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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,068 per month in Chicago, IL vs $1,456 in Mexico City, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,648 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,361 in Mexico City, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,229 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,266 in Mexico City, rent included.

Chicago, IL costs about 111% more than Mexico City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chicago, IL and Mexico City sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 130%, Mexico City by 9%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.17 $20.17

$13.07 MX$229

54.32%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.5 $99.5

$53.8 MX$943

85.08%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.23 $12.23

$9.68 MX$170

26.34%

Cappuccino

$5.60 $5.60

$3.74 MX$65.6

49.73%

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

$3.12 $3.12

$1.62 MX$28.34

92.59%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.16 MX$20.37

109.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.93 $6.93

$3.23 MX$56.6

114.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.20 $8.20

$4.74 MX$83.1

73.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$1.65 MX$28.89

-34.55%

White Bread (500g)

$3.97 $3.97

$2.75 MX$48.30

44.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.58 $5.58

$1.87 MX$32.87

198.40%

Eggs

$4.47 $4.47

$2.50 MX$43.86

78.80%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.50 $14.50

$10.20 MX$179

42.16%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.08 $15.08

$8.25 MX$145

82.79%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$11.82 MX$207

63.62%

Apples (1kg)

$5.37 $5.37

$3.01 MX$52.8

78.41%

Banana (1kg)

$1.76 $1.76

$1.81 MX$31.77

-2.76%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.32 $4.32

$2.00 MX$35.07

116.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$2.00 MX$35.00

120.50%

Potato (1kg)

$2.54 $2.54

$2.08 MX$36.56

22.12%

Onion (1kg)

$2.70 $2.70

$2.27 MX$39.85

18.94%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.49 $2.49

$1.46 MX$25.55

70.55%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.60 $2.60

$1.08 MX$18.88

140.74%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.80 $14.80

$4.35 MX$76.3

240.23%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.18 $15.18

$16.99 MX$298

-10.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$1.73 MX$30.40

42.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.60 $3.60

$3.58 MX$62.7

0.56%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.54 $2.54

$0.39 MX$6.79

551.28%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$76.3 $76.3

$18.69 MX$328

308.08%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.30 $3.30

$1.33 MX$23.25

148.12%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.38 $1.38

$0.28 MX$4.91

392.86%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.36 $25.36

$5.25 MX$92.1

383.05%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$1.34 MX$23.44

-18.66%

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

$31.6K $31.6K

$19.4K MX$340.5K

63.04%

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

$26.6K $26.6K

$23.8K MX$418.0K

11.46%

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

$186 $186

$40.69 MX$714

357.11%

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

$62.9 $62.9

$26.87 MX$471

133.94%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.2 $66.2

$30.51 MX$535

116.95%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$77.6 $77.6

$52.8 MX$926

47.06%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.16 $13.16

$26.65 MX$467

-50.62%

Cinema Ticket

$14.74 $14.74

$6.51 MX$114

126.42%

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

$2,039 $2,039

$428 MX$7,508

376.33%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.9K $39.9K

$10.5K MX$184.2K

279.56%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.9 $63.9

$57.3 MX$1,004

11.53%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.2 $51.2

$45.50 MX$798

12.46%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$104 MX$1,825

-8.52%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$144 $144

$108 MX$1,891

33.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,305 $2,305

$1,003 MX$17.6K

129.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,575 $1,575

$623 MX$10.9K

152.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,688 $4,688

$2,109 MX$37.0K

122.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,737 $2,737

$1,218 MX$21.4K

124.75%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,063 $4,063

$3,885 MX$68.1K

4.60%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,696 $2,696

$2,033 MX$35.7K

32.64%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,019 $5,019

$1,038 MX$18.2K

383.63%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

11.34

-41.80%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: July 11, 2026

Last update for Mexico City: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,305 in Chicago, IL versus $1,003 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 384% higher in Chicago, 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 $99.0 in Chicago, IL versus $54.0 in Mexico City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $448 vs $292 – 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

Chicago, IL vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,068 in Chicago, IL, $1,456 in Mexico City – roughly 111% apart. Chicago, IL costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,602 per month in Chicago, IL and $2,185 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.

Groceries cost about 54% more in Chicago, IL, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $99.0 in Chicago, IL and $54.0 in Mexico City. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Mexico City, where all-in costs run around $1,456, than in Chicago, IL at $3,068. In Mexico City it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chicago, IL it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Chicago, IL has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,456 in Mexico City to $3,068 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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