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 $2,849 per month in Hilo, HI vs $1,660 in Mexico City, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,020 per month in Hilo, HI vs $2,565 in Mexico City, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,191 per month in Hilo, HI vs $3,470 in Mexico City, rent included.

Hilo, HI costs about 72% more than Mexico City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Hilo, HI and Mexico City sit above the global median – Hilo, HI by 108%, Mexico City by 21%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.57 $19.57

$11.92 MX$205

64.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$78.7 $78.7

$51.6 MX$889

52.52%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.22 $11.22

$11.41 MX$197

-1.67%

Cappuccino

$5.71 $5.71

$3.99 MX$68.8

43.11%

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

$2.47 $2.47

$1.66 MX$28.57

48.80%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.18 $2.18

$1.33 MX$22.84

63.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.60 $6.60

$3.47 MX$59.8

90.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.80 $6.80

$5.90 MX$102

15.25%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.74 $1.74

$1.88 MX$32.31

-7.45%

White Bread (500g)

$9.79 $9.79

$3.25 MX$56.0

201.23%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.40 $5.40

$2.16 MX$37.21

150.00%

Eggs

$6.73 $6.73

$2.90 MX$49.87

132.07%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.72 $19.72

$12.86 MX$221

53.34%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$22.55 $22.55

$10.05 MX$173

124.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$25.92 $25.92

$15.86 MX$273

63.43%

Apples (1kg)

$8.23 $8.23

$3.29 MX$56.7

150.15%

Banana (1kg)

$2.49 $2.49

$2.01 MX$34.55

23.88%

Oranges (1kg)

$8.86 $8.86

$2.20 MX$37.88

302.73%

Tomato (1kg)

$10.99 $10.99

$2.36 MX$40.57

365.68%

Potato (1kg)

$2.05 MX$35.38

Onion (1kg)

$8.75 $8.75

$1.90 MX$32.75

360.53%

Lettuce (1 head)

$4.70 $4.70

$1.61 MX$27.64

191.93%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.07 $3.07

$1.40 MX$24.05

119.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.98 $11.98

$5.46 MX$94.1

119.41%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.21 $15.21

$17.65 MX$304

-13.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 $1.71

$2.06 MX$35.39

-16.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.68 MX$80.7

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.34 MX$5.83

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.81 MX$358

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.21 $4.21

$2.10 MX$36.11

100.48%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.17 $1.17

$0.56 MX$9.63

108.93%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.81 MX$100

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 $1.34

$1.61 MX$27.65

-16.77%

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

$29.1K $29.1K

$22.8K MX$393.3K

27.35%

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

$25.3K $25.3K

$26.8K MX$460.6K

-5.45%

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

$365 $365

$65.2 MX$1,122

459.31%

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

$69.6 $69.6

$30.09 MX$518

131.31%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.3 $69.3

$37.18 MX$640

86.50%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.1 $51.1

$59.8 MX$1,029

-14.42%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.55 MX$457

Cinema Ticket

$12.82 $12.82

$7.04 MX$121

82.10%

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

$465 MX$8,001

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.3K MX$228.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$24.85 $24.85

$75.9 MX$1,307

-67.25%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.41 $30.41

$56.0 MX$963

-45.65%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$67.6 $67.6

$112 MX$1,926

-39.55%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.8 $76.8

$121 MX$2,075

-36.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,925 $1,925

$1,103 MX$19.0K

74.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,208 $1,208

$721 MX$12.4K

67.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,241 $2,241

$2,530 MX$43.6K

-11.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,619 $1,619

$1,293 MX$22.3K

25.17%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,387 $5,387

$3,991 MX$68.7K

34.98%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,319 $5,319

$2,090 MX$36.0K

154.54%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,433 $4,433

$1,037 MX$17.9K

327.31%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.1

11.3

-46.02%

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

Last update for Hilo, HI: September 13, 2026

Last update for Mexico City: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,925 in Hilo, HI versus $1,103 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 327% 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 $79.0 in Hilo, HI versus $52.0 in Mexico City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $672 vs $345 – 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 72% 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 $4,273 per month in Hilo, HI and $2,489 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 $2,849 in Hilo, HI and $1,660 in Mexico City. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 95% 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 $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Mexico City, where all-in costs run around $1,660, than in Hilo, HI at $2,849. 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 $1,660 versus $2,849 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.