Cost of Living Comparison Between Long Island, NY and Mexico City Cost of Living Comparison Between Long Island, NY and Mexico City

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,552 per month in Long Island, NY vs $1,472 in Mexico City, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,146 per month in Long Island, NY vs $2,359 in Mexico City, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,739 per month in Long Island, NY vs $3,245 in Mexico City, rent included.

Long Island, NY costs about 141% more than Mexico City, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Long Island, NY and Mexico City sit above the global median – Long Island, NY by 167%, Mexico City by 11%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.91 $19.91

$13.14 MX$229

51.52%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.2 $99.2

$53.5 MX$934

85.32%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.36 $13.36

$9.33 MX$163

43.19%

Cappuccino

$4.69 $4.69

$3.70 MX$64.5

26.76%

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

$2.45 $2.45

$1.60 MX$27.98

53.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.12 MX$19.49

53.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.83 $6.83

$3.14 MX$54.7

117.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.80 $7.80

$4.85 MX$84.5

60.82%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.20 $1.20

$1.65 MX$28.84

-27.27%

White Bread (500g)

$3.72 $3.72

$2.71 MX$47.34

37.27%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.01 $5.01

$1.91 MX$33.29

162.30%

Eggs

$4.71 $4.71

$2.59 MX$45.17

81.85%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.37 $17.37

$9.81 MX$171

77.06%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.94 $11.94

$8.43 MX$147

41.64%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.63 $15.63

$11.93 MX$208

31.01%

Apples (1kg)

$4.83 $4.83

$2.95 MX$51.5

63.73%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.74 MX$30.35

-1.72%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.03 $4.03

$2.04 MX$35.66

97.55%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.09 $4.09

$2.06 MX$35.93

98.54%

Potato (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.15 MX$37.49

27.44%

Onion (1kg)

$3.93 $3.93

$2.26 MX$39.33

73.89%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.22 $2.22

$1.39 MX$24.17

59.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.33 $2.33

$1.12 MX$19.47

108.04%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.20 $12.20

$4.22 MX$73.6

189.10%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.30 $15.30

$17.51 MX$305

-12.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.75 $1.75

$1.71 MX$29.82

2.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.96 $3.96

$3.63 MX$63.4

9.09%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.88 $2.88

$0.35 MX$6.15

722.86%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$129 $129

$19.32 MX$337

566.56%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.07 $3.07

$1.38 MX$24.00

122.46%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.03 $2.03

$0.28 MX$4.81

625.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.37 $24.37

$5.28 MX$92.0

361.55%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.88 $0.88

$1.36 MX$23.69

-35.29%

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

$23.6K $23.6K

$19.1K MX$333.2K

23.49%

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

$24.5K $24.5K

$23.6K MX$411.7K

3.83%

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

$127 $127

$40.53 MX$707

213.69%

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

$45.45 $45.45

$27.38 MX$478

66.00%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$60.6 $60.6

$30.38 MX$530

99.54%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.68 $33.68

$52.2 MX$911

-35.50%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.48 MX$462

Cinema Ticket

$13.12 $13.12

$6.19 MX$108

111.95%

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

$2,288 $2,288

$425 MX$7,414

438.25%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.0K $24.0K

$10.7K MX$187.2K

123.74%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$39.43 $39.43

$58.3 MX$1,017

-32.38%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$63.3 $63.3

$44.57 MX$777

42.07%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$73.7 $73.7

$103 MX$1,805

-28.80%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$130 $130

$109 MX$1,897

19.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,298 $2,298

$1,014 MX$17.7K

126.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,224 $2,224

$623 MX$10.9K

257.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,021 $4,021

$2,119 MX$37.0K

89.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,494 $3,494

$1,223 MX$21.3K

185.60%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,249 $4,249

$3,792 MX$66.1K

12.04%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,271 $4,271

$2,110 MX$36.8K

102.45%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,059 $5,059

$1,052 MX$18.4K

380.79%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

11.34

-43.21%

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

Last update for Long Island, NY: July 27, 2026

Last update for Mexico City: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,298 in Long Island, NY versus $1,014 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 381% higher in Long Island, NY, 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 $99.0 in Long Island, NY versus $54.0 in Mexico City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $418 vs $293 – 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

Long Island, NY vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,552 in Long Island, NY, $1,472 in Mexico City – roughly 141% apart. Long Island, NY costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,329 per month in Long Island, NY and $2,208 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.

Kindergarten costs $2,288 per month in Long Island, NY and $425 in Mexico City. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 42% more in Long Island, NY, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Mexico City, where all-in costs run around $1,472, than in Long Island, NY at $3,552. In Mexico City it covers expenses comfortably, while in Long Island, NY it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Long Island, NY has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,472 in Mexico City to $3,552 in Long Island, NY. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

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