😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,568 in Lisle, IL versus $1,646 in Mexico City.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,751 in Lisle, IL versus $2,613 in Mexico City.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,935 in Lisle, IL versus $3,580 in Mexico City.
🌍Living in Lisle, IL is roughly 56% more expensive than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisle, IL87% above, Mexico City20% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisle, IL
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.54$20.54
$12.11MX$204
69.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$82.1$82.1
$52.2MX$881
57.19%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.81$10.81
$10.90MX$184
-0.83%
Cappuccino
$5.80$5.80
$4.05MX$68.4
43.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.52$2.52
$1.72MX$28.95
46.51%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.30$2.30
$1.38MX$23.25
66.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.49$5.49
$3.47MX$58.5
58.21%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.89$7.89
$5.81MX$98.1
35.80%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisle, IL
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08$1.08
$1.85MX$31.28
-41.62%
White Bread(500g)
$3.05$3.05
$3.22MX$54.4
-5.28%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.90$3.90
$2.09MX$35.20
86.60%
Eggs
$4.63$4.63
$2.91MX$49.10
59.11%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.43$11.43
$12.49MX$211
-8.49%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.67$10.67
$10.11MX$171
5.54%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.46$15.46
$15.89MX$268
-2.71%
Apples(1kg)
$5.25$5.25
$3.31MX$56.0
58.61%
Banana(1kg)
$1.74$1.74
$2.13MX$35.90
-18.31%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.84$4.84
$2.19MX$36.97
121.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.19$5.19
$2.45MX$41.31
111.84%
Potato(1kg)
$2.87$2.87
$2.19MX$36.95
31.05%
Onion(1kg)
$2.76$2.76
$1.90MX$32.15
45.26%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.31$2.31
$1.62MX$27.26
42.59%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.57$2.57
$1.35MX$22.78
90.37%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.70$9.70
$5.43MX$91.6
78.64%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.12$17.12
$17.59MX$297
-2.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.65$1.65
$2.07MX$34.90
-20.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90$2.90
$4.75MX$80.1
-38.95%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisle, IL
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.85$1.85
$0.34MX$5.74
444.12%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$21.58MX$364
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.90$2.90
$2.04MX$34.44
42.16%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.65$1.65
$0.58MX$9.75
184.48%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$27.50$27.50
$5.97MX$101
360.64%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.93$0.93
$1.62MX$27.27
-42.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.8K$34.8K
$22.8KMX$385.0K
52.50%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.3K$29.3K
$26.7KMX$450.0K
9.84%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisle, IL
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$189$189
$65.2MX$1,101
190.07%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$61.0$61.0
$29.87MX$504
104.29%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$69.9$69.9
$36.55MX$617
91.19%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisle, IL
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.02$44.02
$61.0MX$1,030
-27.84%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$26.70MX$451
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.24$13.24
$6.85MX$116
93.28%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisle, IL
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,579$1,579
$453MX$7,652
248.29%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$25.2K$25.2K
$13.4KMX$225.7K
88.49%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisle, IL
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.6$56.6
$75.0MX$1,265
-24.48%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.78$44.78
$55.3MX$933
-19.01%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$86.7$86.7
$114MX$1,917
-23.73%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116$116
$123MX$2,070
-5.36%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisle, IL
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,565$1,565
$1,134MX$19.1K
38.10%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,152$1,152
$712MX$12.0K
61.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,590$2,590
$2,571MX$43.4K
0.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,038$2,038
$1,311MX$22.1K
55.39%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,992$2,992
$3,993MX$67.4K
-25.06%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,577$2,577
$2,095MX$35.4K
22.99%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisle, IL
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$1,047MX$17.7K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.12
11.3
-45.84%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisle, IL: August 31, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: August 29, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,565 in Lisle, IL and $1,134 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $82.0 in Lisle, IL vs $52.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $394 vs $345 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 – living expenses run 56% 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.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Lisle, IL and in Mexico City?
You'd need roughly $3,852 in Lisle, IL and $2,469 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.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Lisle, IL compared to Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,565 in Lisle, IL versus $1,134 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 in Mexico City?
Supermarket bills run roughly 14% 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 $2,568 per month in Lisle, IL versus $1,646 in Mexico City – a 56% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $3,000/month in Lisle, IL or in Mexico City?
At $1,646 in Mexico City versus $2,568 in Lisle, IL, a $3,000 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 – similar infrastructure at $1,646 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 – expenses run 56% less than in Lisle, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.