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 $3,330 per month in Federal Way, WA vs $1,646 in Mexico City, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,366 per month in Federal Way, WA vs $2,613 in Mexico City, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,402 per month in Federal Way, WA vs $3,580 in Mexico City, rent included.

Federal Way, WA costs about 102% 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 142%, Mexico City by 20%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.21 $25.21

$12.11 MX$206

108.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.5 $74.5

$52.2 MX$887

42.60%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.54 $12.54

$10.90 MX$185

15.05%

Cappuccino

$5.87 $5.87

$4.05 MX$68.8

44.94%

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

$2.87 $2.87

$1.72 MX$29.13

66.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.70 $1.70

$1.38 MX$23.40

23.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.98 $6.98

$3.47 MX$58.9

101.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.18 $7.18

$5.81 MX$98.7

23.58%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.15 $1.15

$1.85 MX$31.48

-37.84%

White Bread (500g)

$4.18 $4.18

$3.22 MX$54.7

29.81%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.09 $3.09

$2.09 MX$35.42

47.85%

Eggs

$5.28 $5.28

$2.91 MX$49.41

81.44%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.01 $16.01

$12.49 MX$212

28.18%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.70 $10.70

$10.11 MX$172

5.84%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.30 $19.30

$15.89 MX$270

21.46%

Apples (1kg)

$4.92 $4.92

$3.31 MX$56.3

48.64%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 $1.61

$2.13 MX$36.12

-24.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.19 $4.19

$2.19 MX$37.20

91.32%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.60 $4.60

$2.45 MX$41.57

87.76%

Potato (1kg)

$2.60 $2.60

$2.19 MX$37.18

18.72%

Onion (1kg)

$2.44 $2.44

$1.90 MX$32.35

28.42%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.27 $2.27

$1.62 MX$27.44

40.12%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.37 $2.37

$1.35 MX$22.92

75.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.31 $12.31

$5.43 MX$92.1

126.70%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.08 $15.08

$17.59 MX$299

-14.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.74 $1.74

$2.07 MX$35.12

-15.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.80 $4.80

$4.75 MX$80.6

1.05%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.61 $2.61

$0.34 MX$5.77

667.65%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.58 MX$366

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.66 $2.66

$2.04 MX$34.65

30.39%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.66 $1.66

$0.58 MX$9.82

186.21%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.29 $30.29

$5.97 MX$101

407.37%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 $1.27

$1.62 MX$27.44

-21.60%

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

$35.8K $35.8K

$22.8K MX$387.4K

56.85%

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

$25.3K $25.3K

$26.7K MX$452.8K

-4.97%

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

$157 $157

$65.2 MX$1,108

140.07%

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

$78.2 $78.2

$29.87 MX$507

161.73%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$85.6 $85.6

$36.55 MX$621

134.09%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.94 $12.94

$61.0 MX$1,036

-78.79%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.70 MX$453

Cinema Ticket

$11.77 $11.77

$6.85 MX$116

71.82%

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

$1,470 $1,470

$453 MX$7,700

224.18%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$32.5K $32.5K

$13.4K MX$227.1K

143.33%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$44.62 $44.62

$75.0 MX$1,273

-40.48%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.08 $44.08

$55.3 MX$939

-20.27%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.4 $85.4

$114 MX$1,929

-24.87%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 $102

$123 MX$2,083

-17.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,023 $2,023

$1,134 MX$19.3K

78.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,033 $2,033

$712 MX$12.1K

185.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,760 $2,760

$2,571 MX$43.7K

7.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,488 $2,488

$1,311 MX$22.3K

89.74%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,993 MX$67.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,095 MX$35.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,466 $4,466

$1,047 MX$17.8K

326.57%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.09

11.3

-46.11%

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

Last update for Federal Way, WA: August 31, 2026

Last update for Mexico City: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,023 in Federal Way, WA versus $1,134 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 327% 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 $74.0 in Federal Way, WA versus $52.0 in Mexico City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $419 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

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

Yes – Federal Way, WA is pricier by about 102%, 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 $4,994 per month in Federal Way, WA and $2,469 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 $3,330 in Federal Way, WA and $1,646 in Mexico City. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $1,470 per month in Federal Way, WA and $453 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 $1,646, than in Federal Way, WA at $3,330. 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.