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 $2,680 per month in Edwardsville, IL vs $1,456 in Mexico City, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,930 per month in Edwardsville, IL vs $2,361 in Mexico City, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,181 per month in Edwardsville, IL vs $3,266 in Mexico City, rent included.

Edwardsville, IL costs about 84% more than Mexico City, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Edwardsville, IL and Mexico City sit above the global median – Edwardsville, IL by 101%, Mexico City by 9%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Edwardsville, IL
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.83 $18.83
$13.07 MX$228
44.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$75.3 $75.3
$53.8 MX$936
40.13%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.05 $11.05
$9.68 MX$169
14.15%
Cappuccino
$5.23 $5.23
$3.74 MX$65.1
39.84%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61 $2.61
$1.62 MX$28.13
61.11%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94 $1.94
$1.16 MX$20.23
67.24%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.83 $5.83
$3.23 MX$56.2
80.50%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.83 $6.83
$4.74 MX$82.5
44.09%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Edwardsville, IL
Mexico City
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.76 $0.76
$1.65 MX$28.68
-53.94%
White Bread (500g)
$3.47 $3.47
$2.75 MX$47.95
26.18%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.39 $4.39
$1.87 MX$32.63
134.76%
Eggs
$4.28 $4.28
$2.50 MX$43.54
71.20%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.21 $12.21
$10.20 MX$178
19.71%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.34 $11.34
$8.25 MX$144
37.45%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.28 $15.28
$11.82 MX$206
29.27%
Apples (1kg)
$4.82 $4.82
$3.01 MX$52.4
60.13%
Banana (1kg)
$1.59 $1.59
$1.81 MX$31.54
-12.15%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.13 $4.13
$2.00 MX$34.81
106.50%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.84 $4.84
$2.00 MX$34.74
142.00%
Potato (1kg)
$2.78 $2.78
$2.08 MX$36.30
33.65%
Onion (1kg)
$2.88 $2.88
$2.27 MX$39.56
26.87%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.00 $2.00
$1.46 MX$25.36
36.99%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.13 $2.13
$1.08 MX$18.74
97.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.34 $9.34
$4.35 MX$75.7
114.71%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.83 $12.83
$16.99 MX$296
-24.48%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.83 $1.83
$1.73 MX$30.18
5.78%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.31 $3.31
$3.58 MX$62.3
-7.54%
🚌 Getting Around
Edwardsville, IL
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.96 $1.96
$0.39 MX$6.74
402.56%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$102 $102
$18.69 MX$325
445.16%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.47 $3.47
$1.33 MX$23.08
160.90%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.66 $1.66
$0.28 MX$4.87
492.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.59 $29.59
$5.25 MX$91.5
463.62%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.83 $0.83
$1.34 MX$23.27
-38.06%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.7K $29.7K
$19.4K MX$338.0K
52.81%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.1K $25.1K
$23.8K MX$415.0K
5.44%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Edwardsville, IL
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$40.69 MX$709
361.78%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$53.5 $53.5
$26.87 MX$468
98.92%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$66.9 $66.9
$30.51 MX$531
119.37%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Edwardsville, IL
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.88 $42.88
$52.8 MX$919
-18.76%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$26.65 MX$464
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.68 $13.68
$6.51 MX$113
110.14%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Edwardsville, IL
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,308 $1,308
$428 MX$7,454
205.65%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.4K $23.4K
$10.5K MX$182.8K
122.46%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Edwardsville, IL
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.71 $42.71
$57.3 MX$997
-25.40%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.25 $40.25
$45.50 MX$792
-11.54%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$76.4 $76.4
$104 MX$1,812
-26.57%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$81.5 $81.5
$108 MX$1,878
-24.39%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Edwardsville, IL
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,633 $1,633
$1,003 MX$17.5K
62.76%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,352 $1,352
$623 MX$10.8K
117.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,616 $2,616
$2,109 MX$36.7K
24.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,246 $2,246
$1,218 MX$21.2K
84.39%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,046 $3,046
$3,885 MX$67.6K
-21.60%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,478 $2,478
$2,033 MX$35.4K
21.92%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Edwardsville, IL
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,973 $4,973
$1,038 MX$18.1K
379.22%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.51
11.34
-42.59%

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

Last update for Edwardsville, IL: July 11, 2026

Last update for Mexico City: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,633 in Edwardsville, IL 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 379% 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 $75.0 in Edwardsville, IL versus $54.0 in Mexico City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $380 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
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 84%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. 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 $4,019 per month in Edwardsville, IL and $2,185 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 $2,680 in Edwardsville, IL and $1,456 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 445% less in Mexico City. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Edwardsville, IL or in Mexico City?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Mexico City, where all-in costs run around $1,456, than in Edwardsville, IL at $2,680. 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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