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 $3,077 per month in Chicago, IL vs $1,467 in Mexico City, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,628 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,371 in Mexico City, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,179 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,274 in Mexico City, rent included.

Chicago, IL costs about 110% 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 10%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.91 $20.91

$13.18 MX$228

58.65%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$98.1 $98.1

$53.9 MX$934

82.06%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.86 $11.86

$9.42 MX$163

25.90%

Cappuccino

$5.60 $5.60

$3.55 MX$61.5

57.75%

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

$3.07 $3.07

$1.62 MX$28.03

89.51%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$1.11 MX$19.31

122.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.14 $7.14

$3.12 MX$54.1

128.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.08 $8.08

$4.63 MX$80.2

74.51%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$1.70 MX$29.48

-38.24%

White Bread (500g)

$4.11 $4.11

$2.72 MX$47.10

51.10%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.61 $5.61

$1.91 MX$33.13

193.72%

Eggs

$4.51 $4.51

$2.54 MX$43.94

77.56%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.27 $14.27

$10.03 MX$174

42.27%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.89 $14.89

$8.09 MX$140

84.05%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.19 $19.19

$11.62 MX$201

65.15%

Apples (1kg)

$5.14 $5.14

$2.97 MX$51.4

73.06%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 $1.77

$1.81 MX$31.30

-2.21%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.39 $4.39

$2.01 MX$34.88

118.41%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.56 $4.56

$2.03 MX$35.26

124.63%

Potato (1kg)

$2.54 $2.54

$2.12 MX$36.82

19.81%

Onion (1kg)

$2.75 $2.75

$2.27 MX$39.32

21.15%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.40 MX$24.26

72.86%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 $2.62

$1.13 MX$19.59

131.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.92 $14.92

$4.27 MX$74.0

249.41%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.80 $14.80

$15.56 MX$270

-4.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$1.76 MX$30.44

39.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 $3.73

$3.60 MX$62.3

3.61%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.48 $2.48

$0.38 MX$6.64

552.63%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.4 $75.4

$19.18 MX$332

293.27%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.18 $3.18

$1.38 MX$23.84

130.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$0.28 MX$4.79

407.14%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.94 $24.94

$5.45 MX$94.4

357.61%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.06 $1.06

$1.30 MX$22.60

-18.46%

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

$31.9K $31.9K

$18.7K MX$323.8K

70.81%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$23.1K MX$400.8K

12.56%

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

$185 $185

$40.86 MX$708

352.57%

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

$61.7 $61.7

$26.81 MX$465

130.29%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.9 $66.9

$29.96 MX$519

123.36%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.2 $75.2

$52.0 MX$901

44.50%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.08 $13.08

$26.84 MX$465

-51.27%

Cinema Ticket

$14.71 $14.71

$6.30 MX$109

133.49%

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

$2,020 $2,020

$436 MX$7,558

363.25%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.4K $39.4K

$10.4K MX$180.5K

278.30%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.6 $64.6

$56.7 MX$982

14.05%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.5 $52.5

$44.38 MX$769

18.18%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.8 $97.8

$103 MX$1,784

-4.96%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$148 $148

$106 MX$1,829

39.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,313 $2,313

$1,022 MX$17.7K

126.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,590 $1,590

$631 MX$10.9K

152.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,608 $4,608

$2,136 MX$37.0K

115.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,779 $2,779

$1,243 MX$21.5K

123.58%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,922 $3,922

$3,903 MX$67.6K

0.48%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,613 $2,613

$2,064 MX$35.8K

26.56%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,217 $5,217

$1,115 MX$19.3K

367.90%

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: May 30, 2026

Last update for Mexico City: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,313 in Chicago, IL versus $1,022 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 368% 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 $98.0 in Chicago, IL versus $54.0 in Mexico City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $447 vs $288 – 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: $3,077 in Chicago, IL, $1,467 in Mexico City – roughly 110% apart. Chicago, IL costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,616 per month in Chicago, IL and $2,201 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 55% 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 $98.0 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 $1,467, than in Chicago, IL at $3,077. 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 $1,467 in Mexico City to $3,077 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.