๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,604 in Lisle, IL versus $1,466 in Mexico City.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,743 in Lisle, IL versus $2,325 in Mexico City.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,883 in Lisle, IL versus $3,184 in Mexico City.
๐Living in Lisle, IL is roughly 78% more expensive than Mexico City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
๐Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisle, IL94% above, Mexico City9% above.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Lisle, IL
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.87$18.87
$13.30MX$231
41.88%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$75.9$75.9
$53.8MX$932
41.14%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.82$10.82
$9.42MX$163
14.86%
Cappuccino
$4.96$4.96
$3.59MX$62.3
38.16%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.55$2.55
$1.62MX$28.13
57.41%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.02$2.02
$1.12MX$19.49
80.36%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.98$5.98
$3.25MX$56.3
84.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.11$7.11
$4.65MX$80.6
52.90%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Lisle, IL
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.01$1.01
$1.64MX$28.37
-38.41%
White Bread(500g)
$3.60$3.60
$2.65MX$46.00
35.85%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.26$4.26
$1.96MX$33.99
117.35%
Eggs
$4.22$4.22
$2.54MX$44.08
66.14%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.44$12.44
$9.97MX$173
24.77%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.54$11.54
$8.39MX$145
37.54%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.53$15.53
$11.83MX$205
31.28%
Apples(1kg)
$4.84$4.84
$2.86MX$49.62
69.23%
Banana(1kg)
$1.56$1.56
$1.73MX$30.05
-9.83%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.20$4.20
$1.99MX$34.50
111.06%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.83$4.83
$2.05MX$35.51
135.61%
Potato(1kg)
$2.82$2.82
$2.06MX$35.64
36.89%
Onion(1kg)
$2.92$2.92
$2.28MX$39.54
28.07%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.12$2.12
$1.45MX$25.05
46.21%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.13$2.13
$1.09MX$18.83
95.41%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.73$9.73
$4.27MX$73.9
127.87%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.42$13.42
$14.67MX$254
-8.52%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77$1.77
$1.76MX$30.58
0.57%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.27$3.27
$3.57MX$61.8
-8.40%
๐ Getting Around
Lisle, IL
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.03$2.03
$0.38MX$6.67
434.21%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$18.73MX$325
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.43$3.43
$1.39MX$24.09
146.76%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.64$1.64
$0.30MX$5.26
446.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.04$29.04
$5.41MX$93.8
436.78%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.84$0.84
$1.34MX$23.22
-37.31%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.0K$30.0K
$18.9KMX$326.7K
59.27%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.8K$25.8K
$23.2KMX$402.0K
11.23%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisle, IL
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$190$190
$40.30MX$698
371.71%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$53.4$53.4
$27.15MX$471
96.69%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$67.8$67.8
$29.46MX$510
130.11%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Lisle, IL
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.63$42.63
$52.7MX$914
-19.17%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$26.17MX$454
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.76$13.76
$6.18MX$107
122.65%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Lisle, IL
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,307$1,307
$441MX$7,637
196.66%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$23.0K$23.0K
$10.7KMX$185.4K
115.36%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Lisle, IL
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.7$50.7
$57.2MX$992
-11.37%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.33$39.33
$45.04MX$781
-12.68%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$85.2$85.2
$103MX$1,793
-17.70%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$112$112
$109MX$1,884
3.04%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Lisle, IL
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,580$1,580
$1,000MX$17.3K
58.04%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,340$1,340
$632MX$11.0K
112.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,602$2,602
$2,141MX$37.1K
21.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,195$2,195
$1,253MX$21.7K
75.22%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,990$2,990
$3,745MX$64.9K
-20.15%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,149$2,149
$2,381MX$41.3K
-9.76%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Lisle, IL
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$5,503$5,503
$1,079MX$18.7K
409.84%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.51
11.34
-42.59%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisle, IL: April 21, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: April 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,580 in Lisle, IL and $1,000 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
๐ฐLisle, IL pays 410% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
๐Dining out: $76 in Lisle, IL vs $54 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $387 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
Lisle, IL vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Lisle, IL or Mexico City?
Mexico City wins on cost โ living expenses run 78% lower than in Lisle, IL. 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 Lisle, IL or Mexico City?
Lisle, IL pays 410% 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 Lisle, IL vs Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,580 in Lisle, IL versus $1,000 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Lisle, IL or Mexico City?
Supermarket bills run roughly 35% higher in Lisle, IL. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How much does it cost to live in Lisle, IL compared to Mexico City?
All in, you'll spend $2,604 per month in Lisle, IL versus $1,466 in Mexico City โ a 78% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Lisle, IL or Mexico City?
At $1,466 in Mexico City versus $2,604 in Lisle, IL, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Mexico City but tight or insufficient in Lisle, IL. The gap between the two cities makes Mexico City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Lisle, IL or Mexico City?
Both work as nomad bases, but Mexico City delivers better value โ similar infrastructure at $1,466 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Mexico City hard to pass up.
How safe is Lisle, IL compared to Mexico City?
Safety-wise, Lisle, IL 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 โ expenses run 78% less than in Lisle, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.