Cost of Living Comparison Between Dallas, TX and Mexico City Cost of Living Comparison Between Dallas, TX and Mexico City

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,955 per month in Dallas, TX vs $1,456 in Mexico City, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,348 per month in Dallas, TX vs $2,361 in Mexico City, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,740 per month in Dallas, TX vs $3,266 in Mexico City, rent included.

Dallas, TX costs about 103% more than Mexico City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Dallas, TX and Mexico City sit above the global median – Dallas, TX by 121%, Mexico City by 9%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.78 $19.78

$13.07 MX$228

51.34%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$81.5 $81.5

$53.8 MX$936

51.65%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.17 $12.17

$9.68 MX$169

25.72%

Cappuccino

$5.59 $5.59

$3.74 MX$65.1

49.47%

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

$2.70 $2.70

$1.62 MX$28.13

66.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.18 $2.18

$1.16 MX$20.23

87.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.33 $6.33

$3.23 MX$56.2

95.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.12 $7.12

$4.74 MX$82.5

50.21%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.93 $0.93

$1.65 MX$28.68

-43.64%

White Bread (500g)

$3.70 $3.70

$2.75 MX$47.95

34.55%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.95 $4.95

$1.87 MX$32.63

164.71%

Eggs

$4.22 $4.22

$2.50 MX$43.54

68.80%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.46 $13.46

$10.20 MX$178

31.96%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.73 $13.73

$8.25 MX$144

66.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.31 $17.31

$11.82 MX$206

46.45%

Apples (1kg)

$4.70 $4.70

$3.01 MX$52.4

56.15%

Banana (1kg)

$1.48 $1.48

$1.81 MX$31.54

-18.23%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.43 $4.43

$2.00 MX$34.81

121.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.01 $4.01

$2.00 MX$34.74

100.50%

Potato (1kg)

$2.26 $2.26

$2.08 MX$36.30

8.65%

Onion (1kg)

$3.01 $3.01

$2.27 MX$39.56

32.60%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.94 $1.94

$1.46 MX$25.36

32.88%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.31 $2.31

$1.08 MX$18.74

113.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.01 $10.01

$4.35 MX$75.7

130.11%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.31 $15.31

$16.99 MX$296

-9.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.12 $2.12

$1.73 MX$30.18

22.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.16 $5.16

$3.58 MX$62.3

44.13%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.93 $2.93

$0.39 MX$6.74

651.28%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$92.8 $92.8

$18.69 MX$325

396.52%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.95 $2.95

$1.33 MX$23.08

121.80%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.78 $1.78

$0.28 MX$4.87

535.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$23.95 $23.95

$5.25 MX$91.5

356.19%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.76 $0.76

$1.34 MX$23.27

-43.28%

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

$36.7K $36.7K

$19.4K MX$338.0K

88.96%

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

$28.1K $28.1K

$23.8K MX$415.0K

18.10%

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

$218 $218

$40.69 MX$709

436.81%

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

$78.7 $78.7

$26.87 MX$468

193.04%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$72.7 $72.7

$30.51 MX$531

138.25%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.08 $41.08

$52.8 MX$919

-22.17%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.11 $18.11

$26.65 MX$464

-32.05%

Cinema Ticket

$12.55 $12.55

$6.51 MX$113

92.78%

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

$1,162 $1,162

$428 MX$7,454

171.50%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$26.3K $26.3K

$10.5K MX$182.8K

150.44%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.0 $56.0

$57.3 MX$997

-2.15%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.5 $51.5

$45.50 MX$792

13.10%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$109 $109

$104 MX$1,812

4.51%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$131 $131

$108 MX$1,878

21.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,681 $1,681

$1,003 MX$17.5K

67.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,468 $1,468

$623 MX$10.8K

135.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,488 $3,488

$2,109 MX$36.7K

65.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,583 $2,583

$1,218 MX$21.2K

112.06%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,254 $9,254

$3,885 MX$67.6K

138.23%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,227 $3,227

$2,033 MX$35.4K

58.77%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,837 $4,837

$1,038 MX$18.1K

366.07%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.36

11.34

-43.92%

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

Last update for Dallas, TX: July 13, 2026

Last update for Mexico City: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,681 in Dallas, TX 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 366% higher in Dallas, TX, 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 $82.0 in Dallas, TX versus $54.0 in Mexico City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $414 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

Dallas, TX vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Dallas, TX costs about 103% 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 $4,432 per month in Dallas, TX 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.

Kindergarten costs $1,162 per month in Dallas, TX and $428 in Mexico City. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 42% more in Dallas, TX, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Mexico City, where all-in costs run around $1,456, than in Dallas, TX at $2,955. In Mexico City it covers expenses comfortably, while in Dallas, TX it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Mexico City costs $1,456 versus $2,955 in Dallas, TX. 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, Dallas, TX makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.