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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,867 per month in Garland, TX vs $1,472 in Mexico City, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,237 per month in Garland, TX vs $2,359 in Mexico City, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,607 per month in Garland, TX vs $3,245 in Mexico City, rent included.

Garland, TX costs about 95% more than Mexico City, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Garland, TX and Mexico City sit above the global median – Garland, TX by 115%, Mexico City by 11%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Garland, TX
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.70 $17.70
$13.14 MX$227
34.70%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$74.1 $74.1
$53.5 MX$926
38.45%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.95 $9.95
$9.33 MX$161
6.65%
Cappuccino
$4.71 $4.71
$3.70 MX$64.0
27.30%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61 $2.61
$1.60 MX$27.76
63.12%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94 $1.94
$1.12 MX$19.34
73.21%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.85 $5.85
$3.14 MX$54.3
86.31%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.03 $8.03
$4.85 MX$83.9
65.57%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Garland, TX
Mexico City
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.02 $1.02
$1.65 MX$28.61
-38.18%
White Bread (500g)
$3.01 $3.01
$2.71 MX$46.96
11.07%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.50 $3.50
$1.91 MX$33.03
83.25%
Eggs
$4.98 $4.98
$2.59 MX$44.81
92.28%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.79 $11.79
$9.81 MX$170
20.18%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.45 $10.45
$8.43 MX$146
23.96%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.64 $14.64
$11.93 MX$206
22.72%
Apples (1kg)
$5.00 $5.00
$2.95 MX$51.1
69.49%
Banana (1kg)
$1.40 $1.40
$1.74 MX$30.10
-19.54%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.76 $3.76
$2.04 MX$35.38
84.31%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.14 $4.14
$2.06 MX$35.64
100.97%
Potato (1kg)
$2.77 $2.77
$2.15 MX$37.20
28.84%
Onion (1kg)
$1.89 $1.89
$2.26 MX$39.02
-16.37%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.97 $1.97
$1.39 MX$23.97
41.73%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.22 $2.22
$1.12 MX$19.31
98.21%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.96 $8.96
$4.22 MX$73.0
112.32%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.87 $10.87
$17.51 MX$303
-37.92%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.39 $2.39
$1.71 MX$29.58
39.77%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.54 $3.54
$3.63 MX$62.8
-2.48%
🚌 Getting Around
Garland, TX
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.98 $2.98
$0.35 MX$6.10
751.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$96.7 $96.7
$19.32 MX$334
400.47%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.06 $3.06
$1.38 MX$23.80
121.74%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.23 $1.23
$0.28 MX$4.77
339.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$34.52 $34.52
$5.28 MX$91.3
553.79%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.81 $0.81
$1.36 MX$23.50
-40.44%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.3K $25.3K
$19.1K MX$330.5K
32.53%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K $26.7K
$23.6K MX$408.4K
12.99%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Garland, TX
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$173 $173
$40.53 MX$701
326.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$47.44 $47.44
$27.38 MX$474
73.27%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$67.2 $67.2
$30.38 MX$526
121.07%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Garland, TX
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$31.20 $31.20
$52.2 MX$903
-40.25%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.42 $16.42
$26.48 MX$458
-37.99%
Cinema Ticket
$14.83 $14.83
$6.19 MX$107
139.58%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Garland, TX
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,312 $1,312
$425 MX$7,355
208.60%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$21.9K $21.9K
$10.7K MX$185.7K
104.33%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Garland, TX
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.8 $53.8
$58.3 MX$1,009
-7.80%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.29 $29.29
$44.57 MX$771
-34.28%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.7 $85.7
$103 MX$1,791
-17.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116 $116
$109 MX$1,881
6.76%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Garland, TX
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,032 $2,032
$1,014 MX$17.5K
100.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,559 $1,559
$623 MX$10.8K
150.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,625 $3,625
$2,119 MX$36.7K
71.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,749 $2,749
$1,223 MX$21.2K
124.73%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,221 $3,221
$3,792 MX$65.6K
-15.05%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,911 $1,911
$2,110 MX$36.5K
-9.44%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Garland, TX
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,634 $3,634
$1,052 MX$18.2K
245.35%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.49
11.34
-42.77%

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

Last update for Garland, TX: July 26, 2026

Last update for Mexico City: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,032 in Garland, TX versus $1,014 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 245% higher in Garland, 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 $74.0 in Garland, TX versus $54.0 in Mexico City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $362 vs $293 – 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
Garland, TX vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Garland, TX and in Mexico City compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,867 in Garland, TX, $1,472 in Mexico City – roughly 95% apart. Garland, TX costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Garland, TX compared to Mexico City?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,300 per month in Garland, TX and $2,208 in Mexico City. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Garland, TX and Mexico City?
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.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Garland, TX and Mexico City?
Kindergarten costs $1,312 per month in Garland, TX and $425 in Mexico City. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 23% more in Garland, TX, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Mexico City, where all-in costs run around $1,472, than in Garland, TX at $2,867. In Mexico City it covers expenses comfortably, while in Garland, TX it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Garland, TX and Mexico City?
It depends on your priorities. Mexico City has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,472 in Mexico City to $2,867 in Garland, TX. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How do I decide between Garland, TX and Mexico City?
If budget matters most, go with Mexico City. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Garland, TX makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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