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 $2,632 per month in Bethlehem, PA vs $1,660 in Mexico City, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,718 per month in Bethlehem, PA vs $2,565 in Mexico City, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,804 per month in Bethlehem, PA vs $3,470 in Mexico City, rent included.

Bethlehem, PA costs about 59% more than Mexico City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Bethlehem, PA and Mexico City sit above the global median – Bethlehem, PA by 92%, Mexico City by 21%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.05 $18.05

$11.92 MX$205

51.43%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$49.97 $49.97

$51.6 MX$886

-3.16%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.15 $13.15

$11.41 MX$196

15.25%

Cappuccino

$5.42 $5.42

$3.99 MX$68.6

35.84%

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

$3.01 $3.01

$1.66 MX$28.48

81.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.89 $1.89

$1.33 MX$22.77

42.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.16 $5.16

$3.47 MX$59.6

48.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.97 $7.97

$5.90 MX$101

35.08%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.12 $1.12

$1.88 MX$32.21

-40.43%

White Bread (500g)

$3.96 $3.96

$3.25 MX$55.9

21.85%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$2.16 MX$37.10

104.17%

Eggs

$4.12 $4.12

$2.90 MX$49.72

42.07%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.27 $12.27

$12.86 MX$221

-4.59%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.71 $16.71

$10.05 MX$173

66.27%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.30 $18.30

$15.86 MX$272

15.38%

Apples (1kg)

$4.96 $4.96

$3.29 MX$56.6

50.76%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 $1.57

$2.01 MX$34.44

-21.89%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.02 $6.02

$2.20 MX$37.76

173.64%

Tomato (1kg)

$7.31 $7.31

$2.36 MX$40.44

209.75%

Potato (1kg)

$5.60 $5.60

$2.05 MX$35.27

173.17%

Onion (1kg)

$3.00 $3.00

$1.90 MX$32.64

57.89%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.68 $2.68

$1.61 MX$27.55

66.46%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.85 $1.85

$1.40 MX$23.98

32.14%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.78 $9.78

$5.46 MX$93.8

79.12%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.65 $17.65

$17.65 MX$303

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.93 $1.93

$2.06 MX$35.28

-6.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.27 $3.27

$4.68 MX$80.4

-30.13%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.92 $1.92

$0.34 MX$5.81

464.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.81 MX$357

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.10 $3.10

$2.10 MX$35.99

47.62%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.60 $1.60

$0.56 MX$9.60

185.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.58 $25.58

$5.81 MX$99.8

340.28%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.00 $1.00

$1.61 MX$27.56

-37.89%

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

$36.8K $36.8K

$22.8K MX$392.1K

61.11%

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

$27.3K $27.3K

$26.8K MX$459.2K

1.93%

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

$202 $202

$65.2 MX$1,119

210.46%

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

$64.8 $64.8

$30.09 MX$517

115.35%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$77.4 $77.4

$37.18 MX$638

108.18%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.01 $37.01

$59.8 MX$1,026

-38.07%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.55 MX$456

Cinema Ticket

$14.87 $14.87

$7.04 MX$121

111.22%

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

$1,005 $1,005

$465 MX$7,976

116.27%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.9K $22.9K

$13.3K MX$227.8K

72.78%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.6 $53.6

$75.9 MX$1,303

-29.32%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.03 $30.03

$56.0 MX$960

-46.33%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$67.4 $67.4

$112 MX$1,920

-39.80%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.3 $86.3

$121 MX$2,068

-28.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,551 $1,551

$1,103 MX$18.9K

40.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,344 $1,344

$721 MX$12.4K

86.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,224 $2,224

$2,530 MX$43.4K

-12.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,108 $2,108

$1,293 MX$22.2K

63.00%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,154 $2,154

$3,991 MX$68.5K

-46.04%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,123 $2,123

$2,090 MX$35.9K

1.57%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,608 $3,608

$1,037 MX$17.8K

247.80%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.5

11.3

-42.48%

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

Last update for Bethlehem, PA: September 13, 2026

Last update for Mexico City: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,551 in Bethlehem, PA versus $1,103 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 248% 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 $50.0 in Bethlehem, PA versus $52.0 in Mexico City. Groceries tell a different story – $462 in Bethlehem, PA vs $345 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: $2,632 in Bethlehem, PA, $1,660 in Mexico City – roughly 59% apart. Bethlehem, PA costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,948 per month in Bethlehem, PA and $2,489 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 $50.0 in Bethlehem, PA 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 34% more in Bethlehem, PA, 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 $1,660, than in Bethlehem, PA at $2,632. 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 $1,660 in Mexico City to $2,632 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.