Cost of Living Comparison Between Bethlehem, PA and Mexico City Cost of Living Comparison Between Bethlehem, PA and Mexico City

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,730 per month in Bethlehem, PA vs $1,484 in Mexico City, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,822 per month in Bethlehem, PA vs $2,381 in Mexico City, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,913 per month in Bethlehem, PA vs $3,278 in Mexico City, rent included.

Bethlehem, PA costs about 84% more than Mexico City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Bethlehem, PA and Mexico City sit above the global median – Bethlehem, PA by 104%, Mexico City by 11%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.31 $18.31

$12.98 MX$227

41.06%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$51.0 $51.0

$53.1 MX$929

-3.92%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.89 $12.89

$9.72 MX$170

32.61%

Cappuccino

$4.87 $4.87

$3.75 MX$65.6

29.87%

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

$3.08 $3.08

$1.57 MX$27.46

96.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.98 $1.98

$1.13 MX$19.76

75.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.26 $5.26

$3.18 MX$55.7

65.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.12 $8.12

$4.66 MX$81.6

74.25%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.62 MX$28.37

-35.80%

White Bread (500g)

$3.96 $3.96

$2.71 MX$47.36

46.13%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.29 $4.29

$1.88 MX$32.89

128.19%

Eggs

$4.26 $4.26

$2.51 MX$43.90

69.72%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.90 $11.90

$10.08 MX$176

18.06%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.82 $16.82

$8.29 MX$145

102.90%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$21.64 $21.64

$11.94 MX$209

81.24%

Apples (1kg)

$11.64 $11.64

$2.86 MX$50.1

306.99%

Banana (1kg)

$1.28 $1.28

$1.75 MX$30.62

-26.86%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.40 $4.40

$2.08 MX$36.48

111.54%

Tomato (1kg)

$7.40 $7.40

$1.97 MX$34.46

275.63%

Potato (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$2.16 MX$37.79

149.54%

Onion (1kg)

$2.75 $2.75

$2.18 MX$38.16

26.15%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.79 $2.79

$1.39 MX$24.34

100.72%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 $1.83

$1.12 MX$19.69

63.39%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.14 $10.14

$4.20 MX$73.5

141.43%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.16 $16.16

$14.25 MX$249

13.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.21 $4.21

$1.76 MX$30.85

139.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.10 $5.10

$3.68 MX$64.5

38.59%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.98 $1.98

$0.39 MX$6.74

407.69%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$59.4 $59.4

$18.66 MX$327

218.11%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.43 $3.43

$1.39 MX$24.26

146.76%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.60 $1.60

$0.30 MX$5.32

433.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.68 $29.68

$5.42 MX$94.9

447.60%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 $0.95

$1.35 MX$23.63

-29.63%

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

$30.0K $30.0K

$18.9K MX$330.5K

58.74%

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

$25.5K $25.5K

$23.2K MX$405.2K

10.24%

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

$230 $230

$40.82 MX$714

463.11%

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

$64.9 $64.9

$27.50 MX$481

135.89%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.9 $61.9

$30.38 MX$532

103.59%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.76 $36.76

$53.4 MX$935

-31.20%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.30 MX$460

Cinema Ticket

$15.02 $15.02

$6.27 MX$110

139.55%

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

$1,004 $1,004

$436 MX$7,632

130.31%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.4K $23.4K

$10.5K MX$183.2K

123.68%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.3 $55.3

$56.8 MX$993

-2.63%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.92 $29.92

$44.79 MX$784

-33.20%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$66.5 $66.5

$103 MX$1,799

-35.29%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.8 $78.8

$108 MX$1,888

-27.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,486 $1,486

$1,000 MX$17.5K

48.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,317 $1,317

$620 MX$10.9K

112.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,125 $2,125

$2,137 MX$37.4K

-0.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,005 $2,005

$1,235 MX$21.6K

62.37%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,144 $2,144

$3,865 MX$67.6K

-44.52%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,127 $2,127

$2,332 MX$40.8K

-8.80%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,585 $3,585

$1,067 MX$18.7K

235.96%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.62

11.34

-41.62%

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

Last update for Bethlehem, PA: April 27, 2026

Last update for Mexico City: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,486 in Bethlehem, PA versus $1,000 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 236% higher in Bethlehem, PA, 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 $51.0 in Bethlehem, PA versus $53.0 in Mexico City. Groceries tell a different story – $508 in Bethlehem, PA vs $286 in Mexico City – so Mexico City wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Bethlehem, PA vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,730 in Bethlehem, PA, $1,484 in Mexico City – roughly 84% apart. Bethlehem, PA costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,096 per month in Bethlehem, PA and $2,225 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 $51.0 in Bethlehem, PA and $53.0 in Mexico City. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,730 in Bethlehem, PA and $1,484 in Mexico City. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Mexico City, where all-in costs run around $1,484, than in Bethlehem, PA at $2,730. In Mexico City it covers expenses comfortably, while in Bethlehem, PA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Mexico City has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,484 in Mexico City to $2,730 in Bethlehem, PA. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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