Cost of Living Comparison Between Memphis, TN and Mexico City Cost of Living Comparison Between Memphis, TN and Mexico City

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,415 per month in Memphis, TN vs $1,456 in Mexico City, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,417 per month in Memphis, TN vs $2,361 in Mexico City, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,419 per month in Memphis, TN vs $3,266 in Mexico City, rent included.

Memphis, TN costs about 66% more than Mexico City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Memphis, TN and Mexico City sit above the global median – Memphis, TN by 81%, Mexico City by 9%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.19 $19.19

$13.07 MX$229

46.82%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.7 $75.7

$53.8 MX$940

40.82%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.97 $9.97

$9.68 MX$169

3.00%

Cappuccino

$5.11 $5.11

$3.74 MX$65.4

36.63%

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

$2.56 $2.56

$1.62 MX$28.25

58.02%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.03 $2.03

$1.16 MX$20.31

75.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.82 $5.82

$3.23 MX$56.4

80.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.91 $7.91

$4.74 MX$82.9

66.88%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.94 $0.94

$1.65 MX$28.80

-43.03%

White Bread (500g)

$2.75 $2.75

$2.75 MX$48.15

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.50 $4.50

$1.87 MX$32.77

140.64%

Eggs

$4.19 $4.19

$2.50 MX$43.72

67.60%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.95 $10.95

$10.20 MX$178

7.35%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.00 $11.00

$8.25 MX$144

33.33%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.47 $15.47

$11.82 MX$207

30.88%

Apples (1kg)

$6.31 $6.31

$3.01 MX$52.6

109.63%

Banana (1kg)

$1.58 $1.58

$1.81 MX$31.67

-12.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.45 $5.45

$2.00 MX$34.96

172.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.86 $4.86

$2.00 MX$34.89

143.00%

Potato (1kg)

$4.92 $4.92

$2.08 MX$36.45

136.54%

Onion (1kg)

$3.35 $3.35

$2.27 MX$39.72

47.58%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.46 MX$25.47

60.96%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$1.08 MX$18.82

128.70%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.94 $7.94

$4.35 MX$76.0

82.53%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.44 $13.44

$16.99 MX$297

-20.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 $1.76

$1.73 MX$30.31

1.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.92 $1.92

$3.58 MX$62.5

-46.37%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.24 $1.24

$0.39 MX$6.77

217.95%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.67 $12.67

$18.69 MX$327

-32.21%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.06 $2.06

$1.33 MX$23.18

54.89%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.40 $1.40

$0.28 MX$4.89

400.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$19.81 $19.81

$5.25 MX$91.8

277.33%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.81 $0.81

$1.34 MX$23.37

-39.55%

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

$33.2K $33.2K

$19.4K MX$339.4K

71.18%

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

$27.4K $27.4K

$23.8K MX$416.7K

14.80%

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

$215 $215

$40.69 MX$712

427.48%

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

$58.0 $58.0

$26.87 MX$470

115.89%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.0 $67.0

$30.51 MX$534

119.44%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.32 $37.32

$52.8 MX$923

-29.29%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.71 $17.71

$26.65 MX$466

-33.55%

Cinema Ticket

$12.63 $12.63

$6.51 MX$114

94.01%

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

$1,582 $1,582

$428 MX$7,485

269.58%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$27.8K $27.8K

$10.5K MX$183.6K

164.62%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$39.22 $39.22

$57.3 MX$1,001

-31.49%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.45 $32.45

$45.50 MX$796

-28.68%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$75.1 $75.1

$104 MX$1,819

-27.82%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$141 $141

$108 MX$1,885

30.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,207 $1,207

$1,003 MX$17.5K

20.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,115 $1,115

$623 MX$10.9K

79.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,547 $1,547

$2,109 MX$36.9K

-26.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,600 $1,600

$1,218 MX$21.3K

31.38%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,757 $1,757

$3,885 MX$67.9K

-54.77%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,349 $1,349

$2,033 MX$35.5K

-33.65%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,578 $3,578

$1,038 MX$18.1K

244.76%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.53

11.34

-42.42%

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

Last update for Memphis, TN: July 14, 2026

Last update for Mexico City: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,207 in Memphis, TN versus $1,003 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 245% higher in Memphis, TN, 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 $76.0 in Memphis, TN versus $54.0 in Mexico City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $393 vs $292 – 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

Memphis, TN vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,415 in Memphis, TN, $1,456 in Mexico City – roughly 66% apart. Memphis, TN costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,622 per month in Memphis, TN and $2,185 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 48% less in Mexico City. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $1,582 per month in Memphis, TN and $428 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 $1,456, than in Memphis, TN at $2,415. In Mexico City it covers expenses comfortably, while in Memphis, TN it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Mexico City has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,456 in Mexico City to $2,415 in Memphis, TN. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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