Cost of Living Comparison Between Lowell, MA and Mexico City Cost of Living Comparison Between Lowell, MA and Mexico City

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,658 per month in Lowell, MA vs $1,484 in Mexico City, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,230 per month in Lowell, MA vs $2,342 in Mexico City, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,802 per month in Lowell, MA vs $3,199 in Mexico City, rent included.

Lowell, MA costs about 79% more than Mexico City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Lowell, MA and Mexico City sit above the global median – Lowell, MA by 97%, Mexico City by 10%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.12 $19.12

$13.29 MX$231

43.87%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$80.8 $80.8

$53.8 MX$933

50.23%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.88 $8.88

$9.29 MX$161

-4.41%

Cappuccino

$4.48 $4.48

$3.61 MX$62.6

24.10%

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

$2.04 $2.04

$1.56 MX$27.03

30.77%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.66 $1.66

$1.12 MX$19.46

48.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.94 $5.94

$3.13 MX$54.3

89.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.66 $7.66

$4.71 MX$81.7

62.63%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.87 $0.87

$1.70 MX$29.54

-48.82%

White Bread (500g)

$2.15 $2.15

$2.77 MX$48.03

-22.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.12 $3.12

$1.96 MX$34.05

59.18%

Eggs

$3.90 $3.90

$2.60 MX$45.21

50.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.64 $10.64

$9.94 MX$173

7.04%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.87 $8.87

$8.10 MX$141

9.51%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$21.05 $21.05

$11.50 MX$200

83.04%

Apples (1kg)

$2.79 $2.79

$2.87 MX$49.84

-2.79%

Banana (1kg)

$1.16 $1.16

$1.73 MX$30.07

-32.95%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.85 $5.85

$2.00 MX$34.73

192.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.77 $5.77

$2.04 MX$35.38

182.84%

Potato (1kg)

$1.60 $1.60

$2.08 MX$36.14

-23.08%

Onion (1kg)

$4.34 $4.34

$2.20 MX$38.12

97.27%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.04 $3.04

$1.45 MX$25.24

109.66%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.19 $2.19

$1.07 MX$18.63

104.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.19 $11.19

$4.27 MX$74.2

162.06%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.97 $14.97

$14.32 MX$249

4.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 $1.77

$1.76 MX$30.62

0.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.94 $1.94

$3.70 MX$64.2

-47.57%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.84 $1.84

$0.35 MX$6.12

425.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.0 $55.0

$19.19 MX$333

186.50%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.98 $3.98

$1.34 MX$23.18

197.01%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.78 $1.78

$0.28 MX$4.83

535.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.64 $28.64

$5.33 MX$92.6

437.34%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.90 $0.90

$1.34 MX$23.27

-32.84%

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

$30.0K $30.0K

$19.1K MX$332.0K

56.98%

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

$25.9K $25.9K

$23.9K MX$414.5K

8.30%

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

$185 $185

$39.86 MX$692

364.27%

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

$52.6 $52.6

$26.78 MX$465

96.45%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$29.36 MX$510

122.00%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.05 $40.05

$53.4 MX$927

-25.04%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.09 MX$453

Cinema Ticket

$14.17 $14.17

$6.40 MX$111

121.41%

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

$1,390 $1,390

$440 MX$7,647

215.51%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.7K $23.7K

$10.8K MX$186.6K

120.02%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.5 $51.5

$57.6 MX$1,000

-10.66%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.08 $33.08

$45.02 MX$781

-26.52%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.0 $65.0

$104 MX$1,801

-37.38%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$68.8 $68.8

$108 MX$1,874

-36.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,628 $1,628

$1,013 MX$17.6K

60.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,463 $1,463

$630 MX$10.9K

132.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,759 $3,759

$2,162 MX$37.5K

73.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,167 $3,167

$1,222 MX$21.2K

159.23%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,517 $3,517

$3,793 MX$65.8K

-7.27%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,332 MX$40.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,931 $3,931

$1,075 MX$18.7K

265.71%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

11.34

-43.12%

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

Last update for Lowell, MA: April 11, 2026

Last update for Mexico City: April 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,628 in Lowell, MA versus $1,013 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 266% higher in Lowell, MA, 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 $81 in Lowell, MA versus $54 in Mexico City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $366 vs $285 – 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

Lowell, MA vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Lowell, MA is pricier by about 79%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,987 per month in Lowell, MA and $2,226 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.

Public transport costs about 187% less in Mexico City. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $1,390 per month in Lowell, MA and $440 in Mexico City. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Mexico City, where all-in costs run around $1,484, than in Lowell, MA at $2,658. In Mexico City it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lowell, MA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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

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, Lowell, MA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.