😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,568 in Kahului, HI versus $1,467 in Mexico City.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,090 in Kahului, HI versus $2,371 in Mexico City.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,611 in Kahului, HI versus $3,274 in Mexico City.
😐Living in Kahului, HI is roughly 143% more expensive than Mexico City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Kahului, HI166% above, Mexico City10% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kahului, HI
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.17$19.17
$13.18MX$228
45.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$79.2$79.2
$53.9MX$932
46.96%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$15.48$15.48
$9.42MX$163
64.33%
Cappuccino
$7.17$7.17
$3.55MX$61.4
101.97%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.94$2.94
$1.62MX$27.98
81.48%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.55$3.55
$1.11MX$19.27
219.82%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.20$7.20
$3.12MX$54.0
130.77%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.63$7.63
$4.63MX$80.1
64.79%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kahului, HI
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.66$1.66
$1.70MX$29.43
-2.35%
White Bread(500g)
$3.45$3.45
$2.72MX$47.02
26.84%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.33$4.33
$1.91MX$33.07
126.70%
Eggs
$4.07$4.07
$2.54MX$43.86
60.24%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.45$12.45
$10.03MX$174
24.13%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.09$11.09
$8.09MX$140
37.08%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.42$15.42
$11.62MX$201
32.70%
Apples(1kg)
$8.93$8.93
$2.97MX$51.3
200.67%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64$1.64
$1.81MX$31.24
-9.39%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.19$4.19
$2.01MX$34.82
108.46%
Tomato(1kg)
$8.57$8.57
$2.03MX$35.20
322.17%
Potato(1kg)
$6.67$6.67
$2.12MX$36.75
214.62%
Onion(1kg)
$2.91$2.91
$2.27MX$39.25
28.19%
Lettuce(1 head)
$3.05$3.05
$1.40MX$24.22
117.86%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.57$1.57
$1.13MX$19.55
38.94%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.47$9.47
$4.27MX$73.9
121.78%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.10$14.10
$15.56MX$269
-9.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.79$1.79
$1.76MX$30.39
1.70%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.07$4.07
$3.60MX$62.2
13.06%
🚌 Getting Around
Kahului, HI
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.99$1.99
$0.38MX$6.62
423.68%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$44.88$44.88
$19.18MX$332
133.99%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.40$3.40
$1.38MX$23.79
146.38%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.64$1.64
$0.28MX$4.78
485.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.16$29.16
$5.45MX$94.2
435.05%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.25$1.25
$1.30MX$22.55
-3.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.2K$39.2K
$18.7KMX$323.2K
110.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3K$26.3K
$23.1KMX$400.1K
13.72%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kahului, HI
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$214$214
$40.86MX$707
424.13%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$78.4$78.4
$26.81MX$464
192.47%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$54.1$54.1
$29.96MX$518
80.71%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kahului, HI
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.74$42.74
$52.0MX$900
-17.84%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$26.84MX$464
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.80$12.80
$6.30MX$109
103.17%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kahului, HI
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,321$1,321
$436MX$7,544
202.95%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$23.3K$23.3K
$10.4KMX$180.2K
123.56%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kahului, HI
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$38.80$38.80
$56.7MX$980
-31.51%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.19$25.19
$44.38MX$768
-43.24%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$66.1$66.1
$103MX$1,780
-35.79%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106$106
$106MX$1,825
0.40%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kahului, HI
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,454$2,454
$1,022MX$17.7K
140.13%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,113$2,113
$631MX$10.9K
235.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,481$3,481
$2,136MX$36.9K
62.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$3,455$3,455
$1,243MX$21.5K
177.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,720$2,720
$3,903MX$67.5K
-30.31%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,391$2,391
$2,064MX$35.7K
15.80%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kahului, HI
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,675$4,675
$1,115MX$19.3K
319.28%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.51
11.34
-42.59%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Kahului, HI: May 31, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,454 in Kahului, HI and $1,022 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Kahului, HI pays 319% 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: $79.0 in Kahului, HI vs $54.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $440 vs $288 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
Kahului, HI vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Kahului, HI or Mexico City?
Mexico City wins on cost – living expenses run 143% lower than in Kahului, HI. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Mexico City the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Kahului, HI or Mexico City?
Kahului, HI pays 319% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Kahului, HI vs Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $2,454 in Kahului, HI versus $1,022 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Kahului, HI and Mexico City?
Childcare runs $1,321 in Kahului, HI versus $436 in Mexico City. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Are groceries more expensive in Kahului, HI or Mexico City?
Supermarket bills run roughly 53% higher in Kahului, HI. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Kahului, HI or Mexico City?
At $1,467 in Mexico City versus $3,568 in Kahului, HI, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Mexico City but tight or insufficient in Kahului, HI. The gap between the two cities makes Mexico City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Kahului, HI or Mexico City?
Both work as nomad bases, but Mexico City delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,467 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Mexico City hard to pass up.
How safe is Kahului, HI compared to Mexico City?
Safety-wise, Kahului, HI and Mexico City are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Mexico City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 143% less than in Kahului, HI. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Kahului, HI vs other spots: cost of living compared