Cost of Living Comparison Between Islip, NY and Mexico City Cost of Living Comparison Between Islip, NY and Mexico City

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,756 in Islip, NY versus $1,456 in Mexico City.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,101 in Islip, NY versus $2,361 in Mexico City.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,447 in Islip, NY versus $3,266 in Mexico City.

Living in Islip, NY is roughly 89% more expensive than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Islip, NY 106% above, Mexico City 9% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.54 $24.54

$13.07 MX$228

87.76%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$111 $111

$53.8 MX$936

105.95%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.43 $12.43

$9.68 MX$169

28.41%

Cappuccino

$4.71 $4.71

$3.74 MX$65.1

25.94%

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

$2.73 $2.73

$1.62 MX$28.13

68.52%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.73 $1.73

$1.16 MX$20.23

49.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.29 $7.29

$3.23 MX$56.2

125.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.21 $8.21

$4.74 MX$82.5

73.21%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.26 $1.26

$1.65 MX$28.68

-23.64%

White Bread (500g)

$4.80 $4.80

$2.75 MX$47.95

74.55%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.90 $4.90

$1.87 MX$32.63

162.03%

Eggs

$5.23 $5.23

$2.50 MX$43.54

109.20%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.51 $17.51

$10.20 MX$178

71.67%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.42 $16.42

$8.25 MX$144

99.03%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.35 $15.35

$11.82 MX$206

29.86%

Apples (1kg)

$6.57 $6.57

$3.01 MX$52.4

118.27%

Banana (1kg)

$2.31 $2.31

$1.81 MX$31.54

27.62%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.21 $2.21

$2.00 MX$34.81

10.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.43 $6.43

$2.00 MX$34.74

221.50%

Potato (1kg)

$2.79 $2.79

$2.08 MX$36.30

34.13%

Onion (1kg)

$3.94 $3.94

$2.27 MX$39.56

73.57%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.50 $1.50

$1.46 MX$25.36

2.74%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.26 $2.26

$1.08 MX$18.74

109.26%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.13 $15.13

$4.35 MX$75.7

247.82%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.79 $12.79

$16.99 MX$296

-24.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.38 $2.38

$1.73 MX$30.18

37.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.70 $3.70

$3.58 MX$62.3

3.35%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.03 $2.03

$0.39 MX$6.74

420.51%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.69 MX$325

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.91 $3.91

$1.33 MX$23.08

193.98%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.03 $2.03

$0.28 MX$4.87

625.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.23 $42.23

$5.25 MX$91.5

704.38%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.89 $0.89

$1.34 MX$23.27

-33.58%

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

$24.3K $24.3K

$19.4K MX$338.0K

25.41%

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

$28.3K $28.3K

$23.8K MX$415.0K

18.85%

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

$182 $182

$40.69 MX$709

348.17%

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

$60.2 $60.2

$26.87 MX$468

123.93%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.1 $63.1

$30.51 MX$531

106.95%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.23 $42.23

$52.8 MX$919

-19.99%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.65 MX$464

Cinema Ticket

$15.81 $15.81

$6.51 MX$113

142.86%

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

$3,175 $3,175

$428 MX$7,454

641.75%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.6K $23.6K

$10.5K MX$182.8K

125.12%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$44.15 $44.15

$57.3 MX$997

-22.88%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.95 $26.95

$45.50 MX$792

-40.77%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.8 $90.8

$104 MX$1,812

-12.70%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$130 $130

$108 MX$1,878

20.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,037 $2,037

$1,003 MX$17.5K

103.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,356 $1,356

$623 MX$10.8K

117.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,641 $2,641

$2,109 MX$36.7K

25.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,200 $2,200

$1,218 MX$21.2K

80.63%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,885 MX$67.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,033 MX$35.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,036 $4,036

$1,038 MX$18.1K

288.93%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

11.34

-43.21%

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

Last update for Islip, NY: July 13, 2026

Last update for Mexico City: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,037 in Islip, NY and $1,003 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Islip, NY pays 289% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $111 in Islip, NY vs $54.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $464 vs $292 per month, with Mexico City cheaper across the board.

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

Islip, NY vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mexico City is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 89% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 289% higher in Islip, NY, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,037 in Islip, NY versus $1,003 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $3,175 in Islip, NY versus $428 in Mexico City. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Mexico City – a meal for two runs $54.0 versus $111 in Islip, NY. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $1,456 in Mexico City versus $2,756 in Islip, NY, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Mexico City but tight or insufficient in Islip, NY. The gap between the two cities makes Mexico City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Mexico City is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Islip, NY, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Expats usually find Mexico City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 89% less than in Islip, NY. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.