🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,660 in Mexico City versus $1,969 in Fort Smith, AR.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,565 in Mexico City versus $3,022 in Fort Smith, AR.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,470 in Mexico City versus $4,074 in Fort Smith, AR.
🌍Living in Mexico City costs roughly 16% less than in Fort Smith, AR, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Mexico City21% above, Fort Smith, AR44% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Fort Smith, AR
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.92MX$206
$19.91$19.91
-40.13%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$51.6MX$890
$65.1$65.1
-20.68%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.41MX$197
$11.68$11.68
-2.31%
Cappuccino
$3.99MX$68.9
$5.15$5.15
-22.52%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66MX$28.61
$2.28$2.28
-27.19%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.33MX$22.87
$2.04$2.04
-34.80%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.47MX$59.9
$6.03$6.03
-42.45%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.90MX$102
$8.46$8.46
-30.26%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Fort Smith, AR
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.88MX$32.36
$1.01$1.01
86.14%
White Bread(500g)
$3.25MX$56.1
$3.32$3.32
-2.11%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.16MX$37.26
$3.41$3.41
-36.66%
Eggs
$2.90MX$49.94
$2.89$2.89
0.35%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.86MX$222
$7.29$7.29
76.41%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.05MX$173
$10.86$10.86
-7.46%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.86MX$273
$18.25$18.25
-13.10%
Apples(1kg)
$3.29MX$56.8
$4.53$4.53
-27.37%
Banana(1kg)
$2.01MX$34.60
$1.46$1.46
37.67%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.20MX$37.93
$2.56$2.56
-14.06%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.36MX$40.63
$2.14$2.14
10.28%
Potato(1kg)
$2.05MX$35.43
$1.90$1.90
7.89%
Onion(1kg)
$1.90MX$32.79
$1.58$1.58
20.25%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.61MX$27.68
$1.76$1.76
-8.52%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.40MX$24.09
$2.25$2.25
-37.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.46MX$94.2
$8.19$8.19
-33.33%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.65MX$304
$15.28$15.28
15.51%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.06MX$35.44
$1.88$1.88
9.57%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.68MX$80.8
$2.66$2.66
75.94%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Fort Smith, AR
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.34MX$5.84
$1.24$1.24
-72.58%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$20.81MX$359
$34.36$34.36
-39.44%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.10MX$36.15
$2.67$2.67
-21.35%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.56MX$9.64
$1.23$1.23
-54.47%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.81MX$100
$30.37$30.37
-80.87%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.61MX$27.68
$0.77$0.77
109.09%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.8KMX$393.8K
$25.6K$25.6K
-10.80%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8KMX$461.2K
$25.8K$25.8K
3.88%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Fort Smith, AR
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$65.2MX$1,124
$280$280
-76.69%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.09MX$519
$69.8$69.8
-56.88%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.18MX$641
$68.2$68.2
-45.45%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Fort Smith, AR
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$59.8MX$1,030
$26.42$26.42
126.19%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.55MX$458
$15.72$15.72
68.89%
Cinema Ticket
$7.04MX$121
$13.63$13.63
-48.35%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Fort Smith, AR
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$465MX$8,012
$905$905
-48.68%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.3KMX$228.9K
$23.3K$23.3K
-42.99%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Fort Smith, AR
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$75.9MX$1,308
$52.6$52.6
44.23%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$56.0MX$965
$38.82$38.82
44.13%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$112MX$1,929
$93.0$93.0
20.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121MX$2,078
$75.8$75.8
58.93%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Fort Smith, AR
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,103MX$19.0K
$672$672
64.13%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$721MX$12.4K
$648$648
11.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,530MX$43.6K
$1,525$1,525
65.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,293MX$22.3K
$1,297$1,297
-0.25%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,991MX$68.8K
$1,554$1,554
156.85%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,090MX$36.0K
$1,543$1,543
35.42%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Fort Smith, AR
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,037MX$17.9K
$3,157$3,157
-67.14%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.3
6.04
87.09%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: September 14, 2026
Last update for Fort Smith, AR: September 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,103 in Mexico City and $672 in Fort Smith, AR. 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: $52.0 in Mexico City vs $65.0 in Fort Smith, AR. Groceries flip the comparison at $345 vs $340, 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
Mexico City vs Fort Smith, AR: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Mexico City or Fort Smith, AR?
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 Mexico City or in Fort Smith, AR?
On paper, salaries run 204% lower in Fort Smith, AR. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Mexico City compared to Fort Smith, AR?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,103 in Mexico City versus $672 in Fort Smith, AR. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Mexico City compared to Fort Smith, AR?
All in, you'll spend $1,660 per month in Mexico City versus $1,969 in Fort Smith, AR – a 19% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Mexico City compared to Fort Smith, AR?
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 Mexico City or in Fort Smith, AR?
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, Mexico City or Fort Smith, AR?
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.
Mexico City vs other spots: cost of living compared