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 $3,522 per month in Long Island, NY vs $1,447 in Mexico City, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,143 per month in Long Island, NY vs $2,310 in Mexico City, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,764 per month in Long Island, NY vs $3,174 in Mexico City, rent included.

Long Island, NY costs about 143% more than Mexico City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Long Island, NY and Mexico City sit above the global median – Long Island, NY by 162%, Mexico City by 8%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.03 $20.03

$12.98 MX$227

54.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$98.7 $98.7

$52.6 MX$918

87.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.61 $13.61

$9.43 MX$165

44.33%

Cappuccino

$4.90 $4.90

$3.57 MX$62.3

37.25%

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

$2.39 $2.39

$1.61 MX$28.02

48.45%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.76 $1.76

$1.15 MX$20.14

53.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.85 $6.85

$3.15 MX$55.0

117.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.05 $8.05

$4.86 MX$84.8

65.64%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.25 $1.25

$1.70 MX$29.66

-26.47%

White Bread (500g)

$3.67 $3.67

$2.64 MX$45.99

39.02%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.93 $4.93

$1.90 MX$33.22

159.47%

Eggs

$4.90 $4.90

$2.54 MX$44.35

92.91%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.48 $17.48

$10.08 MX$176

73.41%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.95 $11.95

$8.29 MX$145

44.15%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.17 $15.17

$11.57 MX$202

31.11%

Apples (1kg)

$4.85 $4.85

$3.03 MX$52.8

60.07%

Banana (1kg)

$1.76 $1.76

$1.71 MX$29.85

2.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.05 $4.05

$2.05 MX$35.76

97.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.12 $4.12

$2.06 MX$35.95

100.00%

Potato (1kg)

$2.72 $2.72

$2.06 MX$36.03

32.04%

Onion (1kg)

$3.81 $3.81

$2.17 MX$37.87

75.58%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.23 $2.23

$1.40 MX$24.49

59.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.34 $2.34

$1.12 MX$19.58

108.93%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.03 $12.03

$4.29 MX$74.9

180.42%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.73 $14.73

$15.41 MX$269

-4.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 $1.69

$1.67 MX$29.23

1.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.08 $4.08

$3.69 MX$64.3

10.57%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.96 $2.96

$0.38 MX$6.66

678.95%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$127 $127

$19.06 MX$333

566.53%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.04 $3.04

$1.38 MX$24.10

120.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.01 $2.01

$0.28 MX$4.82

617.86%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.09 $24.09

$5.42 MX$94.5

344.46%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.91 $0.91

$1.28 MX$22.35

-28.91%

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

$24.4K $24.4K

$19.0K MX$331.3K

28.76%

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

$24.9K $24.9K

$23.5K MX$409.5K

6.15%

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

$128 $128

$41.02 MX$716

211.07%

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

$45.10 $45.10

$26.92 MX$470

67.53%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.9 $61.9

$29.69 MX$518

108.49%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.48 $33.48

$52.3 MX$913

-36.02%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.23 MX$458

Cinema Ticket

$12.76 $12.76

$6.18 MX$108

106.47%

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

$2,246 $2,246

$427 MX$7,454

425.78%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.0K $24.0K

$10.7K MX$186.7K

123.90%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$40.65 $40.65

$56.8 MX$992

-28.46%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$62.6 $62.6

$44.83 MX$782

39.68%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.9 $74.9

$105 MX$1,824

-28.38%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$130 $130

$106 MX$1,849

22.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,336 $2,336

$995 MX$17.4K

134.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,251 $2,251

$621 MX$10.8K

262.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,152 $4,152

$2,126 MX$37.1K

95.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,595 $3,595

$1,254 MX$21.9K

186.76%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,243 $4,243

$3,903 MX$68.1K

8.71%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,299 $4,299

$2,096 MX$36.6K

105.16%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,053 $5,053

$1,107 MX$19.3K

356.33%

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: June 9, 2026

Last update for Mexico City: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,336 in Long Island, NY versus $995 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 356% 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 $53.0 in Mexico City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $417 vs $288 – 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: $3,522 in Long Island, NY, $1,447 in Mexico City – roughly 143% apart. Long Island, NY costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,282 per month in Long Island, NY and $2,171 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 $2,246 per month in Long Island, NY and $427 in Mexico City. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 45% 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 $1,447, than in Long Island, NY at $3,522. 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 $1,447 in Mexico City to $3,522 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.