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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,168 per month in Bloomington, IL vs $1,660 in Mexico City, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,121 per month in Bloomington, IL vs $2,565 in Mexico City, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,074 per month in Bloomington, IL vs $3,470 in Mexico City, rent included.

Bloomington, IL costs about 31% more than Mexico City, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Bloomington, IL and Mexico City sit above the global median – Bloomington, IL by 58%, Mexico City by 21%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bloomington, IL
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.97 $15.97
$11.92 MX$205
33.98%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.60 $45.60
$51.6 MX$886
-11.63%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.90 $11.90
$11.41 MX$196
4.29%
Cappuccino
$2.43 $2.43
$3.99 MX$68.6
-39.10%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.02 $2.02
$1.66 MX$28.48
21.69%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68 $1.68
$1.33 MX$22.77
26.32%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.72 $5.72
$3.47 MX$59.6
64.84%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.13 $5.13
$5.90 MX$101
-13.05%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bloomington, IL
Mexico City
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.03 $1.03
$1.88 MX$32.21
-45.21%
White Bread (500g)
$2.41 $2.41
$3.25 MX$55.9
-25.85%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.28 $4.28
$2.16 MX$37.10
98.15%
Eggs
$3.65 $3.65
$2.90 MX$49.72
25.86%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.27 $13.27
$12.86 MX$221
3.19%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.62 $7.62
$10.05 MX$173
-24.18%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.37 $17.37
$15.86 MX$272
9.52%
Apples (1kg)
$3.64 $3.64
$3.29 MX$56.6
10.64%
Banana (1kg)
$1.62 $1.62
$2.01 MX$34.44
-19.40%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.63 $5.63
$2.20 MX$37.76
155.91%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.40 $3.40
$2.36 MX$40.44
44.07%
Potato (1kg)
$3.56 $3.56
$2.05 MX$35.27
73.66%
Onion (1kg)
$2.61 $2.61
$1.90 MX$32.64
37.37%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.74 $2.74
$1.61 MX$27.55
70.19%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.83 $2.83
$1.40 MX$23.98
102.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.24 $8.24
$5.46 MX$93.8
50.92%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.88 $14.88
$17.65 MX$303
-15.69%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.04 $2.04
$2.06 MX$35.28
-0.97%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.36 $3.36
$4.68 MX$80.4
-28.21%
🚌 Getting Around
Bloomington, IL
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.24 $1.24
$0.34 MX$5.81
264.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$39.59 $39.59
$20.81 MX$357
90.25%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.43 $3.43
$2.10 MX$35.99
63.33%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.57 $1.57
$0.56 MX$9.60
180.36%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$39.53 $39.53
$5.81 MX$99.8
580.38%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.88 $0.88
$1.61 MX$27.56
-45.34%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.2K $35.2K
$22.8K MX$392.1K
54.26%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.5K $24.5K
$26.8K MX$459.2K
-8.59%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bloomington, IL
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$193 $193
$65.2 MX$1,119
196.07%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$68.4 $68.4
$30.09 MX$517
127.38%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$77.1 $77.1
$37.18 MX$638
107.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bloomington, IL
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$61.2 $61.2
$59.8 MX$1,026
2.43%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$26.55 MX$456
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.80 $9.80
$7.04 MX$121
39.20%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bloomington, IL
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,397 $1,397
$465 MX$7,976
200.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.6K $23.6K
$13.3K MX$227.8K
77.43%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bloomington, IL
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.4 $58.4
$75.9 MX$1,303
-23.04%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.75 $42.75
$56.0 MX$960
-23.59%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.5 $86.5
$112 MX$1,920
-22.64%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$117 $117
$121 MX$2,068
-2.56%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bloomington, IL
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,246 $1,246
$1,103 MX$18.9K
13.03%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$954 $954
$721 MX$12.4K
32.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,763 $1,763
$2,530 MX$43.4K
-30.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,426 $1,426
$1,293 MX$22.2K
10.25%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,305 $1,305
$3,991 MX$68.5K
-67.29%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,331 $1,331
$2,090 MX$35.9K
-36.30%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bloomington, IL
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,592 $4,592
$1,037 MX$17.8K
342.70%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.09
11.3
-46.11%

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

Last update for Bloomington, IL: September 12, 2026

Last update for Mexico City: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,246 in Bloomington, IL 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 343% higher in Bloomington, 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 $46.00 in Bloomington, IL versus $52.0 in Mexico City. Groceries tell a different story – $371 in Bloomington, IL 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
Bloomington, IL vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Bloomington, IL or Mexico City?
Bloomington, IL costs about 31% more than Mexico City, with the gap driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Bloomington, IL and in Mexico City?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,252 per month in Bloomington, IL and $2,489 in Mexico City. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Bloomington, IL or Mexico City?
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.
How do childcare costs compare in Bloomington, IL and in Mexico City?
Kindergarten costs $1,397 per month in Bloomington, IL and $465 in Mexico City. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Bloomington, IL or in Mexico City?
Groceries cost about 8% more in Bloomington, IL, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $3,000/month in Bloomington, IL or in Mexico City?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Mexico City, where all-in costs run around $1,660, than in Bloomington, IL at $2,168. In Mexico City it covers expenses comfortably, while in Bloomington, IL it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Bloomington, IL or Mexico City?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Mexico City costs $1,660 versus $2,168 in Bloomington, IL. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Bloomington, IL compared to Mexico City?
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.
Should I move to Bloomington, IL or to Mexico City?
If budget matters most, go with Mexico City. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Bloomington, IL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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