Cost of Living Comparison Between Billings, MT and Mexico City Cost of Living Comparison Between Billings, MT and Mexico City

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,245 per month in Billings, MT vs $1,472 in Mexico City, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,433 per month in Billings, MT vs $2,359 in Mexico City, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,620 per month in Billings, MT vs $3,245 in Mexico City, rent included.

Billings, MT costs about 53% more than Mexico City, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Billings, MT and Mexico City sit above the global median – Billings, MT by 69%, Mexico City by 11%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.79 $19.79

$13.14 MX$227

50.61%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$60.6 $60.6

$53.5 MX$926

13.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.77 $14.77

$9.33 MX$161

58.31%

Cappuccino

$5.87 $5.87

$3.70 MX$64.0

58.65%

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

$2.13 $2.13

$1.60 MX$27.76

33.12%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.75 $2.75

$1.12 MX$19.34

145.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.47 $4.47

$3.14 MX$54.3

42.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.90 $4.90

$4.85 MX$83.9

1.03%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.25 $1.25

$1.65 MX$28.61

-24.24%

White Bread (500g)

$4.23 $4.23

$2.71 MX$46.96

56.09%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.20 $4.20

$1.91 MX$33.03

119.90%

Eggs

$3.02 $3.02

$2.59 MX$44.81

16.60%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.15 $14.15

$9.81 MX$170

44.24%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.43 $12.43

$8.43 MX$146

47.45%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.16 $16.16

$11.93 MX$206

35.46%

Apples (1kg)

$4.42 $4.42

$2.95 MX$51.1

49.83%

Banana (1kg)

$1.41 $1.41

$1.74 MX$30.10

-18.97%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.94 $3.94

$2.04 MX$35.38

93.14%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.22 $6.22

$2.06 MX$35.64

201.94%

Potato (1kg)

$1.87 $1.87

$2.15 MX$37.20

-13.02%

Onion (1kg)

$3.24 $3.24

$2.26 MX$39.02

43.36%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.39 $2.39

$1.39 MX$23.97

71.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.33 $1.33

$1.12 MX$19.31

18.75%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.38 $9.38

$4.22 MX$73.0

122.27%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.15 $13.15

$17.51 MX$303

-24.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.28 $2.28

$1.71 MX$29.58

33.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.91 $3.91

$3.63 MX$62.8

7.71%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.01 $2.01

$0.35 MX$6.10

474.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$27.79 $27.79

$19.32 MX$334

43.84%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.46 $2.46

$1.38 MX$23.80

78.26%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.60 $1.60

$0.28 MX$4.77

471.43%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.51 $29.51

$5.28 MX$91.3

458.90%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.80 $0.80

$1.36 MX$23.50

-41.18%

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

$21.6K $21.6K

$19.1K MX$330.5K

13.05%

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

$25.2K $25.2K

$23.6K MX$408.4K

6.82%

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

$158 $158

$40.53 MX$701

290.50%

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

$49.12 $49.12

$27.38 MX$474

79.40%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$68.4 $68.4

$30.38 MX$526

125.28%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.30 $48.30

$52.2 MX$903

-7.51%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.48 MX$458

Cinema Ticket

$13.83 $13.83

$6.19 MX$107

123.42%

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

$1,010 $1,010

$425 MX$7,355

137.60%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$32.6K $32.6K

$10.7K MX$185.7K

203.87%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.7 $56.7

$58.3 MX$1,009

-2.76%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$67.8 $67.8

$44.57 MX$771

52.10%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 $103

$103 MX$1,791

-0.24%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 $122

$109 MX$1,881

11.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,147 $1,147

$1,014 MX$17.5K

13.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$920 $920

$623 MX$10.8K

47.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,087 $2,087

$2,119 MX$36.7K

-1.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,813 $1,813

$1,223 MX$21.2K

48.22%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,343 $2,343

$3,792 MX$65.6K

-38.21%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,121 $2,121

$2,110 MX$36.5K

0.52%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,890 $3,890

$1,052 MX$18.2K

269.73%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.59

11.34

-41.89%

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

Last update for Billings, MT: July 27, 2026

Last update for Mexico City: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,147 in Billings, MT 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.

Salaries run about 270% higher in Billings, MT, 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 $61.0 in Billings, MT versus $54.0 in Mexico City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $397 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

Billings, MT vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Billings, MT costs about 53% more than Mexico City, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,367 per month in Billings, MT 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.

Public transport costs about 44% less in Mexico City. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $1,010 per month in Billings, MT 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 Billings, MT at $2,245. In Mexico City it covers expenses comfortably, while in Billings, MT it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Mexico City costs $1,472 versus $2,245 in Billings, MT. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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