🇲🇽Cost of Living in Mexico City

Mexico · Population: 9,210,000 · Cost Index: 35/100

Cost of Living in Mexico City

Mexico · North America

One of the largest cities in the Western Hemisphere, Mexico City blends rich Aztec heritage with modern cosmopolitan culture. Its affordable cost of living, vibrant food scene, and growing digital nomad community make it increasingly popular.

9,210,000

Population

Cost Index

Safety Index

Quality of Life

Average Monthly Cost: $1,450 (single person, excluding rent)

Estimated monthly budget in Mexico City

Typical total monthly cost by household type.

Single person

$1,450

per month

Couple

$2,180

per month

Family of 4

$3,050

per month

Student

$1,090

per month

Estimates based on the average cost of living in Mexico City, scaled by household size. Actual costs vary with lifestyle, neighbourhood and housing.

Cost Breakdown

Housing

Avg: $862.50

1-Bedroom Apartment (City Center)(per month)

$750.00

1-Bedroom Apartment (Outside Center)(per month)

$450.00

3-Bedroom Apartment (City Center)(per month)

$1,400.00

3-Bedroom Apartment (Outside Center)(per month)

$850.00

Food & Groceries

Avg: $6.19

Meal at Inexpensive Restaurant(per meal)

$5.50

Meal for 2 at Mid-Range Restaurant(per meal)

$35.00

McMeal at McDonald's(per meal)

$6.50

Milk (1 liter)(per liter)

$1.30

Bread (500g loaf)(per loaf)

$1.80

Rice (1 kg)(per kg)

$1.20

Eggs (12)(per dozen)

$2.00

Chicken Breast (1 kg)(per kg)

$5.50

Apples (1 kg)(per kg)

$2.20

Banana (1 kg)(per kg)

$0.90

Transportation

Avg: $4.16

Monthly Public Transit Pass(per month)

$18.00

One-Way Ticket (Local Transport)(per trip)

$0.30

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)(base fare)

$0.80

Taxi 1km (Normal Tariff)(per km)

$0.55

Gasoline (1 liter)(per liter)

$1.15

Utilities

Avg: $32.67

Basic Utilities (85m² Apt)(per month)

$55.00

Mobile Phone Plan(per month)

$18.00

Internet (60 Mbps+)(per month)

$25.00

Healthcare

Avg: $25.00

Doctor Visit(per visit)

$30.00

Dentist Visit(per visit)

$35.00

Prescription Medicine (avg)(per prescription)

$10.00

Entertainment

Avg: $10.13

Fitness Club Monthly(per month)

$30.00

Cinema Ticket(per ticket)

$4.50

Cappuccino(per cup)

$3.00

Beer (0.5l) at Restaurant(per glass)

$3.00

Clothing

Avg: $48.33

Pair of Jeans (Levi's)(per pair)

$45.00

Summer Dress (Chain Store)(per item)

$30.00

Running Shoes (Nike, Adidas)(per pair)

$70.00

Popular Mexico City comparisons

Mexico City vs Monterrey Mexico City vs Guadalajara Mexico City vs New York Mexico City vs London Mexico City vs Tokyo Mexico City vs Singapore Mexico City vs Dubai Mexico City vs Paris

Frequently asked questions about Mexico City

Is Mexico City expensive to live in?

Mexico City has a cost of living index of 35 out of 100, where New York City scores 100. This makes it one of the more affordable cities we track.

How much money do you need to live in Mexico City?

A single person needs an estimated $1,450 per month to live in Mexico City, covering rent, food, transport and other essentials. A family or a more comfortable lifestyle will cost more.

What is the cost of living index in Mexico City?

Mexico City's cost of living index is 35 out of 100. The index is relative to New York City (100), so a score of 50 means overall costs are roughly half those of New York.

What is quality of life like in Mexico City?

Mexico City scores 52 out of 100 for quality of life and 42 out of 100 for safety in our index.