Cost of Living Comparison Between Lexington, MA and Mexico City Cost of Living Comparison Between Lexington, MA and Mexico City

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,609 in Lexington, MA versus $1,484 in Mexico City.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,741 in Lexington, MA versus $2,381 in Mexico City.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,873 in Lexington, MA versus $3,278 in Mexico City.

Living in Lexington, MA is roughly 76% more expensive than Mexico City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lexington, MA 95% above, Mexico City 11% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.81 $18.81

$12.98 MX$227

44.92%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$73.9 $73.9

$53.1 MX$929

39.23%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.92 $10.92

$9.72 MX$170

12.35%

Cappuccino

$5.19 $5.19

$3.75 MX$65.6

38.40%

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

$2.57 $2.57

$1.57 MX$27.46

63.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.98 $1.98

$1.13 MX$19.76

75.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.84 $5.84

$3.18 MX$55.7

83.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.81 $6.81

$4.66 MX$81.6

46.14%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.00 $1.00

$1.62 MX$28.37

-38.27%

White Bread (500g)

$3.54 $3.54

$2.71 MX$47.36

30.63%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.46 $4.46

$1.88 MX$32.89

137.23%

Eggs

$4.26 $4.26

$2.51 MX$43.90

69.72%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.12 $12.12

$10.08 MX$176

20.24%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.40 $11.40

$8.29 MX$145

37.52%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.73 $15.73

$11.94 MX$209

31.74%

Apples (1kg)

$4.84 $4.84

$2.86 MX$50.1

69.23%

Banana (1kg)

$1.63 $1.63

$1.75 MX$30.62

-6.86%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.26 $4.26

$2.08 MX$36.48

104.81%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.66 $4.66

$1.97 MX$34.46

136.55%

Potato (1kg)

$2.92 $2.92

$2.16 MX$37.79

35.19%

Onion (1kg)

$2.82 $2.82

$2.18 MX$38.16

29.36%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.08 $2.08

$1.39 MX$24.34

49.64%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.17 $2.17

$1.12 MX$19.69

93.75%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.85 $9.85

$4.20 MX$73.5

134.52%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.46 $13.46

$14.25 MX$249

-5.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 $1.76

$1.76 MX$30.85

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.41 $3.41

$3.68 MX$64.5

-7.34%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.03 $2.03

$0.39 MX$6.74

420.51%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.66 MX$327

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.54 $3.54

$1.39 MX$24.26

154.68%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.64 $1.64

$0.30 MX$5.32

446.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.70 $29.70

$5.42 MX$94.9

447.97%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.89 $0.89

$1.35 MX$23.63

-34.07%

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

$29.0K $29.0K

$18.9K MX$330.5K

53.81%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$23.2K MX$405.2K

12.43%

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

$190 $190

$40.82 MX$714

365.46%

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

$53.1 $53.1

$27.50 MX$481

93.16%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.7 $67.7

$30.38 MX$532

122.81%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.05 $43.05

$53.4 MX$935

-19.43%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.30 MX$460

Cinema Ticket

$13.65 $13.65

$6.27 MX$110

117.70%

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

$1,306 $1,306

$436 MX$7,632

199.43%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.6K $23.6K

$10.5K MX$183.2K

125.40%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.1 $52.1

$56.8 MX$993

-8.23%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.60 $39.60

$44.79 MX$784

-11.59%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.8 $87.8

$103 MX$1,799

-14.63%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$112 $112

$108 MX$1,888

4.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,601 $1,601

$1,000 MX$17.5K

60.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,370 $1,370

$620 MX$10.9K

120.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,623 $2,623

$2,137 MX$37.4K

22.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,223 $2,223

$1,235 MX$21.6K

80.00%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,724 $2,724

$3,865 MX$67.6K

-29.53%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,355 $2,355

$2,332 MX$40.8K

1.00%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,067 MX$18.7K

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 Lexington, MA: April 26, 2026

Last update for Mexico City: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,601 in Lexington, MA and $1,000 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $74.0 in Lexington, MA vs $53.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $386 vs $286 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

Lexington, MA vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Lexington, MA and Mexico City differ by about 76% in total monthly costs ($2,609 vs $1,484 including rent). Mexico City is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $3,913 in Lexington, MA and $2,225 in Mexico City to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,601 in Lexington, MA versus $1,000 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 35% higher in Lexington, MA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $2,609 per month in Lexington, MA versus $1,484 in Mexico City – a 76% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,484 in Mexico City versus $2,609 in Lexington, MA, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Mexico City but tight or insufficient in Lexington, MA. The gap between the two cities makes Mexico City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Lexington, MA 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.

Expats usually find Mexico City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 76% less than in Lexington, MA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.