Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, MN and Mexico City Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, MN and Mexico City

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,410 per month in Austin, MN vs $1,472 in Mexico City, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,621 per month in Austin, MN vs $2,359 in Mexico City, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,833 per month in Austin, MN vs $3,245 in Mexico City, rent included.

Austin, MN costs about 64% more than Mexico City, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Austin, MN and Mexico City sit above the global median – Austin, MN by 81%, Mexico City by 11%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.91 $15.91

$13.14 MX$227

21.08%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$88.6 $88.6

$53.5 MX$926

65.59%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.17 $12.17

$9.33 MX$161

30.44%

Cappuccino

$5.03 $5.03

$3.70 MX$64.0

35.95%

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

$2.56 $2.56

$1.60 MX$27.76

60.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.02 $2.02

$1.12 MX$19.34

80.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.06 $5.06

$3.14 MX$54.3

61.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.02 $7.02

$4.85 MX$83.9

44.74%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.87 $0.87

$1.65 MX$28.61

-47.27%

White Bread (500g)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.71 MX$46.96

-6.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.99 $1.99

$1.91 MX$33.03

4.19%

Eggs

$2.55 $2.55

$2.59 MX$44.81

-1.54%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.51 $12.51

$9.81 MX$170

27.52%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.72 $6.72

$8.43 MX$146

-20.28%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.12 $18.12

$11.93 MX$206

51.89%

Apples (1kg)

$4.38 $4.38

$2.95 MX$51.1

48.47%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 $1.17

$1.74 MX$30.10

-32.76%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.58 $3.58

$2.04 MX$35.38

75.49%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.77 $1.77

$2.06 MX$35.64

-14.08%

Potato (1kg)

$1.68 $1.68

$2.15 MX$37.20

-21.86%

Onion (1kg)

$2.87 $2.87

$2.26 MX$39.02

26.99%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.53 $1.53

$1.39 MX$23.97

10.07%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.06 $2.06

$1.12 MX$19.31

83.93%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.26 $9.26

$4.22 MX$73.0

119.43%

Wine (Bottle)

$3.07 $3.07

$17.51 MX$303

-82.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 $1.69

$1.71 MX$29.58

-1.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.91 $3.91

$3.63 MX$62.8

7.71%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.97 $1.97

$0.35 MX$6.10

462.86%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.32 MX$334

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.05 $2.05

$1.38 MX$23.80

48.55%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.38 $1.38

$0.28 MX$4.77

392.86%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$20.19 $20.19

$5.28 MX$91.3

282.39%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.82 $0.82

$1.36 MX$23.50

-39.71%

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

$25.9K $25.9K

$19.1K MX$330.5K

35.37%

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

$24.1K $24.1K

$23.6K MX$408.4K

1.97%

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

$144 $144

$40.53 MX$701

254.53%

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

$50.7 $50.7

$27.38 MX$474

85.10%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$76.2 $76.2

$30.38 MX$526

150.89%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.22 $43.22

$52.2 MX$903

-17.23%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.48 MX$458

Cinema Ticket

$15.24 $15.24

$6.19 MX$107

146.20%

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

$1,371 $1,371

$425 MX$7,355

222.43%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.8K $11.8K

$10.7K MX$185.7K

9.89%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.0 $64.0

$58.3 MX$1,009

9.79%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.78 $49.78

$44.57 MX$771

11.69%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.1 $72.1

$103 MX$1,791

-30.31%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$142 $142

$109 MX$1,881

30.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,582 $1,582

$1,014 MX$17.5K

56.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,330 $1,330

$623 MX$10.8K

113.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,616 $2,616

$2,119 MX$36.7K

23.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,248 $2,248

$1,223 MX$21.2K

83.76%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,860 $2,860

$3,792 MX$65.6K

-24.57%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,226 $2,226

$2,110 MX$36.5K

5.52%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,052 MX$18.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.61

11.34

-41.71%

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

Last update for Austin, MN: July 27, 2026

Last update for Mexico City: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,582 in Austin, MN versus $1,014 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89.0 in Austin, MN versus $54.0 in Mexico City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $294 vs $293 – 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

Austin, MN vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Austin, MN is pricier by about 64%, and the gap shows up most in Monthly Utilities & Internet. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,615 per month in Austin, MN and $2,208 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 $2,410 in Austin, MN and $1,472 in Mexico City. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $1,371 per month in Austin, MN and $425 in Mexico City. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Mexico City, where all-in costs run around $1,472, than in Austin, MN at $2,410. In Mexico City it covers expenses comfortably, while in Austin, MN 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, Austin, MN makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.