Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Glendale, AZ and Mexico City

For one person, living is cheaper in Mexico City: $1,567 a month against $2,173 in Glendale, AZ, rent and utilities included – about $7,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Glendale, AZ
🇺🇸 United States
$2,173
/mo nomad
Mexico City
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,567
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Glendale, AZ and in Mexico City

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Glendale, AZ and in Mexico City actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,173 per month in Glendale, AZ vs $1,567 in Mexico City, rent included.

  • Glendale, AZ $2,173
  • Mexico City $1,567

A couple spends around $3,425 per month in Glendale, AZ vs $2,450 in Mexico City, rent included.

  • Glendale, AZ $3,425
  • Mexico City $2,450

A family of three spends $4,676 per month in Glendale, AZ vs $3,333 in Mexico City, rent included.

  • Glendale, AZ $4,676
  • Mexico City $3,333

Glendale, AZ costs about 39% more than Mexico City, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Glendale, AZ and Mexico City sit above the global median – Glendale, AZ by 61%, Mexico City by 16%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Glendale, AZ
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.13 $15.13
$10.75 MX$199
40.74%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.1 $62.1
$50.3 MX$929
23.60%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.45 $12.45
$11.10 MX$205
12.16%
Cappuccino
$5.38 $5.38
$3.68 MX$68.1
46.20%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17 $2.17
$1.65 MX$30.42
31.52%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96 $1.96
$1.30 MX$24.08
50.77%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.11 $7.11
$3.32 MX$61.3
114.16%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.21 $7.21
$5.54 MX$102
30.14%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Glendale, AZ
Mexico City
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.96 $0.96
$1.77 MX$32.68
-45.76%
White Bread (500g)
$3.24 $3.24
$3.05 MX$56.4
6.23%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.11 $5.11
$2.01 MX$37.20
154.23%
Eggs
$4.54 $4.54
$2.77 MX$51.1
63.90%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.36 $13.36
$11.91 MX$220
12.17%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.27 $11.27
$9.33 MX$172
20.79%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.92 $16.92
$15.02 MX$278
12.65%
Apples (1kg)
$4.57 $4.57
$3.08 MX$56.8
48.38%
Banana (1kg)
$1.87 $1.87
$1.95 MX$35.97
-4.10%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.94 $3.94
$2.03 MX$37.54
94.09%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.12 $4.12
$2.21 MX$40.92
86.43%
Potato (1kg)
$2.45 $2.45
$2.02 MX$37.41
21.29%
Onion (1kg)
$2.91 $2.91
$1.82 MX$33.67
59.89%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.13 $2.13
$1.52 MX$28.07
40.13%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.10 $2.10
$1.28 MX$23.65
64.06%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.47 $10.47
$5.27 MX$97.4
98.67%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.35 $13.35
$16.12 MX$298
-17.18%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77 $1.77
$1.95 MX$36.05
-9.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.75 $3.75
$4.25 MX$78.6
-11.76%
🚌 Getting Around
Glendale, AZ
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.04 $2.04
$0.31 MX$5.82
558.06%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$19.85 MX$367
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.72 $2.72
$2.00 MX$36.93
36.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.34 $1.34
$0.53 MX$9.86
152.83%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$35.46 $35.46
$5.62 MX$104
530.96%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.02 $1.02
$1.52 MX$28.07
-32.89%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.1K $36.1K
$21.0K MX$388.7K
71.64%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.9K $25.9K
$25.2K MX$465.3K
3.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Glendale, AZ
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$194 $194
$62.5 MX$1,155
210.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$48.28 $48.28
$28.77 MX$532
67.81%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$66.4 $66.4
$34.45 MX$637
92.69%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Glendale, AZ
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$34.52 $34.52
$57.1 MX$1,055
-39.54%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$24.81 MX$458
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.95 $9.95
$6.67 MX$123
49.18%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Glendale, AZ
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,089 $1,089
$431 MX$7,964
152.75%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.8K $15.8K
$11.7K MX$216.9K
34.31%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Glendale, AZ
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.3 $54.3
$70.8 MX$1,308
-23.36%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.94 $42.94
$51.8 MX$958
-17.15%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$88.2 $88.2
$109 MX$2,011
-18.95%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103 $103
$112 MX$2,076
-8.13%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Glendale, AZ
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,360 $1,360
$1,051 MX$19.4K
29.37%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$985 $985
$665 MX$12.3K
48.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,469 $2,469
$2,346 MX$43.3K
5.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,105 $2,105
$1,227 MX$22.7K
71.64%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$3,554 MX$65.7K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,977 MX$36.5K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Glendale, AZ
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,716 $3,716
$975 MX$18.0K
281.25%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.23
11.3
-44.87%

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

Last update for Glendale, AZ: October 10, 2026

Last update for Mexico City: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Glendale, AZ
$985
Mexico City
$665 32.5% $320
Groceries & Markets
Glendale, AZ
$388
Mexico City
$323 16.9% $66
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Glendale, AZ
$309
Mexico City
$126 59.3% $183
Eating Out
Glendale, AZ
$289
Mexico City
$203 29.9% $86
Clothing & Footwear
Glendale, AZ
$130
Mexico City
$155 19.1% $25
Sport & Entertainment
Glendale, AZ
$54
Mexico City
$70 29.4% $16
Getting Around
Glendale, AZ
$18 *
Mexico City
$26 46.6% $8.2

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,360 in Glendale, AZ versus $1,051 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 281% higher in Glendale, AZ, 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 $62.0 in Glendale, AZ versus $50.0 in Mexico City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $388 vs $323 – making Mexico City the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Glendale, AZ
🇲🇽 Mexico City
🕒 Local time
12:18 12:18 PM
13:18 1:18 PM
1 h ahead of Glendale, AZ
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
200,831
9,209,944 Capital
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

MXN, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 18.48 MXN (100 MXN = 5.41 USD). 1 EUR = 20.77 MXN (100 MXN = 4.81 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Glendale, AZ Mexico City 2,030 km ≈ 3 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Glendale, AZ
  • Mexico City

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Glendale, AZ vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Glendale, AZ or Mexico City?
Glendale, AZ costs about 39% more than Mexico City, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from eating out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Glendale, AZ and in Mexico City?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,260 per month in Glendale, AZ and $2,351 in Mexico City. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Glendale, AZ or 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.
How do dining costs compare in Glendale, AZ and in Mexico City?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $62.0 in Glendale, AZ and $50.0 in Mexico City. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Glendale, AZ or in Mexico City?
Groceries cost about 20% more in Glendale, AZ, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Glendale, AZ or in Mexico City?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Mexico City, where all-in costs run around $1,567, than in Glendale, AZ at $2,173. In Mexico City it covers expenses comfortably, while in Glendale, AZ it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Glendale, AZ or Mexico City?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Mexico City costs $1,567 versus $2,173 in Glendale, AZ. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
Should I move to Glendale, AZ or to Mexico City?
If budget matters most, go with Mexico City. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Glendale, AZ makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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