith, AR or Mexico City?
Mexico City wins on cost – living expenses run 19% lower than in Fort Smith, AR. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Mexico City the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Fort Smith, AR or in Mexico City?
Average pay runs 204% higher in Fort Smith, AR, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Fort Smith, AR compared to Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $672 in Fort Smith, AR versus $1,103 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Fort Smith, AR compared to Mexico City?
All in, you'll spend $1,969 per month in Fort Smith, AR versus $1,660 in Mexico City – a 19% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Fort Smith, AR compared to Mexico City?
A monthly transit pass in Mexico City runs roughly 65% less than in Fort Smith, AR. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $3,000/month in Fort Smith, AR or in Mexico City?
At $1,660 in Mexico City versus $1,969 in Fort Smith, AR, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Mexico City but tight or insufficient in Fort Smith, AR. The gap between the two cities makes Mexico City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Fort Smith, AR or Mexico City?
Both work as nomad bases, but Mexico City delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,660 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Mexico City hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Mexico City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 19% less than in Fort Smith, AR. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Fort Smith, AR vs other spots: cost of living compared