Cost of Living Comparison Between Charleston, SC and Mexico City Cost of Living Comparison Between Charleston, SC and Mexico City

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,323 per month in Charleston, SC vs $1,646 in Mexico City, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,806 per month in Charleston, SC vs $2,613 in Mexico City, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,288 per month in Charleston, SC vs $3,580 in Mexico City, rent included.

Charleston, SC costs about 102% more than Mexico City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Charleston, SC and Mexico City sit above the global median – Charleston, SC by 142%, Mexico City by 20%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.96 $19.96

$12.11 MX$206

64.82%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$141 $141

$52.2 MX$887

169.84%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.89 $11.89

$10.90 MX$185

9.08%

Cappuccino

$6.00 $6.00

$4.05 MX$68.8

48.15%

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

$2.85 $2.85

$1.72 MX$29.13

65.70%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.25 $2.25

$1.38 MX$23.40

63.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.58 $6.58

$3.47 MX$58.9

89.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.89 $7.89

$5.81 MX$98.7

35.80%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.15 $1.15

$1.85 MX$31.48

-37.84%

White Bread (500g)

$4.09 $4.09

$3.22 MX$54.7

27.02%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.57 $4.57

$2.09 MX$35.42

118.66%

Eggs

$5.54 $5.54

$2.91 MX$49.41

90.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$23.14 $23.14

$12.49 MX$212

85.27%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.28 $14.28

$10.11 MX$172

41.25%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.69 $20.69

$15.89 MX$270

30.21%

Apples (1kg)

$8.07 $8.07

$3.31 MX$56.3

143.81%

Banana (1kg)

$1.86 $1.86

$2.13 MX$36.12

-12.68%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.20 $5.20

$2.19 MX$37.20

137.44%

Tomato (1kg)

$7.12 $7.12

$2.45 MX$41.57

190.61%

Potato (1kg)

$5.00 $5.00

$2.19 MX$37.18

128.31%

Onion (1kg)

$3.69 $3.69

$1.90 MX$32.35

94.21%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.87 $2.87

$1.62 MX$27.44

77.16%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.26 $3.26

$1.35 MX$22.92

141.48%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.13 $10.13

$5.43 MX$92.1

86.56%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.90 $19.90

$17.59 MX$299

13.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.75 $2.75

$2.07 MX$35.12

32.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.92 $2.92

$4.75 MX$80.6

-38.53%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.06 $2.06

$0.34 MX$5.77

505.88%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$56.6 $56.6

$21.58 MX$366

162.09%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.96 $2.96

$2.04 MX$34.65

45.10%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.20 $1.20

$0.58 MX$9.82

106.90%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$31.75 $31.75

$5.97 MX$101

431.83%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 $0.94

$1.62 MX$27.44

-41.98%

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

$35.2K $35.2K

$22.8K MX$387.4K

54.17%

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

$25.0K $25.0K

$26.7K MX$452.8K

-6.29%

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

$230 $230

$65.2 MX$1,108

252.05%

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

$79.0 $79.0

$29.87 MX$507

164.38%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$85.1 $85.1

$36.55 MX$621

132.72%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.03 $46.03

$61.0 MX$1,036

-24.54%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.71 $19.71

$26.70 MX$453

-26.18%

Cinema Ticket

$13.73 $13.73

$6.85 MX$116

100.44%

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

$1,244 $1,244

$453 MX$7,700

174.40%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$28.0K $28.0K

$13.4K MX$227.1K

109.24%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$76.6 $76.6

$75.0 MX$1,273

2.13%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.89 $46.89

$55.3 MX$939

-15.19%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 $115

$114 MX$1,929

0.79%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$137 $137

$123 MX$2,083

11.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,335 $2,335

$1,134 MX$19.3K

106.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,730 $1,730

$712 MX$12.1K

142.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,489 $3,489

$2,571 MX$43.7K

35.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,631 $2,631

$1,311 MX$22.3K

100.67%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,541 $5,541

$3,993 MX$67.8K

38.77%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,034 $3,034

$2,095 MX$35.6K

44.83%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,548 $4,548

$1,047 MX$17.8K

334.39%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.07

11.3

-46.28%

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

Last update for Charleston, SC: August 29, 2026

Last update for Mexico City: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,335 in Charleston, SC versus $1,134 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 334% higher in Charleston, SC, 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 $141 in Charleston, SC versus $52.0 in Mexico City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $536 vs $345 – 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

Charleston, SC vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Charleston, SC costs about 102% more than Mexico City, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,985 per month in Charleston, SC and $2,469 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.

Kindergarten costs $1,244 per month in Charleston, SC and $453 in Mexico City. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 55% more in Charleston, SC, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Mexico City, where all-in costs run around $1,646, than in Charleston, SC at $3,323. In Mexico City it covers expenses comfortably, while in Charleston, SC it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Mexico City costs $1,646 versus $3,323 in Charleston, SC. 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, Charleston, SC makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.