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 $2,142 per month in Appleton, WI vs $1,646 in Mexico City, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,284 per month in Appleton, WI vs $2,613 in Mexico City, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,426 per month in Appleton, WI vs $3,580 in Mexico City, rent included.

Appleton, WI costs about 30% more than Mexico City, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Appleton, WI and Mexico City sit above the global median – Appleton, WI by 56%, Mexico City by 20%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.94 $17.94

$12.11 MX$205

48.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$65.9 $65.9

$52.2 MX$883

26.23%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.96 $10.96

$10.90 MX$184

0.55%

Cappuccino

$5.33 $5.33

$4.05 MX$68.5

31.60%

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

$2.59 $2.59

$1.72 MX$29.00

50.58%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 $2.28

$1.38 MX$23.29

65.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.41 $4.41

$3.47 MX$58.6

27.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.17 $6.17

$5.81 MX$98.2

6.20%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.99 $0.99

$1.85 MX$31.33

-46.49%

White Bread (500g)

$3.00 $3.00

$3.22 MX$54.5

-6.83%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.66 $5.66

$2.09 MX$35.25

170.81%

Eggs

$4.72 $4.72

$2.91 MX$49.18

62.20%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.28 $14.28

$12.49 MX$211

14.33%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.47 $8.47

$10.11 MX$171

-16.22%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.28 $15.28

$15.89 MX$269

-3.84%

Apples (1kg)

$4.83 $4.83

$3.31 MX$56.0

45.92%

Banana (1kg)

$1.37 $1.37

$2.13 MX$35.95

-35.68%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.10 $3.10

$2.19 MX$37.03

41.55%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.36 $4.36

$2.45 MX$41.37

77.96%

Potato (1kg)

$2.06 $2.06

$2.19 MX$37.00

-5.94%

Onion (1kg)

$2.88 $2.88

$1.90 MX$32.20

51.58%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.18 $2.18

$1.62 MX$27.31

34.57%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.11 $3.11

$1.35 MX$22.82

130.37%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.88 $10.88

$5.43 MX$91.7

100.37%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.30 $15.30

$17.59 MX$297

-13.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 $1.70

$2.07 MX$34.96

-17.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.52 $3.52

$4.75 MX$80.2

-25.89%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.34 MX$5.75

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.58 MX$365

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.30 $3.30

$2.04 MX$34.49

61.76%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$0.58 MX$9.77

144.83%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.44 $22.44

$5.97 MX$101

275.88%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.96 $0.96

$1.62 MX$27.31

-40.74%

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

$35.6K $35.6K

$22.8K MX$385.6K

55.95%

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

$24.7K $24.7K

$26.7K MX$450.7K

-7.21%

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

$177 $177

$65.2 MX$1,103

170.57%

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

$44.91 $44.91

$29.87 MX$505

50.35%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.0 $62.0

$36.55 MX$618

69.52%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.62 $23.62

$61.0 MX$1,031

-61.28%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.87 $40.87

$26.70 MX$451

53.07%

Cinema Ticket

$14.71 $14.71

$6.85 MX$116

114.74%

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

$1,531 $1,531

$453 MX$7,664

237.75%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.6K $31.6K

$13.4K MX$226.0K

136.66%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$39.91 $39.91

$75.0 MX$1,267

-46.77%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.11 $25.11

$55.3 MX$935

-54.58%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$50.2 $50.2

$114 MX$1,920

-55.84%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$110 $110

$123 MX$2,073

-10.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,516 $1,516

$1,134 MX$19.2K

33.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,017 $1,017

$712 MX$12.0K

42.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,835 $1,835

$2,571 MX$43.5K

-28.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,907 $1,907

$1,311 MX$22.2K

45.42%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,309 $2,309

$3,993 MX$67.5K

-42.16%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,305 $2,305

$2,095 MX$35.4K

10.00%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,957 $3,957

$1,047 MX$17.7K

277.95%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.14

11.3

-45.66%

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

Last update for Appleton, WI: August 30, 2026

Last update for Mexico City: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,516 in Appleton, WI versus $1,134 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 278% 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 $66.0 in Appleton, WI versus $52.0 in Mexico City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $383 vs $345 – 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 30%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,213 per month in Appleton, WI and $2,469 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $66.0 in Appleton, WI and $52.0 in Mexico City. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 11% more in Appleton, WI, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Mexico City, where all-in costs run around $1,646, than in Appleton, WI at $2,142. 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.