Cost of Living Comparison Between Lansing, IL and Mexico City Cost of Living Comparison Between Lansing, IL and Mexico City

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,555 per month in Lansing, IL vs $1,682 in Mexico City, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,740 per month in Lansing, IL vs $2,599 in Mexico City, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,926 per month in Lansing, IL vs $3,516 in Mexico City, rent included.

Lansing, IL costs about 52% more than Mexico City, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Lansing, IL and Mexico City sit above the global median – Lansing, IL by 86%, Mexico City by 23%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.24 $20.24

$11.83 MX$200

71.09%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.8 $74.8

$52.2 MX$884

43.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.31 $11.31

$10.87 MX$184

4.05%

Cappuccino

$5.31 $5.31

$4.03 MX$68.2

31.76%

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

$2.69 $2.69

$1.71 MX$28.99

57.31%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.96 $1.96

$1.34 MX$22.70

46.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.04 $6.04

$3.39 MX$57.5

78.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.99 $6.99

$5.74 MX$97.3

21.78%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$1.89 MX$31.99

-44.44%

White Bread (500g)

$3.46 $3.46

$3.17 MX$53.8

9.15%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.27 $4.27

$2.05 MX$34.74

108.29%

Eggs

$4.35 $4.35

$3.01 MX$51.1

44.52%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.19 $12.19

$12.61 MX$214

-3.33%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.45 $11.45

$9.94 MX$169

15.19%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.38 $16.38

$16.00 MX$271

2.37%

Apples (1kg)

$5.09 $5.09

$3.28 MX$55.6

55.18%

Banana (1kg)

$1.68 $1.68

$2.06 MX$34.87

-18.45%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.49 $4.49

$2.09 MX$35.36

114.83%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.70 $4.70

$2.50 MX$42.44

88.00%

Potato (1kg)

$2.88 $2.88

$2.05 MX$34.76

40.49%

Onion (1kg)

$2.97 $2.97

$1.87 MX$31.70

58.82%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.08 $2.08

$1.57 MX$26.66

32.48%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.32 $2.32

$1.39 MX$23.64

66.91%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.82 $9.82

$5.38 MX$91.2

82.53%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.89 $14.89

$17.95 MX$304

-17.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.92 $1.92

$2.02 MX$34.31

-4.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.49 $3.49

$4.76 MX$80.7

-26.68%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.96 $1.96

$0.36 MX$6.13

444.44%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.80 MX$353

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.97 $2.97

$2.06 MX$34.92

44.17%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.79 $1.79

$0.56 MX$9.55

219.64%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.48 $28.48

$5.82 MX$98.6

389.35%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.54 MX$26.05

-32.47%

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

$36.0K $36.0K

$22.5K MX$380.6K

60.40%

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

$25.3K $25.3K

$26.5K MX$448.7K

-4.54%

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

$200 $200

$66.0 MX$1,118

203.80%

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

$59.2 $59.2

$30.98 MX$525

90.99%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.7 $69.7

$36.20 MX$613

92.40%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.50 $40.50

$57.5 MX$975

-29.60%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.75 MX$453

Cinema Ticket

$13.59 $13.59

$7.13 MX$121

90.60%

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

$1,440 $1,440

$457 MX$7,738

215.29%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.2K $23.2K

$13.2K MX$224.5K

74.85%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.0 $52.0

$75.8 MX$1,285

-31.39%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.89 $40.89

$54.1 MX$917

-24.43%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.7 $88.7

$116 MX$1,974

-23.86%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$118 $118

$122 MX$2,063

-3.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,567 $1,567

$1,147 MX$19.4K

36.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,266 $1,266

$726 MX$12.3K

74.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,537 $2,537

$2,503 MX$42.4K

1.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,097 $2,097

$1,331 MX$22.6K

57.57%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,762 $2,762

$3,895 MX$66.0K

-29.08%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,413 $2,413

$2,149 MX$36.4K

12.29%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,105 $3,105

$1,069 MX$18.1K

190.44%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.12

11.35

-46.08%

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

Last update for Lansing, IL: August 16, 2026

Last update for Mexico City: August 17, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,567 in Lansing, IL versus $1,147 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 190% higher in Lansing, IL, 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 $75.0 in Lansing, IL versus $52.0 in Mexico City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $397 vs $344 – 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

Lansing, IL vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Lansing, IL is pricier by about 52%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,832 per month in Lansing, IL and $2,523 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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,555 in Lansing, IL and $1,682 in Mexico City. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $1,440 per month in Lansing, IL and $457 in Mexico City. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Mexico City, where all-in costs run around $1,682, than in Lansing, IL at $2,555. In Mexico City it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lansing, IL 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.

If budget matters most, go with Mexico City. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Lansing, IL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.