Cost of Living Comparison Between Chico, CA and Mexico City Cost of Living Comparison Between Chico, CA and Mexico City

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,473 in Chico, CA versus $1,668 in Mexico City.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,011 in Chico, CA versus $2,613 in Mexico City.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,550 in Chico, CA versus $3,557 in Mexico City.

Living in Chico, CA is roughly 48% more expensive than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Chico, CA 83% above, Mexico City 24% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.50 $25.50

$12.03 MX$213

111.97%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$50.1 $50.1

$52.8 MX$937

-5.17%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.86 $11.86

$11.69 MX$207

1.45%

Cappuccino

$5.58 $5.58

$3.87 MX$68.7

44.19%

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

$2.67 $2.67

$1.75 MX$31.05

52.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 $2.17

$1.39 MX$24.74

56.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.30 $7.30

$3.36 MX$59.6

117.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.11 $8.11

$5.77 MX$102

40.55%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.11 $1.11

$1.81 MX$32.04

-38.67%

White Bread (500g)

$3.04 $3.04

$3.08 MX$54.7

-1.30%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.60 $3.60

$2.13 MX$37.78

69.01%

Eggs

$4.64 $4.64

$2.98 MX$52.8

55.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.05 $11.05

$12.53 MX$222

-11.81%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.21 $12.21

$10.24 MX$182

19.24%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.59 $17.59

$15.92 MX$282

10.49%

Apples (1kg)

$5.65 $5.65

$3.39 MX$60.1

66.67%

Banana (1kg)

$2.28 $2.28

$2.11 MX$37.37

8.06%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.95 $3.95

$2.13 MX$37.73

85.45%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.64 $5.64

$2.47 MX$43.77

128.34%

Potato (1kg)

$4.89 $4.89

$2.04 MX$36.16

139.71%

Onion (1kg)

$3.13 $3.13

$2.01 MX$35.72

55.72%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.51 $2.51

$1.59 MX$28.25

57.86%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.54 $2.54

$1.33 MX$23.58

90.98%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.16 $8.16

$5.49 MX$97.4

48.63%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.71 $14.71

$17.52 MX$311

-16.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 $1.71

$2.01 MX$35.74

-14.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 $3.73

$4.74 MX$84.1

-21.31%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.07 $3.07

$0.34 MX$5.96

802.94%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.35 $34.35

$21.07 MX$374

63.03%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.23 $3.23

$2.05 MX$36.41

57.56%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.33 $2.33

$0.61 MX$10.79

281.97%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$40.33 $40.33

$5.70 MX$101

607.54%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.35 $1.35

$1.59 MX$28.20

-15.09%

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

$37.5K $37.5K

$22.9K MX$406.1K

63.98%

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

$25.2K $25.2K

$26.4K MX$467.9K

-4.54%

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

$186 $186

$64.2 MX$1,140

189.79%

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

$48.13 $48.13

$29.42 MX$522

63.60%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.1 $67.1

$36.83 MX$653

82.08%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$77.1 $77.1

$58.7 MX$1,042

31.30%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.54 MX$471

Cinema Ticket

$12.90 $12.90

$6.95 MX$123

85.61%

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

$1,818 $1,818

$463 MX$8,210

292.87%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$37.1K $37.1K

$13.4K MX$237.1K

177.53%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.9 $50.9

$75.4 MX$1,338

-32.49%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.84 $31.84

$54.2 MX$962

-41.27%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.1 $69.1

$111 MX$1,972

-37.82%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$99.2 $99.2

$122 MX$2,167

-18.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,502 $1,502

$1,133 MX$20.1K

32.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,130 $1,130

$698 MX$12.4K

61.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,884 $2,884

$2,442 MX$43.3K

18.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,614 $2,614

$1,303 MX$23.1K

100.61%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,264 $3,264

$3,910 MX$69.4K

-16.52%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,979 $2,979

$2,069 MX$36.7K

43.99%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,940 $3,940

$1,052 MX$18.7K

274.52%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.1

11.3

-46.02%

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

Last update for Chico, CA: September 21, 2026

Last update for Mexico City: September 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,502 in Chico, CA and $1,133 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Chico, CA pays 275% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $50.0 in Chico, CA vs $53.0 in Mexico City. Groceries flip the comparison at $414 vs $343, with Mexico City cheaper for home cooking.

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

Chico, CA vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mexico City is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 48% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 275% higher in Chico, CA, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,502 in Chico, CA versus $1,133 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Mexico City – a meal for two runs $53.0 versus $50.0 in Chico, CA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,473 per month in Chico, CA versus $1,668 in Mexico City – a 48% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,668 in Mexico City versus $2,473 in Chico, CA, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Mexico City but tight or insufficient in Chico, CA. The gap between the two cities makes Mexico City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Mexico City is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Chico, CA, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Expats usually find Mexico City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 48% less than in Chico, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.