Cost of Living Comparison Between Fort Smith, AR and Mexico City Cost of Living Comparison Between Fort Smith, AR and Mexico City

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,794 in Fort Smith, AR versus $1,467 in Mexico City.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,731 in Fort Smith, AR versus $2,371 in Mexico City.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,667 in Fort Smith, AR versus $3,274 in Mexico City.

Living in Fort Smith, AR is roughly 22% more expensive than Mexico City, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Fort Smith, AR 34% above, Mexico City 10% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Fort Smith, AR
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.72 $14.72
$13.18 MX$228
11.68%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$50.4 $50.4
$53.9 MX$932
-6.51%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.61 $8.61
$9.42 MX$163
-8.60%
Cappuccino
$4.15 $4.15
$3.55 MX$61.4
16.90%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.27 $2.27
$1.62 MX$27.98
40.12%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.88 $1.88
$1.11 MX$19.27
69.37%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.97 $3.97
$3.12 MX$54.0
27.24%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.90 $5.90
$4.63 MX$80.1
27.43%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Fort Smith, AR
Mexico City
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.94 $0.94
$1.70 MX$29.43
-44.71%
White Bread (500g)
$2.88 $2.88
$2.72 MX$47.02
5.88%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.09 $2.09
$1.91 MX$33.07
9.42%
Eggs
$2.85 $2.85
$2.54 MX$43.86
12.20%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.59 $7.59
$10.03 MX$174
-24.33%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.41 $9.41
$8.09 MX$140
16.32%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.68 $14.68
$11.62 MX$201
26.33%
Apples (1kg)
$4.60 $4.60
$2.97 MX$51.3
54.88%
Banana (1kg)
$1.27 $1.27
$1.81 MX$31.24
-29.83%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.46 $2.46
$2.01 MX$34.82
22.39%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.14 $2.14
$2.03 MX$35.20
5.42%
Potato (1kg)
$1.60 $1.60
$2.12 MX$36.75
-24.53%
Onion (1kg)
$1.52 $1.52
$2.27 MX$39.25
-33.04%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.80 $1.80
$1.40 MX$24.22
28.57%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.89 $1.89
$1.13 MX$19.55
67.26%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.01 $7.01
$4.27 MX$73.9
64.17%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.07 $15.07
$15.56 MX$269
-3.15%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.65 $1.65
$1.76 MX$30.39
-6.25%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.56 $2.56
$3.60 MX$62.2
-28.89%
🚌 Getting Around
Fort Smith, AR
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.27 $1.27
$0.38 MX$6.62
234.21%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$35.16 $35.16
$19.18 MX$332
83.32%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.04 $3.04
$1.38 MX$23.79
120.29%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.28 $1.28
$0.28 MX$4.78
357.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$36.58 $36.58
$5.45 MX$94.2
571.19%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.72 $0.72
$1.30 MX$22.55
-44.62%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.1K $26.1K
$18.7K MX$323.2K
39.56%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5K $26.5K
$23.1K MX$400.1K
14.49%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Fort Smith, AR
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$234 $234
$40.86 MX$707
472.49%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$57.3 $57.3
$26.81 MX$464
113.76%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$73.4 $73.4
$29.96 MX$518
144.89%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Fort Smith, AR
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$27.08 $27.08
$52.0 MX$900
-47.94%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.32 $16.32
$26.84 MX$464
-39.20%
Cinema Ticket
$10.94 $10.94
$6.30 MX$109
73.65%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Fort Smith, AR
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$762 $762
$436 MX$7,544
74.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.7K $23.7K
$10.4K MX$180.2K
127.69%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Fort Smith, AR
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.2 $53.2
$56.7 MX$980
-6.18%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.25 $33.25
$44.38 MX$768
-25.08%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$70.5 $70.5
$103 MX$1,780
-31.55%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.1 $77.1
$106 MX$1,825
-26.93%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Fort Smith, AR
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$679 $679
$1,022 MX$17.7K
-33.60%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$668 $668
$631 MX$10.9K
5.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,486 $1,486
$2,136 MX$36.9K
-30.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,294 $1,294
$1,243 MX$21.5K
4.14%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,517 $1,517
$3,903 MX$67.5K
-61.13%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,526 $1,526
$2,064 MX$35.7K
-26.07%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Fort Smith, AR
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,110 $3,110
$1,115 MX$19.3K
178.95%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.45
11.34
-43.12%

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

Last update for Fort Smith, AR: May 31, 2026

Last update for Mexico City: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $679 in Fort Smith, AR and $1,022 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Fort Smith, AR pays 179% 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: $50.0 in Fort Smith, AR vs $54.0 in Mexico City. Groceries flip the comparison at $304 vs $288, with Mexico City 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 22% 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 Mexico City?
Fort Smith, AR pays 179% more on average, 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 vs Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $679 in Fort Smith, AR versus $1,022 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 $1,794 per month in Fort Smith, AR versus $1,467 in Mexico City – a 22% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Fort Smith, AR vs Mexico City?
A monthly transit pass in Mexico City runs roughly 83% 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 $2,000/month in Fort Smith, AR or Mexico City?
At $1,467 in Mexico City versus $1,794 in Fort Smith, AR, a $2,000 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 $1,467 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 22% less than in Fort Smith, AR. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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