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 27.7% more expensive than Mexico City without rent, and 44.6% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Ames, IA is 43.9% more expensive than Mexico City without rent, and 33.1% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.96 $17.96

$13.19 MX$233

36.16%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.64 $44.64

$53.5 MX$944

-16.58%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.74 $8.74

$9.37 MX$165

-6.72%

Cappuccino

$5.00 $5.00

$3.75 MX$66.2

33.33%

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

$1.99 $1.99

$1.57 MX$27.71

26.75%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.11 MX$19.61

54.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.08 $3.08

$3.12 MX$55.1

-1.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.81 $6.81

$4.81 MX$84.9

41.58%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.01 $1.01

$1.65 MX$29.16

-38.79%

White Bread (500g)

$3.72 $3.72

$2.77 MX$48.87

34.30%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.05 $3.05

$1.91 MX$33.67

59.69%

Eggs

$3.18 $3.18

$2.60 MX$45.81

22.31%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.19 $9.19

$10.21 MX$180

-9.99%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.72 $11.72

$8.46 MX$149

38.53%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.56 $14.56

$11.60 MX$205

25.52%

Apples (1kg)

$4.97 $4.97

$3.00 MX$52.9

65.67%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 $1.21

$1.73 MX$30.49

-30.06%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.93 $5.93

$2.04 MX$36.05

190.69%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.29 $5.29

$2.00 MX$35.34

164.50%

Potato (1kg)

$3.96 $3.96

$2.15 MX$37.91

84.19%

Onion (1kg)

$3.78 $3.78

$2.25 MX$39.71

68.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.05 $2.05

$1.39 MX$24.57

47.48%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.96 $1.96

$1.07 MX$18.88

83.18%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.03 $9.03

$4.13 MX$73.0

118.64%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.21 $15.21

$12.35 MX$218

23.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 $1.78

$1.70 MX$30.02

4.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.45 $4.45

$3.56 MX$62.8

25.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.54 $1.54

$0.36 MX$6.35

327.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$47.77 $47.77

$18.70 MX$330

155.45%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.86 $4.86

$1.36 MX$24.05

257.35%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.36 $1.36

$0.28 MX$4.88

385.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$50.6 $50.6

$5.44 MX$96.0

829.41%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.88 $0.88

$1.34 MX$23.64

-34.33%

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

$24.5K $24.5K

$19.0K MX$335.5K

28.99%

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

$25.9K $25.9K

$23.3K MX$411.1K

11.34%

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

$189 $189

$40.62 MX$717

365.53%

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

$48.61 $48.61

$26.92 MX$475

80.57%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$72.6 $72.6

$29.98 MX$529

142.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$68.9 $68.9

$52.2 MX$922

31.91%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.06 $20.06

$25.91 MX$457

-22.58%

Cinema Ticket

$14.23 $14.23

$6.39 MX$113

122.69%

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

$1,473 $1,473

$431 MX$7,603

241.90%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.4K $29.4K

$10.4K MX$184.0K

182.41%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$39.37 $39.37

$58.4 MX$1,031

-32.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.45 $42.45

$44.65 MX$788

-4.93%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.3 $83.3

$103 MX$1,823

-19.33%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$115 $115

$106 MX$1,876

8.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$975 $975

$998 MX$17.6K

-2.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$812 $812

$624 MX$11.0K

30.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,933 $1,933

$2,108 MX$37.2K

-8.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,682 $1,682

$1,231 MX$21.7K

36.59%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,375 $2,375

$3,647 MX$64.4K

-34.87%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,246 $2,246

$2,169 MX$38.3K

3.53%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,594 $3,594

$1,044 MX$18.4K

244.21%

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: January 13, 2026

Last update for Mexico City: January 13, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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