Cost of Living Comparison Between Los Alamos, NM and Mexico City Cost of Living Comparison Between Los Alamos, NM and Mexico City

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,071 per month in Los Alamos, NM vs $1,646 in Mexico City, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,671 per month in Los Alamos, NM vs $2,613 in Mexico City, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,272 per month in Los Alamos, NM vs $3,580 in Mexico City, rent included.

Los Alamos, NM is about 35% cheaper than Mexico City, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Los Alamos, NM sits 22% below the global median, while Mexico City is 20% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.67 $16.67

$12.11 MX$205

37.65%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.36 $40.36

$52.2 MX$882

-22.73%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.92 $9.92

$10.90 MX$184

-8.99%

Cappuccino

$5.11 $5.11

$4.05 MX$68.4

26.17%

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

$2.53 $2.53

$1.72 MX$28.96

47.09%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.46 $1.46

$1.38 MX$23.26

5.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.14 $6.14

$3.47 MX$58.5

76.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.97 $6.97

$5.81 MX$98.1

19.97%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.88 $0.88

$1.85 MX$31.30

-52.43%

White Bread (500g)

$2.23 $2.23

$3.22 MX$54.4

-30.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.54 $4.54

$2.09 MX$35.21

117.22%

Eggs

$3.91 $3.91

$2.91 MX$49.12

34.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.90 $11.90

$12.49 MX$211

-4.72%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.21 $9.21

$10.11 MX$171

-8.90%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.60 $17.60

$15.89 MX$268

10.76%

Apples (1kg)

$4.70 $4.70

$3.31 MX$56.0

41.99%

Banana (1kg)

$1.43 $1.43

$2.13 MX$35.91

-32.86%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.91 $2.91

$2.19 MX$36.99

32.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.44 $4.44

$2.45 MX$41.33

81.22%

Potato (1kg)

$1.12 $1.12

$2.19 MX$36.96

-48.86%

Onion (1kg)

$3.36 $3.36

$1.90 MX$32.16

76.84%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.95 $1.95

$1.62 MX$27.28

20.37%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 $0.48

$1.35 MX$22.79

-64.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.49 $10.49

$5.43 MX$91.6

93.19%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.81 $13.81

$17.59 MX$297

-21.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.49 $2.49

$2.07 MX$34.92

20.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.58 $3.58

$4.75 MX$80.1

-24.63%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.34 MX$5.74

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.58 MX$364

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.70 $3.70

$2.04 MX$34.45

81.37%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.03 $2.03

$0.58 MX$9.76

250.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$31.94 $31.94

$5.97 MX$101

435.01%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.84 $0.84

$1.62 MX$27.28

-48.15%

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

$30.8K $30.8K

$22.8K MX$385.2K

35.22%

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

$24.6K $24.6K

$26.7K MX$450.2K

-7.68%

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

$155 $155

$65.2 MX$1,102

137.02%

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

$40.16 $40.16

$29.87 MX$504

34.45%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$73.3 $73.3

$36.55 MX$617

100.57%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.0 MX$1,030

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.70 MX$451

Cinema Ticket

$13.14 $13.14

$6.85 MX$116

91.82%

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

$1,473 $1,473

$453 MX$7,656

224.79%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$25.3K $25.3K

$13.4K MX$225.8K

89.08%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$19.97 $19.97

$75.0 MX$1,266

-73.36%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.85 $42.85

$55.3 MX$934

-22.50%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 $103

$114 MX$1,918

-9.48%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$118 $118

$123 MX$2,071

-3.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,103 $1,103

$1,134 MX$19.1K

-2.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$712 MX$12.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,933 $1,933

$2,571 MX$43.4K

-24.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,311 MX$22.1K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,325 $3,325

$3,993 MX$67.4K

-16.73%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,336 $3,336

$2,095 MX$35.4K

59.21%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$8,216 $8,216

$1,047 MX$17.7K

684.80%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.1

11.3

-46.02%

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

Last update for Los Alamos, NM: September 1, 2026

Last update for Mexico City: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,103 in Los Alamos, NM versus $1,134 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 685% higher in Los Alamos, NM, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $40.00 in Los Alamos, NM versus $52.0 in Mexico City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $336 vs $345 – making Los Alamos, NM 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

Los Alamos, NM vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Mexico City is pricier by about 54%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,607 per month in Los Alamos, NM and $2,469 in Mexico City. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Los Alamos, NM, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,071 in Los Alamos, NM and $1,646 in Mexico City. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $1,473 per month in Los Alamos, NM and $453 in Mexico City. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Los Alamos, NM, where all-in costs run around $1,071, than in Mexico City at $1,646. In Los Alamos, NM it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mexico City it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Los Alamos, NM – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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