← All cities
Latin America38% Lower than the US

Mexico City, Mexico

Estimated monthly cost

$2,760

Local average wage

$1,055

what locals earn — not what you need

Monthly cost breakdown

1-bed apartment (city center)$1,120
1-bed apartment (outside center)$710
Utilities (monthly)$65
Internet$37
Mobile plan$30
Monthly transit pass$21
Meal, inexpensive restaurant$12
Meal for two, mid-range$53
Cappuccino$4
Domestic draft beer (1 pint)$3

Source: Numbeo, in USD, fetched 2026-09-15. These are raw market prices — see the estimate box for how they roll up into a monthly budget.

Mexico City vs. a mid-size US city

Mexico City$2,760
US baseline$4,420

You'd keep about $1,660/month in your pocket — roughly 38% lower than the same lifestyle costs in the US.

Baseline is $4,420/mo — the median of 4 mid-size US metros run through this exact same budget model, so both bars are measured the same way.

How we estimate $2,760/mo

One person living a modest Western lifestyle in Mexico City — not a local subsistence budget. Prices are real Numbeo data; the assumptions on top of them are listed at the bottom.

Housing

1-bed, city centre$1,120
1-bed, outside centre$710
Rent used (centre + 15% furnished)$1,289

Living costs

Utilities(electric, water, gas, refuse)$65
Internet(60 Mbps+ broadband)$37
Mobile plan(10GB+ data)$30
Groceries(basket for one, +25% pantry staples)$192
Eating out(30 meals @ $12 + 1 nicer dinner)$413
Getting around(transit pass + 8 taxi trips)$60
Leisure(gym + 2 cinema)$74

Health cover

International health insurance(age 55, mid-tier, excludes US coverage)$350

An estimate, not a scraped price — premiums swing hard with age and plan. Budget more if you're over 60 or want US coverage included.

Subtotal$2,508
+10% buffer(clothing, household, pharmacy, haircuts)$251
Estimated total$2,760/mo

Still excluded: visa and residency fees, flights, shipping your belongings, and one-time setup costs — these vary far too much by nationality and route to average. See the country guide for those.

Thinking about Mexico City?

Tell us where you're up to and we'll point you at the guide, the numbers, or the specialist that fits. Takes a minute.

We don't sell your details or pass them to anyone without telling you first. Some recommendations are affiliate links, which is how the free city data gets paid for.

Ready to actually move to Mexico City?

Moving to Mexico 2026 walks you through visas, banking, healthcare and taxes — the whole move, step by step.

Get the guide · $19