Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Fort Smith, AR Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Fort Smith, AR

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $4,458 in New York, NY versus $1,817 in Fort Smith, AR.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $7,020 in New York, NY versus $2,712 in Fort Smith, AR.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $9,582 in New York, NY versus $3,606 in Fort Smith, AR.

Living in New York, NY is roughly 145% more expensive than Fort Smith, AR, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: New York, NY 232% above, Fort Smith, AR 35% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$29.87 $29.87

$15.05 $15.05

98.47%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$148 $148

$50.5 $50.5

192.38%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.37 $12.37

$8.60 $8.60

43.84%

Cappuccino

$6.07 $6.07

$4.17 $4.17

45.56%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.21 $3.21

$2.18 $2.18

47.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.65 $2.65

$1.89 $1.89

40.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.88 $7.88

$3.89 $3.89

102.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$12.19 $12.19

$6.14 $6.14

98.53%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.55 $1.55

$1.02 $1.02

51.96%

White Bread (500g)

$5.14 $5.14

$3.02 $3.02

70.20%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$8.16 $8.16

$2.07 $2.07

294.20%

Eggs

$6.96 $6.96

$2.99 $2.99

132.78%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.53 $17.53

$7.35 $7.35

138.50%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.22 $16.22

$9.28 $9.28

74.78%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.40 $20.40

$14.28 $14.28

42.86%

Apples (1kg)

$7.60 $7.60

$4.52 $4.52

68.14%

Banana (1kg)

$2.45 $2.45

$1.29 $1.29

89.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.64 $5.64

$2.52 $2.52

123.81%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.47 $6.47

$2.19 $2.19

195.43%

Potato (1kg)

$3.72 $3.72

$1.61 $1.61

131.06%

Onion (1kg)

$3.99 $3.99

$1.56 $1.56

155.77%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.15 $3.15

$1.76 $1.76

78.98%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.45 $2.45

$1.97 $1.97

24.37%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$18.92 $18.92

$6.94 $6.94

172.62%

Wine (Bottle)

$20.27 $20.27

$15.23 $15.23

33.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.88 $2.88

$1.65 $1.65

74.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.88 $3.88

$2.51 $2.51

54.58%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.89 $2.89

$1.23 $1.23

134.96%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$132 $132

$35.18 $35.18

276.18%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.10 $5.10

$2.96 $2.96

72.30%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.19 $2.19

$1.29 $1.29

69.77%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.50 $42.50

$36.48 $36.48

16.50%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 $0.95

$0.78 $0.78

21.79%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$35.5K $35.5K

$25.9K $25.9K

37.12%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$28.3K $28.3K

$26.3K $26.3K

7.63%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$181 $181

$237 $237

-23.78%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$59.8 $59.8

$57.1 $57.1

4.84%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.8 $63.8

$72.2 $72.2

-11.61%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$141 $141

$26.93 $26.93

423.21%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$64.9 $64.9

$15.73 $15.73

312.33%

Cinema Ticket

$19.92 $19.92

$10.97 $10.97

81.59%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$3,208 $3,208

$778 $778

312.20%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$57.8K $57.8K

$23.9K $23.9K

141.62%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.3 $68.3

$51.6 $51.6

32.49%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.77 $48.77

$33.09 $33.09

47.39%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$113 $113

$69.3 $69.3

63.02%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$172 $172

$76.4 $76.4

125.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,213 $4,213

$691 $691

509.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,706 $2,706

$674 $674

301.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$8,515 $8,515

$1,476 $1,476

477.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,231 $5,231

$1,332 $1,332

292.84%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$17.9K $17.9K

$1,516 $1,516

1081.65%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,389 $6,389

$1,544 $1,544

313.71%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,445 $5,445

$3,038 $3,038

79.23%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

6.45

-0.16%

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

Last update for New York, NY: June 7, 2026

Last update for Fort Smith, AR: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $4,213 in New York, NY and $691 in Fort Smith, AR. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

New York, NY pays 79% 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: $148 in New York, NY vs $51.0 in Fort Smith, AR for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $554 vs $306 per month, with Fort Smith, AR cheaper across the board.

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

New York, NY vs Fort Smith, AR: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Fort Smith, AR wins on cost – living expenses run 145% lower than in New York, NY. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Fort Smith, AR the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

New York, NY pays 79% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $4,213 in New York, NY versus $691 in Fort Smith, AR. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $4,458 per month in New York, NY versus $1,817 in Fort Smith, AR – a 145% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Fort Smith, AR runs roughly 276% less than in New York, NY. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,817 in Fort Smith, AR versus $4,458 in New York, NY, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Fort Smith, AR but tight or insufficient in New York, NY. The gap between the two cities makes Fort Smith, AR the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Fort Smith, AR delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,817 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Fort Smith, AR hard to pass up.

Expats usually find Fort Smith, AR gentler on the wallet – expenses run 145% less than in New York, NY. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.