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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,975 per month in Ithaca, NY vs $1,660 in Mexico City, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,777 per month in Ithaca, NY vs $2,565 in Mexico City, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,579 per month in Ithaca, NY vs $3,470 in Mexico City, rent included.

Ithaca, NY costs about 79% more than Mexico City, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Ithaca, NY and Mexico City sit above the global median – Ithaca, NY by 117%, Mexico City by 21%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$22.13 $22.13

$11.92 MX$206

85.65%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$80.5 $80.5

$51.6 MX$890

55.99%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.08 $11.08

$11.41 MX$197

-2.89%

Cappuccino

$5.11 $5.11

$3.99 MX$68.9

28.07%

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

$2.57 $2.57

$1.66 MX$28.61

54.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.97 $1.97

$1.33 MX$22.87

48.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.14 $5.14

$3.47 MX$59.9

48.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.43 $9.43

$5.90 MX$102

59.83%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.99 $0.99

$1.88 MX$32.36

-47.34%

White Bread (500g)

$3.24 $3.24

$3.25 MX$56.1

-0.31%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.26 $5.26

$2.16 MX$37.26

143.52%

Eggs

$4.12 $4.12

$2.90 MX$49.94

42.07%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.32 $14.32

$12.86 MX$222

11.35%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.72 $6.72

$10.05 MX$173

-33.13%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.94 $14.94

$15.86 MX$273

-5.80%

Apples (1kg)

$4.87 $4.87

$3.29 MX$56.8

48.02%

Banana (1kg)

$1.62 $1.62

$2.01 MX$34.60

-19.40%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.54 $5.54

$2.20 MX$37.93

151.82%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.68 $4.68

$2.36 MX$40.63

98.31%

Potato (1kg)

$3.29 $3.29

$2.05 MX$35.43

60.49%

Onion (1kg)

$3.69 $3.69

$1.90 MX$32.79

94.21%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.32 $2.32

$1.61 MX$27.68

44.10%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.06 $2.06

$1.40 MX$24.09

47.14%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.79 $8.79

$5.46 MX$94.2

60.99%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.21 $14.21

$17.65 MX$304

-19.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 $1.86

$2.06 MX$35.44

-9.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.87 $3.87

$4.68 MX$80.8

-17.31%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.73 $1.73

$0.34 MX$5.84

408.82%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$45.40 $45.40

$20.81 MX$359

118.16%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.04 $5.04

$2.10 MX$36.15

140.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.38 $1.38

$0.56 MX$9.64

146.43%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.28 $30.28

$5.81 MX$100

421.17%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.00 $1.00

$1.61 MX$27.68

-37.89%

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

$35.7K $35.7K

$22.8K MX$393.8K

56.41%

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

$25.4K $25.4K

$26.8K MX$461.2K

-5.10%

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

$167 $167

$65.2 MX$1,124

155.78%

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

$47.22 $47.22

$30.09 MX$519

56.93%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$49.01 $49.01

$37.18 MX$641

31.82%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.19 $35.19

$59.8 MX$1,030

-41.11%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.55 MX$458

Cinema Ticket

$10.80 $10.80

$7.04 MX$121

53.41%

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

$1,509 $1,509

$465 MX$8,012

224.78%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$17.0K $17.0K

$13.3K MX$228.9K

28.29%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.22 $48.22

$75.9 MX$1,308

-36.45%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.28 $40.28

$56.0 MX$965

-28.01%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.2 $79.2

$112 MX$1,929

-29.22%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 $107

$121 MX$2,078

-10.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,177 $2,177

$1,103 MX$19.0K

97.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,726 $1,726

$721 MX$12.4K

139.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,729 $2,729

$2,530 MX$43.6K

7.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,860 $1,860

$1,293 MX$22.3K

43.83%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,162 $2,162

$3,991 MX$68.8K

-45.82%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,142 $2,142

$2,090 MX$36.0K

2.49%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,349 $3,349

$1,037 MX$17.9K

222.89%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.12

11.3

-45.84%

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

Last update for Ithaca, NY: September 13, 2026

Last update for Mexico City: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,177 in Ithaca, NY 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 223% higher in Ithaca, NY, 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 $80.0 in Ithaca, NY versus $52.0 in Mexico City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $378 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

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

Monthly costs with rent: $2,975 in Ithaca, NY, $1,660 in Mexico City – roughly 79% apart. Ithaca, NY costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,463 per month in Ithaca, NY 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $80.0 in Ithaca, NY and $52.0 in Mexico City. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,975 in Ithaca, NY and $1,660 in Mexico City. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Mexico City, where all-in costs run around $1,660, than in Ithaca, NY at $2,975. In Mexico City it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ithaca, NY it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Mexico City has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,660 in Mexico City to $2,975 in Ithaca, NY. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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