Cost of Living Comparison Between Federal Way, WA and Mexico City Cost of Living Comparison Between Federal Way, WA and Mexico City

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,378 per month in Federal Way, WA vs $1,467 in Mexico City, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,400 per month in Federal Way, WA vs $2,371 in Mexico City, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,423 per month in Federal Way, WA vs $3,274 in Mexico City, rent included.

Federal Way, WA costs about 130% more than Mexico City, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Federal Way, WA and Mexico City sit above the global median – Federal Way, WA by 152%, Mexico City by 10%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$27.13 $27.13

$13.18 MX$228

105.84%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$69.9 $69.9

$53.9 MX$934

29.67%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.33 $12.33

$9.42 MX$163

30.89%

Cappuccino

$6.13 $6.13

$3.55 MX$61.5

72.68%

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

$2.99 $2.99

$1.62 MX$28.03

84.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.23 $2.23

$1.11 MX$19.31

100.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.08 $7.08

$3.12 MX$54.1

126.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.86 $5.86

$4.63 MX$80.2

26.57%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.11 $1.11

$1.70 MX$29.48

-34.71%

White Bread (500g)

$3.70 $3.70

$2.72 MX$47.10

36.03%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.14 $4.14

$1.91 MX$33.13

116.75%

Eggs

$4.88 $4.88

$2.54 MX$43.94

92.13%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.48 $13.48

$10.03 MX$174

34.40%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.35 $10.35

$8.09 MX$140

27.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.26 $17.26

$11.62 MX$201

48.54%

Apples (1kg)

$5.04 $5.04

$2.97 MX$51.4

69.70%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 $1.57

$1.81 MX$31.30

-13.26%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.20 $4.20

$2.01 MX$34.88

108.96%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.06 $5.06

$2.03 MX$35.26

149.26%

Potato (1kg)

$2.95 $2.95

$2.12 MX$36.82

39.15%

Onion (1kg)

$2.67 $2.67

$2.27 MX$39.32

17.62%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.98 $1.98

$1.40 MX$24.26

41.43%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.93 $2.93

$1.13 MX$19.59

159.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.26 $12.26

$4.27 MX$74.0

187.12%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.44 $18.44

$15.56 MX$270

18.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.76 MX$30.44

-2.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.07 $5.07

$3.60 MX$62.3

40.83%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.54 $2.54

$0.38 MX$6.64

568.42%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.18 MX$332

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.55 $2.55

$1.38 MX$23.84

84.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 $1.95

$0.28 MX$4.79

596.43%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.94 $29.94

$5.45 MX$94.4

449.36%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 $1.12

$1.30 MX$22.60

-13.85%

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

$35.4K $35.4K

$18.7K MX$323.8K

89.18%

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

$25.4K $25.4K

$23.1K MX$400.8K

9.91%

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

$126 $126

$40.86 MX$708

209.13%

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

$70.3 $70.3

$26.81 MX$465

162.07%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$86.6 $86.6

$29.96 MX$519

188.89%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.92 $12.92

$52.0 MX$901

-75.16%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.84 MX$465

Cinema Ticket

$11.13 $11.13

$6.30 MX$109

76.67%

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

$1,441 $1,441

$436 MX$7,558

230.37%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.8K $31.8K

$10.4K MX$180.5K

205.40%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.1 $52.1

$56.7 MX$982

-8.05%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.79 $44.79

$44.38 MX$769

0.92%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.7 $86.7

$103 MX$1,784

-15.74%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$97.4 $97.4

$106 MX$1,829

-7.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,976 $1,976

$1,022 MX$17.7K

93.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,053 $2,053

$631 MX$10.9K

225.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,749 $2,749

$2,136 MX$37.0K

28.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,414 $2,414

$1,243 MX$21.5K

94.27%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,903 MX$67.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,064 MX$35.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,368 $4,368

$1,115 MX$19.3K

291.70%

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 Federal Way, WA: May 30, 2026

Last update for Mexico City: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,976 in Federal Way, WA versus $1,022 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 292% higher in Federal Way, WA, 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 $70.0 in Federal Way, WA versus $54.0 in Mexico City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $418 vs $288 – 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

Federal Way, WA vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Federal Way, WA is pricier by about 130%, 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 $5,066 per month in Federal Way, WA and $2,201 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 $3,378 in Federal Way, WA and $1,467 in Mexico City. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $1,441 per month in Federal Way, WA and $436 in Mexico City. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Mexico City, where all-in costs run around $1,467, than in Federal Way, WA at $3,378. In Mexico City it covers expenses comfortably, while in Federal Way, WA 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, Federal Way, WA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.