Cost of Living Comparison Between Edwardsville, IL and Mexico City Cost of Living Comparison Between Edwardsville, IL and Mexico City

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,705 per month in Edwardsville, IL vs $1,677 in Mexico City, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,925 per month in Edwardsville, IL vs $2,608 in Mexico City, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,146 per month in Edwardsville, IL vs $3,540 in Mexico City, rent included.

Edwardsville, IL costs about 61% more than Mexico City, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Edwardsville, IL and Mexico City sit above the global median – Edwardsville, IL by 96%, Mexico City by 22%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Edwardsville, IL
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.23 $17.23
$12.14 MX$205
41.93%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$75.9 $75.9
$53.9 MX$910
40.78%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.71 $11.71
$11.09 MX$187
5.59%
Cappuccino
$6.09 $6.09
$4.10 MX$69.2
48.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.89 $2.89
$1.68 MX$28.40
72.02%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.02 $2.02
$1.39 MX$23.44
45.32%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.87 $6.87
$3.33 MX$56.2
106.31%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.42 $7.42
$5.88 MX$99.3
26.19%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Edwardsville, IL
Mexico City
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$1.85 MX$31.26
-41.62%
White Bread (500g)
$3.12 $3.12
$3.17 MX$53.5
-1.58%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.90 $4.90
$2.07 MX$34.96
136.71%
Eggs
$3.93 $3.93
$2.93 MX$49.44
34.13%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.85 $13.85
$12.59 MX$213
10.01%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.54 $11.54
$10.11 MX$171
14.14%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.98 $18.98
$16.09 MX$272
17.96%
Apples (1kg)
$5.47 $5.47
$3.39 MX$57.2
61.36%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$2.08 MX$35.09
-17.79%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.50 $4.50
$2.12 MX$35.80
112.26%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.75 $4.75
$2.41 MX$40.76
97.10%
Potato (1kg)
$2.43 $2.43
$2.13 MX$35.95
14.08%
Onion (1kg)
$2.71 $2.71
$2.01 MX$33.86
34.83%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.89 $1.89
$1.55 MX$26.09
21.94%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.23 $2.23
$1.36 MX$23.04
63.97%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.06 $11.06
$5.77 MX$97.4
91.68%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.35 $15.35
$17.74 MX$300
-13.47%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.03 $2.03
$2.07 MX$34.95
-1.93%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.05 $3.05
$4.61 MX$77.9
-33.84%
🚌 Getting Around
Edwardsville, IL
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.01 $2.01
$0.37 MX$6.18
443.24%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$101 $101
$21.18 MX$358
375.40%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.82 $2.82
$2.05 MX$34.68
37.56%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.83 $1.83
$0.58 MX$9.74
215.52%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$33.05 $33.05
$6.07 MX$103
444.48%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.82 $0.82
$1.55 MX$26.22
-47.10%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.8K $30.8K
$22.9K MX$386.2K
34.77%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.0K $29.0K
$27.2K MX$459.8K
6.45%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Edwardsville, IL
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$204 $204
$67.4 MX$1,138
202.82%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$57.1 $57.1
$30.62 MX$517
86.35%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$70.2 $70.2
$37.24 MX$629
88.59%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Edwardsville, IL
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$40.89 $40.89
$61.5 MX$1,038
-33.47%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$27.12 MX$458
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.89 $13.89
$7.11 MX$120
95.36%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Edwardsville, IL
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,422 $1,422
$456 MX$7,703
211.65%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$24.1K $24.1K
$13.7K MX$231.2K
75.69%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Edwardsville, IL
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.4 $53.4
$74.2 MX$1,253
-28.00%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.07 $42.07
$57.0 MX$963
-26.21%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$88.6 $88.6
$115 MX$1,949
-23.20%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$115 $115
$122 MX$2,052
-5.09%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Edwardsville, IL
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,381 $1,381
$1,148 MX$19.4K
20.33%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,313 $1,313
$709 MX$12.0K
85.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,790 $2,790
$2,577 MX$43.5K
8.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,067 $2,067
$1,295 MX$21.9K
59.64%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,343 $2,343
$4,005 MX$67.6K
-41.50%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,105 $2,105
$2,130 MX$36.0K
-1.17%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Edwardsville, IL
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,932 $4,932
$1,082 MX$18.3K
355.76%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.12
11.3
-45.84%

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

Last update for Edwardsville, IL: September 8, 2026

Last update for Mexico City: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,381 in Edwardsville, IL 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 356% higher in Edwardsville, 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 $76.0 in Edwardsville, IL versus $54.0 in Mexico City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $407 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
Edwardsville, IL vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mexico City cheaper than Edwardsville, IL?
Yes – Edwardsville, IL is pricier by about 61%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,057 per month in Edwardsville, IL and $2,515 in Mexico City. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
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.
What are total monthly expenses in Edwardsville, IL and in Mexico City?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,705 in Edwardsville, IL and $1,677 in Mexico City. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 375% less in Mexico City. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $3,000 a realistic budget for living in Edwardsville, IL or in Mexico City?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Mexico City, where all-in costs run around $1,677, than in Edwardsville, IL at $2,705. In Mexico City it covers expenses comfortably, while in Edwardsville, IL it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Edwardsville, IL or Mexico City more family-friendly?
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.
Which city is safer, Edwardsville, IL or Mexico City?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Mexico City. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Edwardsville, IL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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