Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Ankeny, IA Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Ankeny, IA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,677 in Mexico City versus $2,165 in Ankeny, IA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,608 in Mexico City versus $3,218 in Ankeny, IA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,540 in Mexico City versus $4,271 in Ankeny, IA.

Living in Mexico City costs roughly 23% less than in Ankeny, IA, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Mexico City 22% above, Ankeny, IA 57% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.14 MX$206

$20.06 $20.06

-39.48%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.9 MX$914

$80.3 $80.3

-32.85%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.09 MX$188

$11.86 $11.86

-6.49%

Cappuccino

$4.10 MX$69.5

$5.98 $5.98

-31.44%

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

$1.68 MX$28.53

$3.04 $3.04

-44.74%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.39 MX$23.55

$2.57 $2.57

-45.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.33 MX$56.5

$4.96 $4.96

-32.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.88 MX$99.7

$5.91 $5.91

-0.51%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.85 MX$31.41

$1.22 $1.22

51.64%

White Bread (500g)

$3.17 MX$53.8

$2.88 $2.88

10.07%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.07 MX$35.13

$3.25 $3.25

-36.31%

Eggs

$2.93 MX$49.67

$4.03 $4.03

-27.30%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.59 MX$214

$9.69 $9.69

29.93%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.11 MX$172

$9.48 $9.48

6.65%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.09 MX$273

$13.66 $13.66

17.79%

Apples (1kg)

$3.39 MX$57.5

$4.31 $4.31

-21.35%

Banana (1kg)

$2.08 MX$35.26

$1.48 $1.48

40.54%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.12 MX$35.97

$4.47 $4.47

-52.57%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.41 MX$40.95

$3.70 $3.70

-34.86%

Potato (1kg)

$2.13 MX$36.11

$1.93 $1.93

10.36%

Onion (1kg)

$2.01 MX$34.02

$2.62 $2.62

-23.28%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.55 MX$26.21

$2.33 $2.33

-33.48%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.36 MX$23.15

$0.66 $0.66

106.06%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.77 MX$97.8

$8.08 $8.08

-28.59%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.74 MX$301

$14.77 $14.77

20.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.07 MX$35.11

$1.70 $1.70

21.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.61 MX$78.3

$2.21 $2.21

108.60%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.37 MX$6.21

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.18 MX$359

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.05 MX$34.84

$1.95 $1.95

5.13%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 MX$9.79

$1.20 $1.20

-51.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.07 MX$103

$19.95 $19.95

-69.57%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.55 MX$26.34

$0.89 $0.89

74.16%

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

$22.9K MX$388.1K

$35.2K $35.2K

-34.97%

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

$27.2K MX$462.0K

$24.4K $24.4K

11.49%

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

$67.4 MX$1,144

$204 $204

-66.92%

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

$30.62 MX$520

$66.4 $66.4

-53.88%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$37.24 MX$632

$70.5 $70.5

-47.21%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.5 MX$1,043

$73.6 $73.6

-16.54%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.12 MX$460

Cinema Ticket

$7.11 MX$121

$14.95 $14.95

-52.44%

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

$456 MX$7,739

$1,167 $1,167

-60.92%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.7K MX$232.3K

$11.7K $11.7K

17.07%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$74.2 MX$1,259

$59.7 $59.7

24.38%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$57.0 MX$967

$43.38 $43.38

31.42%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 MX$1,958

$104 $104

11.41%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 MX$2,061

$146 $146

-16.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,148 MX$19.5K

$954 $954

20.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$709 MX$12.0K

$906 $906

-21.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,577 MX$43.7K

$1,842 $1,842

39.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,295 MX$22.0K

$1,414 $1,414

-8.40%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,005 MX$67.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,130 MX$36.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,082 MX$18.4K

$5,222 $5,222

-79.28%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.3

6.03

87.40%

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

Last update for Mexico City: September 6, 2026

Last update for Ankeny, IA: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,148 in Mexico City and $954 in Ankeny, IA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ankeny, IA pays 383% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $54.0 in Mexico City vs $80.0 in Ankeny, IA. Groceries flip the comparison at $345 vs $325, with Ankeny, IA cheaper for home cooking.

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

Mexico City vs Ankeny, IA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mexico City and Ankeny, IA differ by about 29% in total monthly costs ($1,677 vs $2,165 including rent). Mexico City is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 383% lower in Ankeny, IA. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,148 in Mexico City versus $954 in Ankeny, IA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Ankeny, IA pay roughly 6% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $1,677 per month in Mexico City versus $2,165 in Ankeny, IA – a 29% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,677 in Mexico City versus $2,165 in Ankeny, IA, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Mexico City but tight or insufficient in Ankeny, IA. The gap between the two cities makes Mexico City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Mexico City and Ankeny, IA are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Mexico City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 29% less than in Ankeny, IA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.