Cost of Living Comparison Between Hilo, HI and Mexico City Cost of Living Comparison Between Hilo, HI and Mexico City

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,739 per month in Hilo, HI vs $1,472 in Mexico City, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,789 per month in Hilo, HI vs $2,359 in Mexico City, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,839 per month in Hilo, HI vs $3,245 in Mexico City, rent included.

Hilo, HI costs about 86% more than Mexico City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Hilo, HI and Mexico City sit above the global median – Hilo, HI by 106%, Mexico City by 11%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.68 $16.68

$13.14 MX$227

26.94%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$78.2 $78.2

$53.5 MX$926

46.05%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.11 $11.11

$9.33 MX$161

19.08%

Cappuccino

$7.94 $7.94

$3.70 MX$64.0

114.59%

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

$2.27 $2.27

$1.60 MX$27.76

41.87%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.29 $2.29

$1.12 MX$19.34

104.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.85 $5.85

$3.14 MX$54.3

86.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.17 $6.17

$4.85 MX$83.9

27.22%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.76 $1.76

$1.65 MX$28.61

6.67%

White Bread (500g)

$7.51 $7.51

$2.71 MX$46.96

177.12%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.47 $6.47

$1.91 MX$33.03

238.74%

Eggs

$8.59 $8.59

$2.59 MX$44.81

231.66%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.13 $13.13

$9.81 MX$170

33.84%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.95 $14.95

$8.43 MX$146

77.34%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$23.69 $23.69

$11.93 MX$206

98.58%

Apples (1kg)

$5.77 $5.77

$2.95 MX$51.1

95.59%

Banana (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$1.74 MX$30.10

57.47%

Oranges (1kg)

$9.65 $9.65

$2.04 MX$35.38

373.04%

Tomato (1kg)

$10.87 $10.87

$2.06 MX$35.64

427.67%

Potato (1kg)

$5.09 $5.09

$2.15 MX$37.20

136.74%

Onion (1kg)

$7.59 $7.59

$2.26 MX$39.02

235.84%

Lettuce (1 head)

$4.66 $4.66

$1.39 MX$23.97

235.25%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.74 $2.74

$1.12 MX$19.31

144.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.36 $13.36

$4.22 MX$73.0

216.59%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.09 $15.09

$17.51 MX$303

-13.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 $1.78

$1.71 MX$29.58

4.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.31 $3.31

$3.63 MX$62.8

-8.82%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.95 $1.95

$0.35 MX$6.10

457.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.32 MX$334

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.78 $3.78

$1.38 MX$23.80

173.91%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.12 $1.12

$0.28 MX$4.77

300.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.49 $29.49

$5.28 MX$91.3

458.52%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 $1.25

$1.36 MX$23.50

-8.09%

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

$22.6K $22.6K

$19.1K MX$330.5K

18.12%

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

$23.9K $23.9K

$23.6K MX$408.4K

1.34%

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

$279 $279

$40.53 MX$701

588.40%

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

$42.13 $42.13

$27.38 MX$474

53.87%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$53.3 $53.3

$30.38 MX$526

75.41%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$49.55 $49.55

$52.2 MX$903

-5.11%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.48 MX$458

Cinema Ticket

$12.42 $12.42

$6.19 MX$107

100.65%

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

$1,314 $1,314

$425 MX$7,355

209.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.5K $23.5K

$10.7K MX$185.7K

119.17%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$38.69 $38.69

$58.3 MX$1,009

-33.65%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$10.13 $10.13

$44.57 MX$771

-77.27%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.9 $77.9

$103 MX$1,791

-24.75%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$79.0 $79.0

$109 MX$1,881

-27.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,691 $1,691

$1,014 MX$17.5K

66.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,223 $1,223

$623 MX$10.8K

96.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,245 $2,245

$2,119 MX$36.7K

5.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,576 $1,576

$1,223 MX$21.2K

28.82%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,321 $5,321

$3,792 MX$65.6K

40.33%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,334 $5,334

$2,110 MX$36.5K

152.83%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,536 $4,536

$1,052 MX$18.2K

331.10%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.32

11.34

-44.27%

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

Last update for Hilo, HI: July 26, 2026

Last update for Mexico City: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,691 in Hilo, HI 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 331% higher in Hilo, HI, 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 $78.0 in Hilo, HI versus $54.0 in Mexico City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $604 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

Hilo, HI vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Hilo, HI costs about 86% more than Mexico City, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,109 per month in Hilo, HI and $2,208 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 $78.0 in Hilo, HI and $54.0 in Mexico City. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 106% more in Hilo, HI, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Mexico City, where all-in costs run around $1,472, than in Hilo, HI at $2,739. In Mexico City it covers expenses comfortably, while in Hilo, HI it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Mexico City costs $1,472 versus $2,739 in Hilo, HI. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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