😐A single person spends $2,629 per month in Aurora, IL vs $1,677 in Mexico City, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,680 per month in Aurora, IL vs $2,608 in Mexico City, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,731 per month in Aurora, IL vs $3,540 in Mexico City, rent included.
😐Aurora, IL costs about 57% more than Mexico City, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both Aurora, IL and Mexico City sit above the global median – Aurora, IL by 91%, Mexico City by 22%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Aurora, IL
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.21$14.21
$12.14MX$206
17.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$59.6$59.6
$53.9MX$914
10.52%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.86$11.86
$11.09MX$188
6.94%
Cappuccino
$5.48$5.48
$4.10MX$69.5
33.66%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02$3.02
$1.68MX$28.53
79.76%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.34$2.34
$1.39MX$23.55
68.35%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.10$5.10
$3.33MX$56.5
53.15%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.34$7.34
$5.88MX$99.7
24.83%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Aurora, IL
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.91$0.91
$1.85MX$31.41
-50.81%
White Bread(500g)
$3.63$3.63
$3.17MX$53.8
14.51%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.61$4.61
$2.07MX$35.13
122.71%
Eggs
$3.49$3.49
$2.93MX$49.67
19.11%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.96$8.96
$12.59MX$214
-28.83%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.37$11.37
$10.11MX$172
12.46%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.18$16.18
$16.09MX$273
0.56%
Apples(1kg)
$4.87$4.87
$3.39MX$57.5
43.66%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64$1.64
$2.08MX$35.26
-21.15%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.85$3.85
$2.12MX$35.97
81.60%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.24$3.24
$2.41MX$40.95
34.44%
Potato(1kg)
$1.83$1.83
$2.13MX$36.11
-14.08%
Onion(1kg)
$2.67$2.67
$2.01MX$34.02
32.84%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.88$1.88
$1.55MX$26.21
21.29%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.55$1.55
$1.36MX$23.15
13.97%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$10.63$10.63
$5.77MX$97.8
84.23%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.88$13.88
$17.74MX$301
-21.76%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.23$2.23
$2.07MX$35.11
7.73%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.95$2.95
$4.61MX$78.3
-36.01%
🚌 Getting Around
Aurora, IL
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.24$2.24
$0.37MX$6.21
505.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$99.2$99.2
$21.18MX$359
368.37%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.92$3.92
$2.05MX$34.84
91.22%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.01$2.01
$0.58MX$9.79
246.55%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$44.60$44.60
$6.07MX$103
634.76%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.99$0.99
$1.55MX$26.34
-36.13%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.8K$24.8K
$22.9KMX$388.1K
8.63%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.5K$25.5K
$27.2KMX$462.0K
-6.48%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Aurora, IL
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$173$173
$67.4MX$1,144
157.28%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$51.4$51.4
$30.62MX$520
67.83%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$54.4$54.4
$37.24MX$632
46.19%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Aurora, IL
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$29.54$29.54
$61.5MX$1,043
-51.94%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$27.12MX$460
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.20$12.20
$7.11MX$121
71.59%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Aurora, IL
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,479$1,479
$456MX$7,739
224.16%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$23.7K$23.7K
$13.7KMX$232.3K
72.80%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Aurora, IL
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.1$56.1
$74.2MX$1,259
-24.38%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.9$50.9
$57.0MX$967
-10.73%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$88.7$88.7
$115MX$1,958
-23.18%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.6$79.6
$122MX$2,061
-34.46%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Aurora, IL
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,713$1,713
$1,148MX$19.5K
49.29%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,454$1,454
$709MX$12.0K
104.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,178$2,178
$2,577MX$43.7K
-15.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,235$2,235
$1,295MX$22.0K
72.63%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$9,865$9,865
$4,005MX$67.9K
146.28%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,182$3,182
$2,130MX$36.1K
49.43%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Aurora, IL
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,883$3,883
$1,082MX$18.4K
258.87%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.26
11.3
-44.60%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Aurora, IL: September 7, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: September 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,713 in Aurora, IL versus $1,148 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 259% higher in Aurora, IL, 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 $60.0 in Aurora, IL versus $54.0 in Mexico City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $358 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
Aurora, IL vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Aurora, IL or Mexico City?
Aurora, IL costs about 57% more than Mexico City, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Aurora, IL and in Mexico City?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,944 per month in Aurora, IL and $2,515 in Mexico City. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Aurora, IL or Mexico City?
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.
How do dining costs compare in Aurora, IL and in Mexico City?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $60.0 in Aurora, IL and $54.0 in Mexico City. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Aurora, IL compared to Mexico City?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,629 in Aurora, IL and $1,677 in Mexico City. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Can you live on $3,000/month in Aurora, IL or in Mexico City?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Mexico City, where all-in costs run around $1,677, than in Aurora, IL at $2,629. In Mexico City it covers expenses comfortably, while in Aurora, IL it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Aurora, IL or Mexico City?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Mexico City costs $1,677 versus $2,629 in Aurora, IL. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
Should I move to Aurora, IL or to Mexico City?
If budget matters most, go with Mexico City. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Aurora, IL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Aurora, IL vs other spots: cost of living compared