Cost of Living Comparison Between Iowa City, IA and Mexico City Cost of Living Comparison Between Iowa City, IA and Mexico City

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Iowa City, IA is 37.6% more expensive than Mexico City without rent, and 59.2% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Iowa City, IA is 35.7% more expensive than Mexico City without rent, and 28.4% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Iowa City, IA
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.27 $15.27
$13.38 MX$253
14.13%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$75.8 $75.8
$52.7 MX$997
43.81%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.76 $8.76
$9.31 MX$176
-5.91%
Cappuccino
$5.26 $5.26
$3.61 MX$68.3
45.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38 $2.38
$1.64 MX$30.91
45.12%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.79 $1.79
$1.12 MX$21.14
59.82%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.05 $5.05
$3.26 MX$61.7
54.91%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.11 $7.11
$4.82 MX$91.1
47.51%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Iowa City, IA
Mexico City
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.87 $0.87
$1.65 MX$31.24
-47.27%
White Bread (500g)
$2.75 $2.75
$2.74 MX$51.7
0.36%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.74 $4.74
$1.92 MX$36.28
146.88%
Eggs
$4.09 $4.09
$2.51 MX$47.53
62.95%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.32 $9.32
$9.89 MX$187
-5.76%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.46 $10.46
$8.39 MX$159
24.67%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.66 $16.66
$11.95 MX$226
39.41%
Apples (1kg)
$3.29 $3.29
$2.87 MX$54.3
14.63%
Banana (1kg)
$1.16 $1.16
$1.74 MX$32.85
-33.33%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.76 $2.76
$2 MX$37.81
38.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.64 $4.64
$2.07 MX$39.14
124.15%
Potato (1kg)
$2.05 $2.05
$2.05 MX$38.78
-
Onion (1kg)
$2.86 $2.86
$2.18 MX$41.22
31.19%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.01 $2.01
$1.38 MX$26.16
45.65%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.97 $1.97
$1.11 MX$21.06
77.48%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.21 $9.21
$4.16 MX$78.6
121.39%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.1 $12.1
$11.05 MX$209
9.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76 $1.76
$1.75 MX$33.16
0.57%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.69 $4.69
$3.7 MX$70
26.76%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Iowa City, IA
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.02 $2.02
$0.38 MX$7.25
431.58%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$15.78 $15.78
$18.97 MX$359
-16.82%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.54 $4.54
$1.36 MX$25.72
233.82%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.22 $2.22
$0.28 MX$5.25
692.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$42.62 $42.62
$5.3 MX$100
704.15%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.83 $0.83
$1.36 MX$25.63
-38.97%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.9K $24.9K
$18.8K MX$354.6K
32.79%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.5K $25.5K
$23.4K MX$441.7K
8.98%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Iowa City, IA
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$219 $219
$39.97 MX$756
449.01%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$50.2 $50.2
$27.48 MX$519
82.64%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$73.8 $73.8
$30.22 MX$571
144.14%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Iowa City, IA
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.89 $48.89
$52.6 MX$994
-7.05%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.26 $20.26
$26.84 MX$507
-24.52%
Cinema Ticket
$12.21 $12.21
$6.32 MX$120
93.20%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Iowa City, IA
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,252 $1,252
$437 MX$8,258
186.58%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$24.9K $24.9K
$10.6K MX$199.9K
135.76%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Iowa City, IA
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$67.1 $67.1
$57.2 MX$1,082
17.18%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.76 $47.76
$45.14 MX$853
5.80%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98.3 $98.3
$102 MX$1,928
-3.66%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116 $116
$109 MX$2,056
6.57%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Iowa City, IA
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,227 $1,227
$1,000 MX$18.9K
22.73%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,105 $1,105
$622 MX$11.8K
77.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,402 $2,402
$2,160 MX$40.8K
11.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,549 $1,549
$1,235 MX$23.3K
25.41%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,842 $3,842
$3,566 MX$67.4K
7.74%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,800 $1,800
$2,480 MX$46.9K
-27.43%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Iowa City, IA
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,808 $3,808
$867 MX$16.4K
339.01%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.43
11.34
-43.30%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Iowa City, IA: October 29, 2025

Last update for Mexico City: October 28, 2025

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