Cost of Living Comparison Between Ellicott City, MD and Mexico City Cost of Living Comparison Between Ellicott City, MD and Mexico City

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,538 per month in Ellicott City, MD vs $1,677 in Mexico City, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,833 per month in Ellicott City, MD vs $2,608 in Mexico City, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,128 per month in Ellicott City, MD vs $3,540 in Mexico City, rent included.

Ellicott City, MD costs about 51% more than Mexico City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Ellicott City, MD and Mexico City sit above the global median – Ellicott City, MD by 84%, Mexico City by 22%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.15 $18.15

$12.14 MX$206

49.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$97.7 $97.7

$53.9 MX$914

81.30%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.85 $10.85

$11.09 MX$188

-2.16%

Cappuccino

$5.12 $5.12

$4.10 MX$69.5

24.88%

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

$3.45 $3.45

$1.68 MX$28.53

105.36%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.60 $2.60

$1.39 MX$23.55

87.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.80 $6.80

$3.33 MX$56.5

104.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.76 $7.76

$5.88 MX$99.7

31.97%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.26 $1.26

$1.85 MX$31.41

-31.89%

White Bread (500g)

$4.02 $4.02

$3.17 MX$53.8

26.81%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.27 $4.27

$2.07 MX$35.13

106.28%

Eggs

$4.78 $4.78

$2.93 MX$49.67

63.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.80 $17.80

$12.59 MX$214

41.38%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.61 $12.61

$10.11 MX$172

24.73%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.10 $19.10

$16.09 MX$273

18.71%

Apples (1kg)

$5.59 $5.59

$3.39 MX$57.5

64.90%

Banana (1kg)

$1.90 $1.90

$2.08 MX$35.26

-8.65%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.78 $4.78

$2.12 MX$35.97

125.47%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.79 $4.79

$2.41 MX$40.95

98.76%

Potato (1kg)

$2.68 $2.68

$2.13 MX$36.11

25.82%

Onion (1kg)

$2.81 $2.81

$2.01 MX$34.02

39.80%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.30 $2.30

$1.55 MX$26.21

48.39%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.27 $2.27

$1.36 MX$23.15

66.91%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.66 $10.66

$5.77 MX$97.8

84.75%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.90 $15.90

$17.74 MX$301

-10.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.77 $2.77

$2.07 MX$35.11

33.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.08 $3.08

$4.61 MX$78.3

-33.19%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.10 $2.10

$0.37 MX$6.21

467.57%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.18 MX$359

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.85 $1.85

$2.05 MX$34.84

-9.76%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.21 $1.21

$0.58 MX$9.79

108.62%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.46 $24.46

$6.07 MX$103

302.97%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 $0.99

$1.55 MX$26.34

-36.13%

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

$34.5K $34.5K

$22.9K MX$388.1K

50.98%

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

$25.5K $25.5K

$27.2K MX$462.0K

-6.51%

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

$164 $164

$67.4 MX$1,144

143.50%

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

$52.6 $52.6

$30.62 MX$520

71.91%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$78.8 $78.8

$37.24 MX$632

111.71%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.34 $42.34

$61.5 MX$1,043

-31.11%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.12 MX$460

Cinema Ticket

$16.63 $16.63

$7.11 MX$121

133.90%

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

$1,606 $1,606

$456 MX$7,739

252.08%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$35.3K $35.3K

$13.7K MX$232.3K

157.57%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.5 $51.5

$74.2 MX$1,259

-30.53%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$63.0 $63.0

$57.0 MX$967

10.51%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.3 $92.3

$115 MX$1,958

-20.01%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$111 $111

$122 MX$2,061

-8.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,609 $1,609

$1,148 MX$19.5K

40.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,277 $1,277

$709 MX$12.0K

80.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,534 $2,534

$2,577 MX$43.7K

-1.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,151 $2,151

$1,295 MX$22.0K

66.09%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,743 $2,743

$4,005 MX$67.9K

-31.51%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,417 $2,417

$2,130 MX$36.1K

13.50%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,081 $5,081

$1,082 MX$18.4K

369.55%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.26

11.3

-44.60%

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

Last update for Ellicott City, MD: September 7, 2026

Last update for Mexico City: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,609 in Ellicott City, MD 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 370% higher in Ellicott City, MD, 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 $98.0 in Ellicott City, MD versus $54.0 in Mexico City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $447 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

Ellicott City, MD vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Ellicott City, MD is pricier by about 51%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,807 per month in Ellicott City, MD 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 $2,538 in Ellicott City, MD and $1,677 in Mexico City. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $1,606 per month in Ellicott City, MD and $456 in Mexico City. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Mexico City, where all-in costs run around $1,677, than in Ellicott City, MD at $2,538. In Mexico City it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ellicott City, MD 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.

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