Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Fort Smith, AR and Montreal

For one person, living costs are similar in Fort Smith, AR and in Montreal: $1,978 and $2,018 a month, rent and utilities included.

Fort Smith, AR
🇺🇸 United States
$1,978
/mo nomad
Montreal
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,018
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Fort Smith, AR and in Montreal

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Fort Smith, AR and in Montreal actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,978 in Fort Smith, AR versus $2,018 in Montreal.

  • Fort Smith, AR $1,978
  • Montreal $2,018

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,030 in Fort Smith, AR versus $3,085 in Montreal.

  • Fort Smith, AR $3,030
  • Montreal $3,085

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,081 in Fort Smith, AR versus $4,152 in Montreal.

  • Fort Smith, AR $4,081
  • Montreal $4,152

Living in Fort Smith, AR costs roughly 2% less than in Montreal, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in utilities.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Fort Smith, AR 47% above, Montreal 49% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Fort Smith, AR
Montreal
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.37 $20.37
$18.82 CA$26.61
8.24%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$65.0 $65.0
$70.3 CA$99.4
-7.60%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.35 $11.35
$10.66 CA$15.06
6.47%
Cappuccino
$5.35 $5.35
$3.84 CA$5.43
39.32%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31 $2.31
$1.92 CA$2.71
20.31%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06 $2.06
$1.54 CA$2.18
33.77%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.13 $6.13
$6.23 CA$8.81
-1.61%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$9.09 $9.09
$7.10 CA$10.03
28.03%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Fort Smith, AR
Montreal
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.02 $1.02
$2.31 CA$3.27
-55.84%
White Bread (500g)
$3.44 $3.44
$3.14 CA$4.44
9.55%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.67 $3.67
$3.21 CA$4.54
14.33%
Eggs
$2.97 $2.97
$3.52 CA$4.97
-15.62%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.37 $7.37
$12.81 CA$18.11
-42.47%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.94 $10.94
$11.46 CA$16.20
-4.54%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.62 $19.62
$13.39 CA$18.92
46.53%
Apples (1kg)
$4.95 $4.95
$3.14 CA$4.43
57.64%
Banana (1kg)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.44 CA$2.03
-1.39%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.56 $2.56
$3.47 CA$4.91
-26.22%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.10 $2.10
$3.07 CA$4.34
-31.60%
Potato (1kg)
$1.90 $1.90
$1.90 CA$2.69
-
Onion (1kg)
$1.58 $1.58
$1.77 CA$2.50
-10.73%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.81 $1.81
$2.34 CA$3.31
-22.65%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.26 $2.26
$1.55 CA$2.19
45.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.08 $8.08
$11.38 CA$16.09
-29.00%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.13 $14.13
$10.63 CA$15.03
32.93%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.84 $1.84
$2.27 CA$3.21
-18.94%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.52 $2.52
$2.82 CA$3.99
-10.64%
🚌 Getting Around
Fort Smith, AR
Montreal
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.28 $1.28
$2.66 CA$3.76
-51.88%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$35.56 $35.56
$77.3 CA$109
-53.99%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.73 $2.73
$3.20 CA$4.53
-14.69%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.28 $1.28
$1.48 CA$2.09
-13.51%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$30.11 $30.11
$32.88 CA$46.48
-8.42%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.79 $0.79
$1.34 CA$1.90
-41.04%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.5K $25.5K
$28.2K CA$39.8K
-9.31%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.8K $25.8K
$19.6K CA$27.8K
31.63%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Fort Smith, AR
Montreal
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$274 $274
$76.0 CA$107
260.87%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$70.6 $70.6
$33.95 CA$48.00
107.89%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$68.5 $68.5
$42.31 CA$59.8
61.85%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Fort Smith, AR
Montreal
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$27.02 $27.02
$29.76 CA$42.07
-9.21%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.73 $15.73
$20.28 CA$28.67
-22.44%
Cinema Ticket
$13.27 $13.27
$11.15 CA$15.77
19.01%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Fort Smith, AR
Montreal
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$890 $890
$507 CA$717
75.58%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.9K $23.9K
$16.1K CA$22.7K
48.66%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Fort Smith, AR
Montreal
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.9 $52.9
$57.6 CA$81.4
-8.01%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.60 $41.60
$37.58 CA$53.1
10.70%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$93.6 $93.6
$91.9 CA$130
1.88%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.1 $77.1
$110 CA$155
-29.60%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Fort Smith, AR
Montreal
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$681 $681
$1,260 CA$1,782
-45.97%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$668 $668
$948 CA$1,340
-29.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,500 $1,500
$2,137 CA$3,021
-29.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,328 $1,328
$1,614 CA$2,281
-17.68%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,547 $1,547
$4,960 CA$7,011
-68.81%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,540 $1,540
$3,838 CA$5,425
-59.87%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Fort Smith, AR
Montreal
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,041 $3,041
$2,827 CA$3,997
7.54%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.38
4.48
42.41%

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

Last update for Fort Smith, AR: October 12, 2026

Last update for Montreal: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Fort Smith, AR
$668
Montreal
$948 41.8% $280
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Fort Smith, AR
$413
Montreal
$152 63.2% $261
Groceries & Markets
Fort Smith, AR
$347
Montreal
$346 0% $0.1
Eating Out
Fort Smith, AR
$328
Montreal
$288 12.1% $40
Clothing & Footwear
Fort Smith, AR
$119
Montreal
$133 11.8% $14
Sport & Entertainment
Fort Smith, AR
$54
Montreal
$52 2.8% $1.5
Getting Around
Fort Smith, AR
$50
Montreal
$99 97.8% $49

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $681 in Fort Smith, AR and $1,260 in Montreal. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Fort Smith, AR pays 8% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $65.0 in Fort Smith, AR vs $70.0 in Montreal. Groceries flip the comparison at $347 vs $346, with Montreal cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Fort Smith, AR
🇨🇦 Montreal
🕒 Local time
10:06 10:06 AM
11:06 11:06 AM
1 h ahead of Fort Smith, AR
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
89,142
1,762,949
Exchange rates and currency converter

CAD, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 1.41 CAD (1 CAD = 0.707 USD). 1 EUR = 1.59 CAD (1 CAD = 0.629 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Fort Smith, AR Montreal 2,080 km ≈ 3 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Fort Smith, AR
  • Montreal

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Montreal: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Fort Smith, AR or Montreal?
Fort Smith, AR wins on cost – living expenses run 2% lower than in Montreal. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Fort Smith, AR the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Fort Smith, AR or in Montreal?
Average pay runs 8% 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 Montreal?
Rent for a central apartment: $681 in Fort Smith, AR versus $1,260 in Montreal. 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 Montreal?
All in, you'll spend $1,978 per month in Fort Smith, AR versus $2,018 in Montreal – a 2% 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 Montreal?
A monthly transit pass in Fort Smith, AR runs roughly 117% less than in Montreal. 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 in Montreal?
At $1,978 in Fort Smith, AR versus $2,018 in Montreal, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Fort Smith, AR but tight or insufficient in Montreal. The gap between the two cities makes Fort Smith, AR the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Fort Smith, AR or Montreal?
Both work as nomad bases, but Fort Smith, AR delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,978 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Fort Smith, AR hard to pass up.
How safe is Fort Smith, AR compared to Montreal?
Safety-wise, Fort Smith, AR and Montreal are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Fort Smith, AR gentler on the wallet – expenses run 2% less than in Montreal. 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

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