😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,658 in Brookhaven, NY versus $1,467 in Mexico City.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,960 in Brookhaven, NY versus $2,371 in Mexico City.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,261 in Brookhaven, NY versus $3,274 in Mexico City.
😐Living in Brookhaven, NY is roughly 81% more expensive than Mexico City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Brookhaven, NY98% above, Mexico City10% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Brookhaven, NY
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.80$19.80
$13.18MX$230
50.23%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$101$101
$53.9MX$941
87.37%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.17$14.17
$9.42MX$165
50.42%
Cappuccino
$5.53$5.53
$3.55MX$62.0
55.77%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.44$2.44
$1.62MX$28.25
50.62%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.93$1.93
$1.11MX$19.46
73.87%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.01$7.01
$3.12MX$54.5
124.68%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$8.75$8.75
$4.63MX$80.9
88.98%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Brookhaven, NY
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.35$1.35
$1.70MX$29.71
-20.59%
White Bread(500g)
$3.78$3.78
$2.72MX$47.47
38.97%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$5.14$5.14
$1.91MX$33.39
169.11%
Eggs
$4.69$4.69
$2.54MX$44.29
84.65%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$21.58$21.58
$10.03MX$175
115.15%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.72$11.72
$8.09MX$141
44.87%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.05$17.05
$11.62MX$203
46.73%
Apples(1kg)
$4.79$4.79
$2.97MX$51.8
61.28%
Banana(1kg)
$1.77$1.77
$1.81MX$31.55
-2.21%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.93$3.93
$2.01MX$35.16
95.52%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.09$4.09
$2.03MX$35.54
101.48%
Potato(1kg)
$2.89$2.89
$2.12MX$37.10
36.32%
Onion(1kg)
$3.83$3.83
$2.27MX$39.63
68.72%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.36$2.36
$1.40MX$24.45
68.57%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.60$2.60
$1.13MX$19.74
130.09%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$11.76$11.76
$4.27MX$74.6
175.41%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.88$14.88
$15.56MX$272
-4.37%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78$1.78
$1.76MX$30.68
1.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.07$6.07
$3.60MX$62.8
68.61%
🚌 Getting Around
Brookhaven, NY
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.96$1.96
$0.38MX$6.69
415.79%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$19.18MX$335
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.08$3.08
$1.38MX$24.03
123.19%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.09$2.09
$0.28MX$4.83
646.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$24.44$24.44
$5.45MX$95.1
348.44%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.91$0.91
$1.30MX$22.77
-30.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.6K$34.6K
$18.7KMX$326.4K
84.99%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.6K$25.6K
$23.1KMX$404.0K
10.70%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Brookhaven, NY
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$125$125
$40.86MX$714
205.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$44.84$44.84
$26.81MX$468
67.25%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$64.5$64.5
$29.96MX$523
115.35%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Brookhaven, NY
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$43.05$43.05
$52.0MX$908
-17.24%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$26.84MX$469
-
Cinema Ticket
$16.75$16.75
$6.30MX$110
165.87%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Brookhaven, NY
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$2,277$2,277
$436MX$7,617
422.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$24.0K$24.0K
$10.4KMX$181.9K
130.48%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Brookhaven, NY
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$74.2$74.2
$56.7MX$989
31.03%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$63.7$63.7
$44.38MX$775
43.44%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$74.2$74.2
$103MX$1,798
-27.95%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$134$134
$106MX$1,843
27.36%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Brookhaven, NY
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,571$1,571
$1,022MX$17.8K
53.69%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,339$1,339
$631MX$11.0K
112.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,621$2,621
$2,136MX$37.3K
22.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,190$2,190
$1,243MX$21.7K
76.21%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,315$2,315
$3,903MX$68.2K
-40.69%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,101$2,101
$2,064MX$36.1K
1.78%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Brookhaven, NY
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$1,115MX$19.5K
-
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 Brookhaven, NY: June 2, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,571 in Brookhaven, NY and $1,022 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $101 in Brookhaven, NY vs $54.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $444 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
Brookhaven, NY vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mexico City cheaper than Brookhaven, NY?
Mexico City is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 81% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $3,987 in Brookhaven, NY 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.
What is the rent difference between Brookhaven, NY and Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,571 in Brookhaven, NY versus $1,022 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Brookhaven, NY and Mexico City?
Supermarket bills run roughly 54% higher in Brookhaven, NY. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Brookhaven, NY vs Mexico City?
All in, you'll spend $2,658 per month in Brookhaven, NY versus $1,467 in Mexico City – a 81% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for Brookhaven, NY or Mexico City?
At $1,467 in Mexico City versus $2,658 in Brookhaven, NY, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Mexico City but tight or insufficient in Brookhaven, NY. The gap between the two cities makes Mexico City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Brookhaven, NY or Mexico City more family-friendly?
For families, Mexico City is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Brookhaven, NY, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Brookhaven, NY or Mexico City?
Safety-wise, Brookhaven, NY 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.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Mexico City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 81% less than in Brookhaven, NY. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Brookhaven, NY vs other spots: cost of living compared