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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,392 per month in Davis, CA vs $1,677 in Mexico City, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,034 per month in Davis, CA vs $2,608 in Mexico City, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,676 per month in Davis, CA vs $3,540 in Mexico City, rent included.

Davis, CA costs about 102% more than Mexico City, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Davis, CA and Mexico City sit above the global median – Davis, CA by 146%, Mexico City by 22%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$22.33 $22.33

$12.14 MX$206

83.94%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$98.6 $98.6

$53.9 MX$914

82.86%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.76 $12.76

$11.09 MX$188

15.06%

Cappuccino

$5.12 $5.12

$4.10 MX$69.5

24.88%

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

$3.61 $3.61

$1.68 MX$28.53

114.88%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 $2.38

$1.39 MX$23.55

71.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.94 $7.94

$3.33 MX$56.5

138.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.77 $7.77

$5.88 MX$99.7

32.14%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.32 $1.32

$1.85 MX$31.41

-28.65%

White Bread (500g)

$3.70 $3.70

$3.17 MX$53.8

16.72%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.14 $4.14

$2.07 MX$35.13

100.00%

Eggs

$5.36 $5.36

$2.93 MX$49.67

82.94%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.93 $10.93

$12.59 MX$214

-13.19%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.35 $15.35

$10.11 MX$172

51.83%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.57 $16.57

$16.09 MX$273

2.98%

Apples (1kg)

$4.89 $4.89

$3.39 MX$57.5

44.25%

Banana (1kg)

$1.59 $1.59

$2.08 MX$35.26

-23.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.42 $4.42

$2.12 MX$35.97

108.49%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.69 $4.69

$2.41 MX$40.95

94.61%

Potato (1kg)

$2.77 $2.77

$2.13 MX$36.11

30.05%

Onion (1kg)

$3.08 $3.08

$2.01 MX$34.02

53.23%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.20 $2.20

$1.55 MX$26.21

41.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.32 $2.32

$1.36 MX$23.15

70.59%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.85 $9.85

$5.77 MX$97.8

70.71%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.87 $15.87

$17.74 MX$301

-10.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.87 $1.87

$2.07 MX$35.11

-9.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.39 $3.39

$4.61 MX$78.3

-26.46%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.53 $1.53

$0.37 MX$6.21

313.51%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$38.16 $38.16

$21.18 MX$359

80.17%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.84 $2.84

$2.05 MX$34.84

38.54%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.70 $1.70

$0.58 MX$9.79

193.10%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.62 $28.62

$6.07 MX$103

371.50%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.30 $1.30

$1.55 MX$26.34

-16.13%

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

$35.4K $35.4K

$22.9K MX$388.1K

54.93%

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

$25.2K $25.2K

$27.2K MX$462.0K

-7.57%

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

$290 $290

$67.4 MX$1,144

330.40%

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

$58.7 $58.7

$30.62 MX$520

91.61%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.6 $75.6

$37.24 MX$632

103.01%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$58.0 $58.0

$61.5 MX$1,043

-5.61%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.12 MX$460

Cinema Ticket

$15.60 $15.60

$7.11 MX$121

119.41%

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

$1,436 $1,436

$456 MX$7,739

214.68%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$26.9K $26.9K

$13.7K MX$232.3K

96.43%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.8 $53.8

$74.2 MX$1,259

-27.55%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.60 $41.60

$57.0 MX$967

-27.03%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$115 MX$1,958

-17.50%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 $113

$122 MX$2,061

-6.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,183 $2,183

$1,148 MX$19.5K

90.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,919 $1,919

$709 MX$12.0K

170.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,874 $3,874

$2,577 MX$43.7K

50.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,394 $3,394

$1,295 MX$22.0K

162.09%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,713 $2,713

$4,005 MX$67.9K

-32.28%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,362 $2,362

$2,130 MX$36.1K

10.89%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,965 $4,965

$1,082 MX$18.4K

358.81%

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 Davis, CA: September 7, 2026

Last update for Mexico City: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,183 in Davis, CA versus $1,148 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 359% higher in Davis, CA, 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 Davis, CA versus $54.0 in Mexico City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $421 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

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

Yes – Davis, CA is pricier by about 102%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,089 per month in Davis, CA and $2,515 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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,392 in Davis, CA and $1,677 in Mexico City. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 80% less in Mexico City. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Mexico City, where all-in costs run around $1,677, than in Davis, CA at $3,392. In Mexico City it covers expenses comfortably, while in Davis, CA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Mexico City – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

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