Cost of Living Comparison Between Johnson City, TN and Mexico City Cost of Living Comparison Between Johnson City, TN and Mexico City

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,089 per month in Johnson City, TN vs $1,456 in Mexico City, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,017 per month in Johnson City, TN vs $2,361 in Mexico City, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,945 per month in Johnson City, TN vs $3,266 in Mexico City, rent included.

Johnson City, TN costs about 43% more than Mexico City, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Johnson City, TN and Mexico City sit above the global median – Johnson City, TN by 56%, Mexico City by 9%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.03 $13.03

$13.07 MX$229

-0.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$50.4 $50.4

$53.8 MX$943

-6.33%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.01 $12.01

$9.68 MX$170

24.07%

Cappuccino

$3.78 $3.78

$3.74 MX$65.6

1.07%

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

$2.17 $2.17

$1.62 MX$28.34

33.95%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.16 MX$20.37

48.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.08 $5.08

$3.23 MX$56.6

57.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.97 $5.97

$4.74 MX$83.1

25.95%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.99 $0.99

$1.65 MX$28.89

-40.00%

White Bread (500g)

$3.70 $3.70

$2.75 MX$48.30

34.55%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.17 $3.17

$1.87 MX$32.87

69.52%

Eggs

$3.27 $3.27

$2.50 MX$43.86

30.80%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.48 $7.48

$10.20 MX$179

-26.67%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.64 $8.64

$8.25 MX$145

4.73%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.24 $13.24

$11.82 MX$207

12.01%

Apples (1kg)

$4.17 $4.17

$3.01 MX$52.8

38.54%

Banana (1kg)

$1.59 $1.59

$1.81 MX$31.77

-12.15%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.91 $3.91

$2.00 MX$35.07

95.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.49 $3.49

$2.00 MX$35.00

74.50%

Potato (1kg)

$2.38 $2.38

$2.08 MX$36.56

14.42%

Onion (1kg)

$3.71 $3.71

$2.27 MX$39.85

63.44%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.82 $1.82

$1.46 MX$25.55

24.66%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.20 $2.20

$1.08 MX$18.88

103.70%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.62 $7.62

$4.35 MX$76.3

75.17%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.96 $12.96

$16.99 MX$298

-23.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.60 $1.60

$1.73 MX$30.40

-7.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.94 $3.94

$3.58 MX$62.7

10.06%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.48 $2.48

$0.39 MX$6.79

535.90%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$37.34 $37.34

$18.69 MX$328

99.79%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.60 $5.60

$1.33 MX$23.25

321.05%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$0.28 MX$4.91

407.14%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$64.0 $64.0

$5.25 MX$92.1

1119.24%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.79 $0.79

$1.34 MX$23.44

-41.04%

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

$30.3K $30.3K

$19.4K MX$340.5K

56.02%

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

$22.4K $22.4K

$23.8K MX$418.0K

-6.04%

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

$148 $148

$40.69 MX$714

262.67%

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

$75.2 $75.2

$26.87 MX$471

179.79%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$52.4 $52.4

$30.51 MX$535

71.58%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.69 $46.69

$52.8 MX$926

-11.54%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.97 $19.97

$26.65 MX$467

-25.07%

Cinema Ticket

$12.87 $12.87

$6.51 MX$114

97.70%

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

$902 $902

$428 MX$7,508

110.75%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.5K $14.5K

$10.5K MX$184.2K

38.35%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$38.62 $38.62

$57.3 MX$1,004

-32.54%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.02 $37.02

$45.50 MX$798

-18.64%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$63.6 $63.6

$104 MX$1,825

-38.89%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$116 $116

$108 MX$1,891

7.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,223 $1,223

$1,003 MX$17.6K

21.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,004 $1,004

$623 MX$10.9K

61.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,052 $2,052

$2,109 MX$37.0K

-2.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,624 $1,624

$1,218 MX$21.4K

33.33%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,144 $2,144

$3,885 MX$68.1K

-44.81%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,192 $2,192

$2,033 MX$35.7K

7.85%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,480 $3,480

$1,038 MX$18.2K

235.32%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.15

11.34

-45.77%

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

Last update for Johnson City, TN: July 13, 2026

Last update for Mexico City: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,223 in Johnson City, TN versus $1,003 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 235% higher in Johnson City, TN, 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 $50.0 in Johnson City, TN versus $54.0 in Mexico City. Groceries tell a different story – $332 in Johnson City, TN vs $292 in Mexico City – so Mexico City wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Johnson City, TN vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Johnson City, TN is pricier by about 43%, and the gap shows up most in Monthly Utilities & Internet. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,133 per month in Johnson City, TN and $2,185 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 $50.0 in Johnson City, TN and $54.0 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 $2,089 in Johnson City, TN and $1,456 in Mexico City. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Mexico City, where all-in costs run around $1,456, than in Johnson City, TN at $2,089. In Mexico City it covers expenses comfortably, while in Johnson City, TN it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Mexico City – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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, Johnson City, TN makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.