Cost of Living Comparison Between Fresno, CA and Mexico City Cost of Living Comparison Between Fresno, CA and Mexico City

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,953 per month in Fresno, CA vs $1,447 in Mexico City, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,163 per month in Fresno, CA vs $2,310 in Mexico City, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,373 per month in Fresno, CA vs $3,174 in Mexico City, rent included.

Fresno, CA costs about 104% more than Mexico City, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Fresno, CA and Mexico City sit above the global median – Fresno, CA by 120%, Mexico City by 8%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.37 $20.37

$12.98 MX$223

56.93%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$69.7 $69.7

$52.6 MX$903

32.41%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.37 $11.37

$9.43 MX$162

20.57%

Cappuccino

$5.07 $5.07

$3.57 MX$61.3

42.02%

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

$2.74 $2.74

$1.61 MX$27.55

70.19%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.09 $2.09

$1.15 MX$19.81

81.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.84 $7.84

$3.15 MX$54.0

148.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.10 $9.10

$4.86 MX$83.4

87.24%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.95 $0.95

$1.70 MX$29.17

-44.12%

White Bread (500g)

$2.72 $2.72

$2.64 MX$45.23

3.03%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.95 $4.95

$1.90 MX$32.67

160.53%

Eggs

$4.48 $4.48

$2.54 MX$43.62

76.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.35 $10.35

$10.08 MX$173

2.68%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.29 $8.29

$8.29 MX$142

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.07 $17.07

$11.57 MX$199

47.54%

Apples (1kg)

$4.39 $4.39

$3.03 MX$52.0

44.88%

Banana (1kg)

$2.09 $2.09

$1.71 MX$29.35

22.22%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.63 $3.63

$2.05 MX$35.16

77.07%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.28 $3.28

$2.06 MX$35.36

59.22%

Potato (1kg)

$3.07 $3.07

$2.06 MX$35.43

49.03%

Onion (1kg)

$2.06 $2.06

$2.17 MX$37.25

-5.07%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.95 $1.95

$1.40 MX$24.08

39.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.39 $3.39

$1.12 MX$19.26

202.68%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.33 $11.33

$4.29 MX$73.7

164.10%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.85 $17.85

$15.41 MX$265

15.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 $1.77

$1.67 MX$28.74

5.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.53 $5.53

$3.69 MX$63.3

49.86%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.27 $1.27

$0.38 MX$6.55

234.21%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$45.28 $45.28

$19.06 MX$327

137.57%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.31 $3.31

$1.38 MX$23.70

139.86%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.07 $2.07

$0.28 MX$4.74

639.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.44 $25.44

$5.42 MX$92.9

369.37%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 $1.22

$1.28 MX$21.98

-4.69%

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

$36.1K $36.1K

$19.0K MX$325.8K

90.01%

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

$29.2K $29.2K

$23.5K MX$402.7K

24.26%

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

$307 $307

$41.02 MX$704

649.51%

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

$51.2 $51.2

$26.92 MX$462

90.16%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$84.2 $84.2

$29.69 MX$510

183.56%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$72.9 $72.9

$52.3 MX$898

39.29%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$75.2 $75.2

$26.23 MX$450

186.66%

Cinema Ticket

$14.66 $14.66

$6.18 MX$106

137.22%

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

$984 $984

$427 MX$7,331

130.48%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.0K $13.0K

$10.7K MX$183.6K

21.46%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 $55.1

$56.8 MX$975

-3.08%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.46 $46.46

$44.83 MX$769

3.64%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.6 $74.6

$105 MX$1,794

-28.64%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$167 $167

$106 MX$1,819

57.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,617 $1,617

$995 MX$17.1K

62.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,538 $1,538

$621 MX$10.7K

147.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,364 $2,364

$2,126 MX$36.5K

11.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,325 $2,325

$1,254 MX$21.5K

85.46%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,717 $2,717

$3,903 MX$67.0K

-30.39%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,088 $3,088

$2,096 MX$36.0K

47.38%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,732 $3,732

$1,107 MX$19.0K

237.06%

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 Fresno, CA: June 9, 2026

Last update for Mexico City: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,617 in Fresno, CA versus $995 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 237% higher in Fresno, CA, 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 Fresno, CA versus $53.0 in Mexico City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $381 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

Fresno, CA vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Fresno, CA is pricier by about 104%, 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 $4,429 per month in Fresno, CA and $2,171 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $70.0 in Fresno, CA and $53.0 in Mexico City. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,953 in Fresno, CA and $1,447 in Mexico City. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Mexico City, where all-in costs run around $1,447, than in Fresno, CA at $2,953. In Mexico City it covers expenses comfortably, while in Fresno, CA 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, Fresno, CA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.