Cost of Living Comparison Between Des Moines, IA and Mexico City Cost of Living Comparison Between Des Moines, IA and Mexico City

😐 Solo nomad: Des Moines, IA is 47.1% more expensive than Mexico City without rent, and 45.7% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Des Moines, IA is 38.1% more expensive than Mexico City without rent, and 29.1% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Des Moines, IA
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.83 $15.83
$13.38 MX$253
18.31%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$79.4 $79.4
$52.7 MX$997
50.64%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.17 $12.17
$9.31 MX$176
30.72%
Cappuccino
$4.78 $4.78
$3.61 MX$68.3
32.41%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.32 $2.32
$1.64 MX$30.91
41.46%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.93 $1.93
$1.12 MX$21.14
72.32%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.86 $4.86
$3.26 MX$61.7
49.08%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.97 $6.97
$4.82 MX$91.1
44.61%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Des Moines, IA
Mexico City
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.97 $0.97
$1.65 MX$31.24
-41.21%
White Bread (500g)
$2.57 $2.57
$2.74 MX$51.7
-6.20%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.26 $2.26
$1.92 MX$36.28
17.71%
Eggs
$3.72 $3.72
$2.51 MX$47.53
48.21%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.89 $12.89
$9.89 MX$187
30.33%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.58 $10.58
$8.39 MX$159
26.10%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.82 $12.82
$11.95 MX$226
7.28%
Apples (1kg)
$4.33 $4.33
$2.87 MX$54.3
50.87%
Banana (1kg)
$1.44 $1.44
$1.74 MX$32.85
-17.24%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.75 $3.75
$2 MX$37.81
87.50%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.61 $3.61
$2.07 MX$39.14
74.40%
Potato (1kg)
$1.66 $1.66
$2.05 MX$38.78
-19.02%
Onion (1kg)
$2.97 $2.97
$2.18 MX$41.22
36.24%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.29 $2.29
$1.38 MX$26.16
65.94%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08 $1.08
$1.11 MX$21.06
-2.70%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.17 $7.17
$4.16 MX$78.6
72.36%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.95 $13.95
$11.05 MX$209
26.24%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78 $1.78
$1.75 MX$33.16
1.71%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.11 $4.11
$3.7 MX$70
11.08%
🚌 Getting Around
Des Moines, IA
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.7 $1.7
$0.38 MX$7.25
347.37%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$57 $57
$18.97 MX$359
200.47%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.94 $1.94
$1.36 MX$25.72
42.65%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.23 $1.23
$0.28 MX$5.25
339.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$19.71 $19.71
$5.3 MX$100
271.89%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.81 $0.81
$1.36 MX$25.63
-40.44%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.7K $25.7K
$18.8K MX$354.6K
36.96%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.9K $24.9K
$23.4K MX$441.7K
6.41%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Des Moines, IA
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$145 $145
$39.97 MX$756
262.60%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$52.1 $52.1
$27.48 MX$519
89.41%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$54.2 $54.2
$30.22 MX$571
79.35%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Des Moines, IA
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$66.1 $66.1
$52.6 MX$994
25.72%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.16 $20.16
$26.84 MX$507
-24.89%
Cinema Ticket
$15.29 $15.29
$6.32 MX$120
141.93%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Des Moines, IA
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,380 $1,380
$437 MX$8,258
216.00%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12K $12K
$10.6K MX$199.9K
13.48%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Des Moines, IA
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53 $53
$57.2 MX$1,082
-7.41%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.04 $42.04
$45.14 MX$853
-6.87%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$74 $74
$102 MX$1,928
-27.41%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$127 $127
$109 MX$2,056
16.48%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Des Moines, IA
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,226 $1,226
$1,000 MX$18.9K
22.61%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$896 $896
$622 MX$11.8K
44.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,740 $1,740
$2,160 MX$40.8K
-19.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,494 $1,494
$1,235 MX$23.3K
20.95%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,284 $2,284
$3,566 MX$67.4K
-35.94%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,291 $2,291
$2,480 MX$46.9K
-7.60%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Des Moines, IA
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,655 $3,655
$867 MX$16.4K
321.42%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.5
11.34
-42.68%

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

Last update for Des Moines, IA: October 28, 2025

Last update for Mexico City: October 28, 2025

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