Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Brooklyn, NY and Mexico City

For one person, living is cheaper in Mexico City: $1,567 a month against $4,499 in Brooklyn, NY, rent and utilities included – about $35,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Brooklyn, NY
🇺🇸 United States
$4,499
/mo nomad
Mexico City
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,567
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Brooklyn, NY and in Mexico City

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Brooklyn, NY and in Mexico City actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $4,499 per month in Brooklyn, NY vs $1,567 in Mexico City, rent included.

  • Brooklyn, NY $4,499
  • Mexico City $1,567

A couple spends around $6,656 per month in Brooklyn, NY vs $2,450 in Mexico City, rent included.

  • Brooklyn, NY $6,656
  • Mexico City $2,450

A family of three spends $8,813 per month in Brooklyn, NY vs $3,333 in Mexico City, rent included.

  • Brooklyn, NY $8,813
  • Mexico City $3,333

Brooklyn, NY costs about 187% more than Mexico City, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Brooklyn, NY and Mexico City sit above the global median – Brooklyn, NY by 233%, Mexico City by 16%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Brooklyn, NY
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.21 $20.21
$10.75 MX$199
88.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$105 $105
$50.3 MX$929
108.34%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.90 $11.90
$11.10 MX$205
7.21%
Cappuccino
$5.44 $5.44
$3.68 MX$68.1
47.83%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.63 $2.63
$1.65 MX$30.42
59.39%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.20 $2.20
$1.30 MX$24.08
69.23%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.01 $8.01
$3.32 MX$61.3
141.27%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.84 $8.84
$5.54 MX$102
59.57%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Brooklyn, NY
Mexico City
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.66 $1.66
$1.77 MX$32.68
-6.21%
White Bread (500g)
$4.75 $4.75
$3.05 MX$56.4
55.74%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$7.07 $7.07
$2.01 MX$37.20
251.74%
Eggs
$6.22 $6.22
$2.77 MX$51.1
124.55%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.46 $16.46
$11.91 MX$220
38.20%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$17.33 $17.33
$9.33 MX$172
85.74%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.76 $19.76
$15.02 MX$278
31.56%
Apples (1kg)
$8.02 $8.02
$3.08 MX$56.8
160.39%
Banana (1kg)
$3.85 $3.85
$1.95 MX$35.97
97.44%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.33 $5.33
$2.03 MX$37.54
162.56%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.93 $5.93
$2.21 MX$40.92
168.33%
Potato (1kg)
$4.05 $4.05
$2.02 MX$37.41
100.50%
Onion (1kg)
$4.71 $4.71
$1.82 MX$33.67
158.79%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.51 $2.51
$1.52 MX$28.07
65.13%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.52 $2.52
$1.28 MX$23.65
96.88%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.79 $14.79
$5.27 MX$97.4
180.65%
Wine (Bottle)
$21.38 $21.38
$16.12 MX$298
32.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.70 $2.70
$1.95 MX$36.05
38.46%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.40 $3.40
$4.25 MX$78.6
-20.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Brooklyn, NY
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.98 $2.98
$0.31 MX$5.82
861.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$150 $150
$19.85 MX$367
654.41%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.07 $3.07
$2.00 MX$36.93
53.50%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.20 $2.20
$0.53 MX$9.86
315.09%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$42.24 $42.24
$5.62 MX$104
651.60%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.14 $1.14
$1.52 MX$28.07
-25.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.1K $35.1K
$21.0K MX$388.7K
66.89%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.5K $25.5K
$25.2K MX$465.3K
1.29%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Brooklyn, NY
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$244 $244
$62.5 MX$1,155
290.78%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$62.0 $62.0
$28.77 MX$532
115.40%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$62.1 $62.1
$34.45 MX$637
80.38%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Brooklyn, NY
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$106 $106
$57.1 MX$1,055
85.04%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$34.45 $34.45
$24.81 MX$458
38.86%
Cinema Ticket
$19.76 $19.76
$6.67 MX$123
196.25%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Brooklyn, NY
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,593 $2,593
$431 MX$7,964
501.68%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$33.9K $33.9K
$11.7K MX$216.9K
188.85%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Brooklyn, NY
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$70.4 $70.4
$70.8 MX$1,308
-0.59%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$75.0 $75.0
$51.8 MX$958
44.61%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$122 $122
$109 MX$2,011
11.65%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122 $122
$112 MX$2,076
8.88%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Brooklyn, NY
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,707 $3,707
$1,051 MX$19.4K
252.62%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,744 $2,744
$665 MX$12.3K
312.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$7,338 $7,338
$2,346 MX$43.3K
212.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$4,835 $4,835
$1,227 MX$22.7K
294.24%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$13.5K $13.5K
$3,554 MX$65.7K
280.93%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$7,830 $7,830
$1,977 MX$36.5K
296.07%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Brooklyn, NY
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,613 $3,613
$975 MX$18.0K
270.71%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.67
11.3
-40.97%

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

Last update for Brooklyn, NY: October 11, 2026

Last update for Mexico City: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Brooklyn, NY
$2.7K
Mexico City
$665 75.8% $2.1K
Groceries & Markets
Brooklyn, NY
$552
Mexico City
$323 41.5% $229
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Brooklyn, NY
$368
Mexico City
$126 65.9% $243
Eating Out
Brooklyn, NY
$340
Mexico City
$203 40.3% $137
Getting Around
Brooklyn, NY
$176
Mexico City
$26 85.3% $150
Clothing & Footwear
Brooklyn, NY
$175
Mexico City
$155 11.7% $20
Sport & Entertainment
Brooklyn, NY
$145
Mexico City
$70 51.5% $75

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $3,707 in Brooklyn, NY versus $1,051 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 271% higher in Brooklyn, NY, 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 $105 in Brooklyn, NY versus $50.0 in Mexico City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $552 vs $323 – making Mexico City the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Brooklyn, NY
🇲🇽 Mexico City
🕒 Local time
07:32 7:32 AM
05:32 5:32 AM
2 h behind Brooklyn, NY
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,736,074
9,209,944 Capital
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

MXN, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.889 EUR).

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 18.48 MXN (100 MXN = 5.41 USD). 1 EUR = 20.78 MXN (100 MXN = 4.81 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Brooklyn, NY Mexico City 3,360 km ≈ 4 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Brooklyn, NY
  • Mexico City

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Brooklyn, NY vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Brooklyn, NY and in Mexico City compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $4,499 in Brooklyn, NY, $1,567 in Mexico City – roughly 187% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.
What salary covers living expenses in Brooklyn, NY compared to Mexico City?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $6,749 per month in Brooklyn, NY and $2,351 in Mexico City. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Brooklyn, NY and 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.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $105 in Brooklyn, NY and $50.0 in Mexico City. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Brooklyn, NY or Mexico City?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $4,499 in Brooklyn, NY and $1,567 in Mexico City. That's a gap of about 187%.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Mexico City, where all-in costs run around $1,567, than in Brooklyn, NY at $4,499. In Mexico City it covers expenses comfortably, while in Brooklyn, NY it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Brooklyn, NY and Mexico City?
It depends on your priorities. Brooklyn, NY has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,567 in Mexico City to $4,499 in Brooklyn, NY. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How do I decide between Brooklyn, NY and Mexico City?
If budget matters most, go with Mexico City. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Brooklyn, NY makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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