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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,719 per month in Medford, MA vs $1,466 in Mexico City, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,013 per month in Medford, MA vs $2,325 in Mexico City, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,306 per month in Medford, MA vs $3,184 in Mexico City, rent included.

Medford, MA costs about 86% more than Mexico City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Medford, MA and Mexico City sit above the global median – Medford, MA by 103%, Mexico City by 9%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.08 $19.08

$13.30 MX$231

43.46%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$101 $101

$53.8 MX$932

87.67%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.04 $11.04

$9.42 MX$163

17.20%

Cappuccino

$5.71 $5.71

$3.59 MX$62.3

59.05%

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

$2.70 $2.70

$1.62 MX$28.13

66.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.11 $2.11

$1.12 MX$19.49

88.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.04 $8.04

$3.25 MX$56.3

147.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.10 $9.10

$4.65 MX$80.6

95.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.27 $1.27

$1.64 MX$28.37

-22.56%

White Bread (500g)

$3.29 $3.29

$2.65 MX$46.00

24.15%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.00 $3.00

$1.96 MX$33.99

53.06%

Eggs

$4.70 $4.70

$2.54 MX$44.08

85.04%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.67 $10.67

$9.97 MX$173

7.02%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.50 $9.50

$8.39 MX$145

13.23%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.60 $20.60

$11.83 MX$205

74.13%

Apples (1kg)

$5.90 $5.90

$2.86 MX$49.62

106.29%

Banana (1kg)

$2.11 $2.11

$1.73 MX$30.05

21.97%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.70 $5.70

$1.99 MX$34.50

186.43%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.84 $5.84

$2.05 MX$35.51

184.88%

Potato (1kg)

$4.40 $4.40

$2.06 MX$35.64

113.59%

Onion (1kg)

$3.81 $3.81

$2.28 MX$39.54

67.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.76 $2.76

$1.45 MX$25.05

90.34%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.21 $2.21

$1.09 MX$18.83

102.75%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.04 $11.04

$4.27 MX$73.9

158.55%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.04 $15.04

$14.67 MX$254

2.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.10 $2.10

$1.76 MX$30.58

19.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.95 $1.95

$3.57 MX$61.8

-45.38%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.38 $2.38

$0.38 MX$6.67

526.32%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$91.8 $91.8

$18.73 MX$325

390.02%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.39 MX$24.09

82.01%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.71 $1.71

$0.30 MX$5.26

470.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.54 $28.54

$5.41 MX$93.8

427.54%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.84 $0.84

$1.34 MX$23.22

-37.31%

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

$30.2K $30.2K

$18.9K MX$326.7K

60.27%

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

$24.9K $24.9K

$23.2K MX$402.0K

7.44%

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

$193 $193

$40.30 MX$698

379.58%

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

$58.7 $58.7

$27.15 MX$471

116.32%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.4 $65.4

$29.46 MX$510

121.83%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.63 $42.63

$52.7 MX$914

-19.17%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.17 MX$454

Cinema Ticket

$14.59 $14.59

$6.18 MX$107

136.08%

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

$1,513 $1,513

$441 MX$7,637

243.28%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$28.0K $28.0K

$10.7K MX$185.4K

161.35%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.8 $51.8

$57.2 MX$992

-9.43%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.20 $32.20

$45.04 MX$781

-28.51%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.7 $65.7

$103 MX$1,793

-36.48%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$82.0 $82.0

$109 MX$1,884

-24.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,588 $1,588

$1,000 MX$17.3K

58.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,375 $1,375

$632 MX$11.0K

117.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,656 $2,656

$2,141 MX$37.1K

24.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,209 $2,209

$1,253 MX$21.7K

76.30%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,745 MX$64.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,381 MX$41.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,079 MX$18.7K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.43

11.34

-43.30%

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

Last update for Medford, MA: April 19, 2026

Last update for Mexico City: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,588 in Medford, MA versus $1,000 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $101 in Medford, MA versus $54 in Mexico City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $415 vs $286 – 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

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

Yes – Medford, MA is pricier by about 86%, 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 $4,079 per month in Medford, MA and $2,199 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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,719 in Medford, MA and $1,466 in Mexico City. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 390% less in Mexico City. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Mexico City, where all-in costs run around $1,466, than in Medford, MA at $2,719. In Mexico City it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medford, 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, Medford, MA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.