Cost of Living Comparison Between Big Rapids, MI and Mexico City Cost of Living Comparison Between Big Rapids, MI and Mexico City

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,528 in Big Rapids, MI versus $1,467 in Mexico City.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,681 in Big Rapids, MI versus $2,371 in Mexico City.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,835 in Big Rapids, MI versus $3,274 in Mexico City.

Living in Big Rapids, MI is roughly 72% more expensive than Mexico City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Big Rapids, MI 89% above, Mexico City 10% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.27 $15.27

$13.18 MX$230

15.86%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$76.1 $76.1

$53.9 MX$941

41.22%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.07 $8.07

$9.42 MX$165

-14.33%

Cappuccino

$4.68 $4.68

$3.55 MX$62.0

31.83%

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

$2.64 $2.64

$1.62 MX$28.25

62.96%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.19 $2.19

$1.11 MX$19.46

97.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.97 $5.97

$3.12 MX$54.5

91.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.11 $6.11

$4.63 MX$80.9

31.97%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.83 $0.83

$1.70 MX$29.71

-51.18%

White Bread (500g)

$3.37 $3.37

$2.72 MX$47.47

23.90%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.21 $2.21

$1.91 MX$33.39

15.71%

Eggs

$2.71 $2.71

$2.54 MX$44.29

6.69%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.51 $16.51

$10.03 MX$175

64.61%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.01 $10.01

$8.09 MX$141

23.73%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.97 $13.97

$11.62 MX$203

20.22%

Apples (1kg)

$3.36 $3.36

$2.97 MX$51.8

13.13%

Banana (1kg)

$0.61 $0.61

$1.81 MX$31.55

-66.30%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.46 $4.46

$2.01 MX$35.16

121.89%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.02 $5.02

$2.03 MX$35.54

147.29%

Potato (1kg)

$2.22 $2.22

$2.12 MX$37.10

4.72%

Onion (1kg)

$2.73 $2.73

$2.27 MX$39.63

20.26%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.40 MX$24.45

22.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.16 $2.16

$1.13 MX$19.74

91.15%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.15 $10.15

$4.27 MX$74.6

137.70%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.23 $13.23

$15.56 MX$272

-14.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.95 $1.95

$1.76 MX$30.68

10.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.79 $2.79

$3.60 MX$62.8

-22.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.99 $1.99

$0.38 MX$6.69

423.68%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$24.02 $24.02

$19.18 MX$335

25.23%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.07 $3.07

$1.38 MX$24.03

122.46%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.52 $1.52

$0.28 MX$4.83

442.86%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$26.76 $26.76

$5.45 MX$95.1

391.01%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.88 $0.88

$1.30 MX$22.77

-32.31%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$18.7K MX$326.4K

39.81%

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

$24.4K $24.4K

$23.1K MX$404.0K

5.49%

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

$156 $156

$40.86 MX$714

282.57%

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

$49.48 $49.48

$26.81 MX$468

84.56%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.7 $67.7

$29.96 MX$523

125.87%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.50 $42.50

$52.0 MX$908

-18.30%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.84 MX$469

Cinema Ticket

$12.26 $12.26

$6.30 MX$110

94.60%

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

$1,918 $1,918

$436 MX$7,617

339.81%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$20.0K $20.0K

$10.4K MX$181.9K

92.01%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.6 $54.6

$56.7 MX$989

-3.58%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.70 $35.70

$44.38 MX$775

-19.56%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.0 $84.0

$103 MX$1,798

-18.38%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$99.5 $99.5

$106 MX$1,843

-5.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,571 $1,571

$1,022 MX$17.8K

53.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,360 $1,360

$631 MX$11.0K

115.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,626 $2,626

$2,136 MX$37.3K

22.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,256 $2,256

$1,243 MX$21.7K

81.54%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,882 $2,882

$3,903 MX$68.2K

-26.15%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,412 $2,412

$2,064 MX$36.1K

16.83%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,115 MX$19.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.68

11.34

-49.91%

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

Last update for Big Rapids, MI: May 31, 2026

Last update for Mexico City: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,571 in Big Rapids, MI and $1,022 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $76.0 in Big Rapids, MI vs $54.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $353 vs $288 per month, with Mexico City cheaper across the board.

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

Big Rapids, MI vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mexico City is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 72% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $3,792 in Big Rapids, MI and $2,201 in Mexico City to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,571 in Big Rapids, MI versus $1,022 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 22% higher in Big Rapids, MI. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Mexico City – a meal for two runs $54.0 versus $76.0 in Big Rapids, MI. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $1,467 in Mexico City versus $2,528 in Big Rapids, MI, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Mexico City but tight or insufficient in Big Rapids, MI. The gap between the two cities makes Mexico City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Mexico City is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Big Rapids, MI, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Big Rapids, MI and Mexico City are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Mexico City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 72% less than in Big Rapids, MI. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.