Cost of Living Comparison Between Ames, IA and Mexico City Cost of Living Comparison Between Ames, IA and Mexico City

😐 Solo nomad: Ames, IA is 52.2% more expensive than Mexico City without rent, and 43.4% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Ames, IA is 26.8% more expensive than Mexico City without rent, and 30.9% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ames, IA
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.07 $18.07
$13.38 MX$253
35.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.34 $44.34
$52.7 MX$997
-15.91%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.04 $9.04
$9.31 MX$176
-2.90%
Cappuccino
$5.27 $5.27
$3.61 MX$68.3
45.98%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95 $1.95
$1.64 MX$30.91
18.90%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74 $1.74
$1.12 MX$21.14
55.36%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.99 $2.99
$3.26 MX$61.7
-8.28%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.94 $6.94
$4.82 MX$91.1
43.98%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Ames, IA
Mexico City
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.01 $1.01
$1.65 MX$31.24
-38.79%
White Bread (500g)
$3.65 $3.65
$2.74 MX$51.7
33.21%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.11 $3.11
$1.92 MX$36.28
61.98%
Eggs
$3.29 $3.29
$2.51 MX$47.53
31.08%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.44 $9.44
$9.89 MX$187
-4.55%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.6 $11.6
$8.39 MX$159
38.26%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.09 $14.09
$11.95 MX$226
17.91%
Apples (1kg)
$5.09 $5.09
$2.87 MX$54.3
77.35%
Banana (1kg)
$1.15 $1.15
$1.74 MX$32.85
-33.91%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.79 $5.79
$2 MX$37.81
189.50%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.1 $5.1
$2.07 MX$39.14
146.38%
Potato (1kg)
$3.76 $3.76
$2.05 MX$38.78
83.41%
Onion (1kg)
$3.75 $3.75
$2.18 MX$41.22
72.02%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.99 $1.99
$1.38 MX$26.16
44.20%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.97 $1.97
$1.11 MX$21.06
77.48%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9 $9
$4.16 MX$78.6
116.35%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.23 $16.23
$11.05 MX$209
46.88%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.75 MX$33.16
-2.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.38 $4.38
$3.7 MX$70
18.38%
🚌 Getting Around
Ames, IA
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.49 $1.49
$0.38 MX$7.25
292.11%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$47.13 $47.13
$18.97 MX$359
148.44%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.9 $4.9
$1.36 MX$25.72
260.29%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.39 $1.39
$0.28 MX$5.25
396.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$49.16 $49.16
$5.3 MX$100
827.55%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.8 $0.8
$1.36 MX$25.63
-41.18%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.7K $24.7K
$18.8K MX$354.6K
31.68%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.5K $25.5K
$23.4K MX$441.7K
9.25%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ames, IA
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$189 $189
$39.97 MX$756
372.85%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$48.48 $48.48
$27.48 MX$519
76.42%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$74.3 $74.3
$30.22 MX$571
145.80%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Ames, IA
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$68.5 $68.5
$52.6 MX$994
30.23%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.74 $19.74
$26.84 MX$507
-26.45%
Cinema Ticket
$13.9 $13.9
$6.32 MX$120
119.94%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ames, IA
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,470 $1,470
$437 MX$8,258
236.58%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$30.2K $30.2K
$10.6K MX$199.9K
185.71%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Ames, IA
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$38.64 $38.64
$57.2 MX$1,082
-32.47%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.65 $42.65
$45.14 MX$853
-5.52%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.4 $84.4
$102 MX$1,928
-17.29%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116 $116
$109 MX$2,056
6.37%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ames, IA
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$989 $989
$1,000 MX$18.9K
-1.04%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$837 $837
$622 MX$11.8K
34.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,931 $1,931
$2,160 MX$40.8K
-10.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,676 $1,676
$1,235 MX$23.3K
35.73%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,346 $2,346
$3,566 MX$67.4K
-34.22%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,182 $2,182
$2,480 MX$46.9K
-12.02%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Ames, IA
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,732 $3,732
$867 MX$16.4K
330.27%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.02
11.34
-46.91%

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

Last update for Ames, IA: October 28, 2025

Last update for Mexico City: October 28, 2025

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