Cost of Living Comparison Between Lincoln, NE and Mexico City Cost of Living Comparison Between Lincoln, NE and Mexico City

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,019 in Lincoln, NE versus $1,472 in Mexico City.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,115 in Lincoln, NE versus $2,359 in Mexico City.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,210 in Lincoln, NE versus $3,245 in Mexico City.

Living in Lincoln, NE is roughly 37% more expensive than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lincoln, NE 52% above, Mexico City 11% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.91 $14.91

$13.14 MX$227

13.47%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$57.4 $57.4

$53.5 MX$926

7.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.21 $12.21

$9.33 MX$161

30.87%

Cappuccino

$5.24 $5.24

$3.70 MX$64.0

41.62%

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

$2.19 $2.19

$1.60 MX$27.76

36.87%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.51 $1.51

$1.12 MX$19.34

34.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.88 $4.88

$3.14 MX$54.3

55.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.05 $6.05

$4.85 MX$83.9

24.74%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.84 $0.84

$1.65 MX$28.61

-49.09%

White Bread (500g)

$3.10 $3.10

$2.71 MX$46.96

14.39%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.47 $5.47

$1.91 MX$33.03

186.39%

Eggs

$4.35 $4.35

$2.59 MX$44.81

67.95%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.67 $10.67

$9.81 MX$170

8.77%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.74 $10.74

$8.43 MX$146

27.40%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.56 $14.56

$11.93 MX$206

22.05%

Apples (1kg)

$6.00 $6.00

$2.95 MX$51.1

103.39%

Banana (1kg)

$2.03 $2.03

$1.74 MX$30.10

16.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.62 $4.62

$2.04 MX$35.38

126.47%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.67 $4.67

$2.06 MX$35.64

126.70%

Potato (1kg)

$4.23 $4.23

$2.15 MX$37.20

96.74%

Onion (1kg)

$3.33 $3.33

$2.26 MX$39.02

47.35%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.83 $1.83

$1.39 MX$23.97

31.65%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.31 $2.31

$1.12 MX$19.31

106.25%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.96 $9.96

$4.22 MX$73.0

136.02%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.25 $17.25

$17.51 MX$303

-1.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.81 $1.81

$1.71 MX$29.58

5.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.31 $3.31

$3.63 MX$62.8

-8.82%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.77 $1.77

$0.35 MX$6.10

405.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.14 $29.14

$19.32 MX$334

50.83%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.62 $6.62

$1.38 MX$23.80

379.71%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.81 $1.81

$0.28 MX$4.77

546.43%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.82 $34.82

$5.28 MX$91.3

559.47%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.82 $0.82

$1.36 MX$23.50

-39.71%

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

$30.6K $30.6K

$19.1K MX$330.5K

60.12%

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

$25.1K $25.1K

$23.6K MX$408.4K

6.46%

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

$109 $109

$40.53 MX$701

168.96%

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

$49.12 $49.12

$27.38 MX$474

79.40%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.1 $65.1

$30.38 MX$526

114.12%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.8 $55.8

$52.2 MX$903

6.91%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.97 $26.97

$26.48 MX$458

1.85%

Cinema Ticket

$15.11 $15.11

$6.19 MX$107

144.10%

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

$1,091 $1,091

$425 MX$7,355

156.70%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.5K $23.5K

$10.7K MX$185.7K

119.03%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.81 $49.81

$58.3 MX$1,009

-14.58%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.68 $35.68

$44.57 MX$771

-19.95%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 $84.8

$103 MX$1,791

-18.09%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$93.9 $93.9

$109 MX$1,881

-13.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,010 $1,010

$1,014 MX$17.5K

-0.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$837 $837

$623 MX$10.8K

34.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,483 $2,483

$2,119 MX$36.7K

17.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,681 $1,681

$1,223 MX$21.2K

37.45%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,878 $1,878

$3,792 MX$65.6K

-50.47%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,902 $1,902

$2,110 MX$36.5K

-9.87%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,753 $3,753

$1,052 MX$18.2K

256.70%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.54

11.34

-42.33%

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

Last update for Lincoln, NE: July 27, 2026

Last update for Mexico City: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,010 in Lincoln, NE and $1,014 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lincoln, NE pays 257% 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: $57.0 in Lincoln, NE vs $54.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $397 vs $293 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

Lincoln, NE vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mexico City wins on cost – living expenses run 37% lower than in Lincoln, NE. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Mexico City the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 257% higher in Lincoln, NE, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,010 in Lincoln, NE versus $1,014 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Mexico City – a meal for two runs $54.0 versus $57.0 in Lincoln, NE. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,019 per month in Lincoln, NE versus $1,472 in Mexico City – a 37% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,472 in Mexico City versus $2,019 in Lincoln, NE, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Mexico City but tight or insufficient in Lincoln, NE. The gap between the two cities makes Mexico City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Mexico City delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,472 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Mexico City hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Lincoln, NE 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 37% less than in Lincoln, NE. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.