Cost of Living Comparison Between Appleton, WI and Mexico City Cost of Living Comparison Between Appleton, WI and Mexico City

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,149 per month in Appleton, WI vs $1,467 in Mexico City, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,204 per month in Appleton, WI vs $2,371 in Mexico City, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,259 per month in Appleton, WI vs $3,274 in Mexico City, rent included.

Appleton, WI costs about 46% more than Mexico City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Appleton, WI and Mexico City sit above the global median – Appleton, WI by 60%, Mexico City by 10%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.75 $17.75

$13.18 MX$228

34.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$57.5 $57.5

$53.9 MX$931

6.62%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.84 $9.84

$9.42 MX$163

4.46%

Cappuccino

$4.91 $4.91

$3.55 MX$61.3

38.31%

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

$2.61 $2.61

$1.62 MX$27.95

61.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.97 $1.97

$1.11 MX$19.25

77.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.53 $4.53

$3.12 MX$53.9

45.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.05 $5.05

$4.63 MX$80.0

9.07%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.90 $0.90

$1.70 MX$29.40

-47.06%

White Bread (500g)

$4.10 $4.10

$2.72 MX$46.97

50.74%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.36 $5.36

$1.91 MX$33.04

180.63%

Eggs

$4.63 $4.63

$2.54 MX$43.82

82.28%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.23 $14.23

$10.03 MX$173

41.87%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.24 $15.24

$8.09 MX$140

88.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.29 $11.29

$11.62 MX$201

-2.84%

Apples (1kg)

$5.38 $5.38

$2.97 MX$51.3

81.14%

Banana (1kg)

$1.29 $1.29

$1.81 MX$31.21

-28.73%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.24 $4.24

$2.01 MX$34.79

110.95%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.35 $4.35

$2.03 MX$35.16

114.29%

Potato (1kg)

$2.52 $2.52

$2.12 MX$36.71

18.87%

Onion (1kg)

$2.73 $2.73

$2.27 MX$39.21

20.26%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.52 $2.52

$1.40 MX$24.20

80.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.37 $1.37

$1.13 MX$19.53

21.24%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.93 $14.93

$4.27 MX$73.8

249.65%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.76 $14.76

$15.56 MX$269

-5.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.68 $1.68

$1.76 MX$30.36

-4.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.40 $3.40

$3.60 MX$62.1

-5.56%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.49 $2.49

$0.38 MX$6.62

555.26%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.65 $34.65

$19.18 MX$331

80.66%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.19 $3.19

$1.38 MX$23.77

131.16%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$0.28 MX$4.78

407.14%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.68 $24.68

$5.45 MX$94.1

352.84%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.86 $0.86

$1.30 MX$22.53

-33.85%

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

$23.3K $23.3K

$18.7K MX$322.9K

24.90%

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

$25.0K $25.0K

$23.1K MX$399.7K

7.90%

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

$155 $155

$40.86 MX$706

278.93%

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

$45.18 $45.18

$26.81 MX$463

68.52%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.9 $65.9

$29.96 MX$518

119.89%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$17.08 $17.08

$52.0 MX$899

-67.17%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.84 MX$464

Cinema Ticket

$13.91 $13.91

$6.30 MX$109

120.79%

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

$2,097 $2,097

$436 MX$7,536

380.91%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$38.8K $38.8K

$10.4K MX$180.0K

272.34%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$40.44 $40.44

$56.7 MX$979

-28.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.14 $25.14

$44.38 MX$767

-43.35%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.9 $90.9

$103 MX$1,779

-11.65%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 $107

$106 MX$1,823

1.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,514 $1,514

$1,022 MX$17.7K

48.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$990 $990

$631 MX$10.9K

56.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,810 $1,810

$2,136 MX$36.9K

-15.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,636 $1,636

$1,243 MX$21.5K

31.65%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,239 $2,239

$3,903 MX$67.4K

-42.63%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,279 $2,279

$2,064 MX$35.7K

10.40%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,043 $4,043

$1,115 MX$19.3K

262.62%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.52

11.34

-42.50%

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

Last update for Appleton, WI: May 31, 2026

Last update for Mexico City: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,514 in Appleton, WI versus $1,022 in Mexico City. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 263% higher in Appleton, WI, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $57.0 in Appleton, WI versus $54.0 in Mexico City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $400 vs $288 – making Mexico City the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Appleton, WI vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Appleton, WI is pricier by about 46%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,224 per month in Appleton, WI and $2,201 in Mexico City. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Mexico City, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,149 in Appleton, WI and $1,467 in Mexico City. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 81% less in Mexico City. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Mexico City, where all-in costs run around $1,467, than in Appleton, WI at $2,149. In Mexico City it covers expenses comfortably, while in Appleton, WI it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Mexico City – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Mexico City. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Appleton, WI makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.