Cost of Living Comparison Between Barrington, IL and Mexico City Cost of Living Comparison Between Barrington, IL and Mexico City

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,744 per month in Barrington, IL vs $1,447 in Mexico City, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,055 per month in Barrington, IL vs $2,310 in Mexico City, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,366 per month in Barrington, IL vs $3,174 in Mexico City, rent included.

Barrington, IL costs about 90% more than Mexico City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Barrington, IL and Mexico City sit above the global median – Barrington, IL by 104%, Mexico City by 8%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.65 $18.65

$12.98 MX$223

43.68%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.6 $74.6

$52.6 MX$903

41.84%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.10 $11.10

$9.43 MX$162

17.71%

Cappuccino

$5.11 $5.11

$3.57 MX$61.3

43.14%

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

$2.59 $2.59

$1.61 MX$27.55

60.87%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 $2.05

$1.15 MX$19.81

78.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.98 $5.98

$3.15 MX$54.0

89.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.10 $7.10

$4.86 MX$83.4

46.09%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.11 $1.11

$1.70 MX$29.17

-34.71%

White Bread (500g)

$3.67 $3.67

$2.64 MX$45.23

39.02%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.26 $4.26

$1.90 MX$32.67

124.21%

Eggs

$4.33 $4.33

$2.54 MX$43.62

70.47%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.17 $15.17

$10.08 MX$173

50.50%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.01 $11.01

$8.29 MX$142

32.81%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.65 $15.65

$11.57 MX$199

35.26%

Apples (1kg)

$5.84 $5.84

$3.03 MX$52.0

92.74%

Banana (1kg)

$2.00 $2.00

$1.71 MX$29.35

16.96%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.31 $4.31

$2.05 MX$35.16

110.24%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.96 $6.96

$2.06 MX$35.36

237.86%

Potato (1kg)

$2.80 $2.80

$2.06 MX$35.43

35.92%

Onion (1kg)

$2.15 $2.15

$2.17 MX$37.25

-0.92%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.07 $2.07

$1.40 MX$24.08

47.86%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.18 $2.18

$1.12 MX$19.26

94.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.46 $9.46

$4.29 MX$73.7

120.51%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.02 $17.02

$15.41 MX$265

10.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 $1.80

$1.67 MX$28.74

7.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.38 $3.38

$3.69 MX$63.3

-8.40%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.98 $1.98

$0.38 MX$6.55

421.05%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$119 $119

$19.06 MX$327

525.55%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.42 $3.42

$1.38 MX$23.70

147.83%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.59 $1.59

$0.28 MX$4.74

467.86%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.69 $28.69

$5.42 MX$92.9

429.34%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.01 $1.01

$1.28 MX$21.98

-21.09%

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

$29.2K $29.2K

$19.0K MX$325.8K

54.01%

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

$25.4K $25.4K

$23.5K MX$402.7K

8.11%

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

$231 $231

$41.02 MX$704

463.94%

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

$48.57 $48.57

$26.92 MX$462

80.42%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$58.9 $58.9

$29.69 MX$510

98.45%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$65.6 $65.6

$52.3 MX$898

25.43%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.09 $15.09

$26.23 MX$450

-42.47%

Cinema Ticket

$14.78 $14.78

$6.18 MX$106

139.16%

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

$1,488 $1,488

$427 MX$7,331

248.28%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$26.9K $26.9K

$10.7K MX$183.6K

151.70%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.8 $51.8

$56.8 MX$975

-8.85%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.08 $40.08

$44.83 MX$769

-10.60%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.8 $86.8

$105 MX$1,794

-17.01%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$112 $112

$106 MX$1,819

5.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,583 $1,583

$995 MX$17.1K

59.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,333 $1,333

$621 MX$10.7K

114.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,611 $2,611

$2,126 MX$36.5K

22.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,228 $2,228

$1,254 MX$21.5K

77.71%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,304 $2,304

$3,903 MX$67.0K

-40.96%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,236 $2,236

$2,096 MX$36.0K

6.69%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,922 $5,922

$1,107 MX$19.0K

434.87%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.51

11.34

-42.59%

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

Last update for Barrington, IL: June 6, 2026

Last update for Mexico City: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,583 in Barrington, IL versus $995 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 435% higher in Barrington, 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 $75.0 in Barrington, IL versus $53.0 in Mexico City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $420 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

Barrington, IL vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Barrington, IL costs about 90% more than Mexico City, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,115 per month in Barrington, IL and $2,171 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.

Public transport costs about 526% less in Mexico City. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $1,488 per month in Barrington, IL and $427 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 $1,447, than in Barrington, IL at $2,744. In Mexico City it covers expenses comfortably, while in Barrington, IL it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Mexico City costs $1,447 versus $2,744 in Barrington, IL. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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, Barrington, IL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.