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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,952 in Kingston, NY versus $1,456 in Mexico City.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,277 in Kingston, NY versus $2,361 in Mexico City.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,601 in Kingston, NY versus $3,266 in Mexico City.

Living in Kingston, NY is roughly 103% more expensive than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Kingston, NY 121% above, Mexico City 9% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kingston, NY
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.72 $17.72
$13.07 MX$229
35.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$73.6 $73.6
$53.8 MX$940
36.91%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.61 $11.61
$9.68 MX$169
19.94%
Cappuccino
$5.65 $5.65
$3.74 MX$65.4
51.07%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58 $2.58
$1.62 MX$28.25
59.26%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$1.16 MX$20.31
108.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.16 $8.16
$3.23 MX$56.4
152.63%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$9.41 $9.41
$4.74 MX$82.9
98.52%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kingston, NY
Mexico City
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.96 $0.96
$1.65 MX$28.80
-41.82%
White Bread (500g)
$4.27 $4.27
$2.75 MX$48.15
55.27%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$6.87 $6.87
$1.87 MX$32.77
267.38%
Eggs
$5.19 $5.19
$2.50 MX$43.72
107.60%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$18.51 $18.51
$10.20 MX$178
81.47%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.79 $11.79
$8.25 MX$144
42.91%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.53 $19.53
$11.82 MX$207
65.23%
Apples (1kg)
$5.22 $5.22
$3.01 MX$52.6
73.42%
Banana (1kg)
$1.26 $1.26
$1.81 MX$31.67
-30.39%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.66 $4.66
$2.00 MX$34.96
133.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$7.41 $7.41
$2.00 MX$34.89
270.50%
Potato (1kg)
$2.87 $2.87
$2.08 MX$36.45
37.98%
Onion (1kg)
$3.63 $3.63
$2.27 MX$39.72
59.91%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.20 $2.20
$1.46 MX$25.47
50.68%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.08 $2.08
$1.08 MX$18.82
92.59%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$16.86 $16.86
$4.35 MX$76.0
287.59%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.08 $13.08
$16.99 MX$297
-23.01%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.88 $1.88
$1.73 MX$30.31
8.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.59 $3.59
$3.58 MX$62.5
0.28%
🚌 Getting Around
Kingston, NY
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.96 $1.96
$0.39 MX$6.77
402.56%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$64.3 $64.3
$18.69 MX$327
244.25%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.44 $3.44
$1.33 MX$23.18
158.65%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.57 $1.57
$0.28 MX$4.89
460.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.01 $29.01
$5.25 MX$91.8
452.57%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.91 $0.91
$1.34 MX$23.37
-32.09%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.9K $31.9K
$19.4K MX$339.4K
64.16%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.9K $25.9K
$23.8K MX$416.7K
8.77%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kingston, NY
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$186 $186
$40.69 MX$712
356.65%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$66.9 $66.9
$26.87 MX$470
148.98%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$79.1 $79.1
$30.51 MX$534
159.10%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kingston, NY
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.97 $41.97
$52.8 MX$923
-20.48%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.98 $24.98
$26.65 MX$466
-6.27%
Cinema Ticket
$14.71 $14.71
$6.51 MX$114
125.96%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kingston, NY
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,547 $2,547
$428 MX$7,485
494.91%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.4K $23.4K
$10.5K MX$183.6K
122.41%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kingston, NY
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.93 $42.93
$57.3 MX$1,001
-25.01%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.63 $29.63
$45.50 MX$796
-34.88%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$73.9 $73.9
$104 MX$1,819
-28.96%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.7 $76.7
$108 MX$1,885
-28.83%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kingston, NY
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,869 $1,869
$1,003 MX$17.5K
86.30%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,608 $1,608
$623 MX$10.9K
158.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,172 $3,172
$2,109 MX$36.9K
50.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,652 $2,652
$1,218 MX$21.3K
117.71%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,127 $3,127
$3,885 MX$67.9K
-19.50%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,129 $3,129
$2,033 MX$35.5K
53.96%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kingston, NY
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,130 $3,130
$1,038 MX$18.1K
201.55%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7.08
11.34
-37.57%

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

Last update for Kingston, NY: July 11, 2026

Last update for Mexico City: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,869 in Kingston, NY and $1,003 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Kingston, NY pays 202% 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: $74.0 in Kingston, NY vs $54.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $455 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
Kingston, NY vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mexico City cheaper than Kingston, NY?
Mexico City is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 103% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Kingston, NY or Mexico City?
Average pay runs 202% higher in Kingston, NY, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Kingston, NY and Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,869 in Kingston, NY versus $1,003 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Kingston, NY and in Mexico City?
All in, you'll spend $2,952 per month in Kingston, NY versus $1,456 in Mexico City – a 103% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Mexico City runs roughly 244% less than in Kingston, NY. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Kingston, NY or in Mexico City?
At $1,456 in Mexico City versus $2,952 in Kingston, NY, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Mexico City but tight or insufficient in Kingston, NY. The gap between the two cities makes Mexico City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Kingston, NY or Mexico City more family-friendly?
For families, Mexico City is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Kingston, NY, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Mexico City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 103% less than in Kingston, NY. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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