Cost of Living Comparison Between Galveston, TX and Mexico City Cost of Living Comparison Between Galveston, TX and Mexico City

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,234 per month in Galveston, TX vs $1,677 in Mexico City, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,231 per month in Galveston, TX vs $2,608 in Mexico City, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,227 per month in Galveston, TX vs $3,540 in Mexico City, rent included.

Galveston, TX costs about 33% more than Mexico City, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Galveston, TX and Mexico City sit above the global median – Galveston, TX by 62%, Mexico City by 22%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$22.08 $22.08

$12.14 MX$206

81.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$79.0 $79.0

$53.9 MX$916

46.59%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.17 $12.17

$11.09 MX$188

9.74%

Cappuccino

$7.85 $7.85

$4.10 MX$69.6

91.46%

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

$2.84 $2.84

$1.68 MX$28.57

69.05%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.77 $1.77

$1.39 MX$23.58

27.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.93 $4.93

$3.33 MX$56.6

48.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.12 $4.12

$5.88 MX$99.9

-29.93%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.75 $0.75

$1.85 MX$31.45

-59.46%

White Bread (500g)

$2.64 $2.64

$3.17 MX$53.9

-16.72%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.84 $2.84

$2.07 MX$35.18

37.20%

Eggs

$2.72 $2.72

$2.93 MX$49.74

-7.17%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.39 $11.39

$12.59 MX$214

-9.53%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.40 $9.40

$10.11 MX$172

-7.02%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.18 $13.18

$16.09 MX$273

-18.09%

Apples (1kg)

$5.72 $5.72

$3.39 MX$57.6

68.73%

Banana (1kg)

$1.59 $1.59

$2.08 MX$35.31

-23.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.13 $3.13

$2.12 MX$36.02

47.64%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.80 $3.80

$2.41 MX$41.01

57.68%

Potato (1kg)

$2.13 $2.13

$2.13 MX$36.17

Onion (1kg)

$2.62 $2.62

$2.01 MX$34.07

30.35%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.77 $1.77

$1.55 MX$26.25

14.19%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.87 $1.87

$1.36 MX$23.19

37.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.85 $8.85

$5.77 MX$98.0

53.38%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.88 $10.88

$17.74 MX$301

-38.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 $1.71

$2.07 MX$35.16

-17.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.70 $1.70

$4.61 MX$78.4

-63.12%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.01 $2.01

$0.37 MX$6.21

443.24%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$32.60 $32.60

$21.18 MX$360

53.92%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$9.96 $9.96

$2.05 MX$34.89

385.85%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.81 $1.81

$0.58 MX$9.80

212.07%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$59.1 $59.1

$6.07 MX$103

872.82%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.88 $0.88

$1.55 MX$26.38

-43.23%

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

$30.5K $30.5K

$22.9K MX$388.6K

33.44%

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

$25.6K $25.6K

$27.2K MX$462.7K

-5.91%

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

$179 $179

$67.4 MX$1,145

165.09%

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

$36.68 $36.68

$30.62 MX$520

19.79%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$40.27 $40.27

$37.24 MX$633

8.14%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.67 $34.67

$61.5 MX$1,044

-43.59%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.12 MX$461

Cinema Ticket

$11.72 $11.72

$7.11 MX$121

64.84%

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

$875 $875

$456 MX$7,750

91.89%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$18.1K $18.1K

$13.7K MX$232.6K

32.04%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$43.59 $43.59

$74.2 MX$1,260

-41.25%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.17 $38.17

$57.0 MX$969

-33.05%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.6 $72.6

$115 MX$1,961

-37.10%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$79.9 $79.9

$122 MX$2,064

-34.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,176 $1,176

$1,148 MX$19.5K

2.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,046 $1,046

$709 MX$12.1K

47.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,101 $2,101

$2,577 MX$43.8K

-18.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,612 $1,612

$1,295 MX$22.0K

24.48%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,675 $2,675

$4,005 MX$68.0K

-33.21%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,154 $2,154

$2,130 MX$36.2K

1.12%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,031 $4,031

$1,082 MX$18.4K

272.54%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.03

11.3

-46.64%

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

Last update for Galveston, TX: September 6, 2026

Last update for Mexico City: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,176 in Galveston, TX 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 273% higher in Galveston, TX, 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 $79.0 in Galveston, TX versus $54.0 in Mexico City. Groceries tell a different story – $321 in Galveston, TX vs $345 in Mexico City – so Galveston, TX wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Galveston, TX vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,234 in Galveston, TX, $1,677 in Mexico City – roughly 33% apart. Galveston, TX costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,352 per month in Galveston, TX 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 $2,234 in Galveston, TX and $1,677 in Mexico City. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 54% less in Mexico City. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Mexico City, where all-in costs run around $1,677, than in Galveston, TX at $2,234. In Mexico City it covers expenses comfortably, while in Galveston, TX it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Mexico City has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,677 in Mexico City to $2,234 in Galveston, TX. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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, Galveston, TX makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.