Cost of Living Comparison Between Hot Springs, AR and Mexico City Cost of Living Comparison Between Hot Springs, AR and Mexico City

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,722 per month in Hot Springs, AR vs $1,660 in Mexico City, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,557 per month in Hot Springs, AR vs $2,565 in Mexico City, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,391 per month in Hot Springs, AR vs $3,470 in Mexico City, rent included.

Hot Springs, AR costs about 4% more than Mexico City, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Hot Springs, AR and Mexico City sit above the global median – Hot Springs, AR by 26%, Mexico City by 21%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.23 $16.23

$11.92 MX$205

36.16%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$69.7 $69.7

$51.6 MX$886

35.16%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.61 $9.61

$11.41 MX$196

-15.78%

Cappuccino

$5.11 $5.11

$3.99 MX$68.6

28.07%

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

$2.78 $2.78

$1.66 MX$28.48

67.47%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.49 $1.49

$1.33 MX$22.77

12.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.94 $4.94

$3.47 MX$59.6

42.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.11 $6.11

$5.90 MX$101

3.56%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.95 $0.95

$1.88 MX$32.21

-49.47%

White Bread (500g)

$3.07 $3.07

$3.25 MX$55.9

-5.54%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.04 $2.04

$2.16 MX$37.10

-5.56%

Eggs

$2.32 $2.32

$2.90 MX$49.72

-20.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.07 $11.07

$12.86 MX$221

-13.92%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.41 $12.41

$10.05 MX$173

23.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.29 $19.29

$15.86 MX$272

21.63%

Apples (1kg)

$3.54 $3.54

$3.29 MX$56.6

7.60%

Banana (1kg)

$1.34 $1.34

$2.01 MX$34.44

-33.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.75 $3.75

$2.20 MX$37.76

70.45%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.78 $3.78

$2.36 MX$40.44

60.17%

Potato (1kg)

$1.81 $1.81

$2.05 MX$35.27

-11.71%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$1.90 MX$32.64

44.21%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.23 $2.23

$1.61 MX$27.55

38.51%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.07 $1.07

$1.40 MX$23.98

-23.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.60 $8.60

$5.46 MX$93.8

57.51%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.04 $19.04

$17.65 MX$303

7.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.65 $2.65

$2.06 MX$35.28

28.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.58 $4.58

$4.68 MX$80.4

-2.14%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.18 $1.18

$0.34 MX$5.81

247.06%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.44 $28.44

$20.81 MX$357

36.67%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.72 $2.72

$2.10 MX$35.99

29.52%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.12 $2.12

$0.56 MX$9.60

278.57%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.81 MX$99.8

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.86 $0.86

$1.61 MX$27.56

-46.58%

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

$16.7K $16.7K

$22.8K MX$392.1K

-26.73%

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

$22.8K $22.8K

$26.8K MX$459.2K

-14.79%

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

$176 $176

$65.2 MX$1,119

170.68%

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

$55.5 $55.5

$30.09 MX$517

84.58%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$39.35 $39.35

$37.18 MX$638

5.84%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.69 $34.69

$59.8 MX$1,026

-41.95%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.83 $9.83

$26.55 MX$456

-62.98%

Cinema Ticket

$9.94 $9.94

$7.04 MX$121

41.19%

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

$591 $591

$465 MX$7,976

27.14%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.3K MX$227.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$39.90 $39.90

$75.9 MX$1,303

-47.42%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.36 $39.36

$56.0 MX$960

-29.65%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 $101

$112 MX$1,920

-9.94%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$79.3 $79.3

$121 MX$2,068

-34.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$734 $734

$1,103 MX$18.9K

-33.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$577 $577

$721 MX$12.4K

-19.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,088 $1,088

$2,530 MX$43.4K

-57.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$895 $895

$1,293 MX$22.2K

-30.78%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,945 $1,945

$3,991 MX$68.5K

-51.28%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,959 $1,959

$2,090 MX$35.9K

-6.24%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,445 $3,445

$1,037 MX$17.8K

232.06%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.11

11.3

-45.93%

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

Last update for Hot Springs, AR: September 13, 2026

Last update for Mexico City: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $734 in Hot Springs, AR 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 232% higher in Hot Springs, AR, 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 $70.0 in Hot Springs, AR versus $52.0 in Mexico City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $364 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

Hot Springs, AR vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Hot Springs, AR costs about 4% more than Mexico City, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,583 per month in Hot Springs, AR 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.

Kindergarten costs $591 per month in Hot Springs, AR and $465 in Mexico City. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 5% more in Hot Springs, AR, 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 Hot Springs, AR at $1,722. In Mexico City it covers expenses comfortably, while in Hot Springs, AR it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Mexico City costs $1,660 versus $1,722 in Hot Springs, AR. 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, Hot Springs, AR makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.