Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Aurora, IL

For one person, living is cheaper in Mexico City: $1,608 a month against $2,774 in Aurora, IL, rent and utilities included – about $14,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Mexico City, Mexico
Aurora, IL, United States
Mexico City
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,608
/mo nomad
Aurora, IL
🇺🇸 United States
$2,774
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Mexico City and in Aurora, IL

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Mexico City and in Aurora, IL actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,608 per month in Mexico City vs $2,774 in Aurora, IL, rent included.

  • Mexico City $1,608
  • Aurora, IL $2,774

A couple spends around $2,549 per month in Mexico City vs $3,792 in Aurora, IL, rent included.

  • Mexico City $2,549
  • Aurora, IL $3,792

A family of three spends $3,490 per month in Mexico City vs $4,810 in Aurora, IL, rent included.

  • Mexico City $3,490
  • Aurora, IL $4,810

Mexico City is about 42% cheaper than Aurora, IL, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both Mexico City and Aurora, IL sit above the global median – Mexico City by 18%, Aurora, IL by 104%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Aurora, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.62 MX$198
$14.22 $14.22
-25.32%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.35 MX$901
$59.5 $59.5
-18.68%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.35 MX$193
$11.78 $11.78
-12.14%
Cappuccino
$3.69 MX$68.8
$5.40 $5.40
-31.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.67 MX$31.07
$2.89 $2.89
-42.21%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.27 MX$23.59
$2.27 $2.27
-44.05%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.19 MX$59.5
$4.85 $4.85
-34.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.31 MX$98.9
$7.87 $7.87
-32.53%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Aurora, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.72 MX$32.15
$0.91 $0.91
89.01%
White Bread (500g)
$3.04 MX$56.7
$3.53 $3.53
-13.88%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.94 MX$36.19
$4.31 $4.31
-54.99%
Eggs
$2.89 MX$53.8
$3.64 $3.64
-20.60%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.97 MX$205
$8.92 $8.92
22.98%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.25 MX$172
$11.49 $11.49
-19.50%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.13 MX$282
$16.23 $16.23
-6.78%
Apples (1kg)
$3.05 MX$56.8
$4.62 $4.62
-33.98%
Banana (1kg)
$1.94 MX$36.19
$1.73 $1.73
12.14%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.03 MX$37.75
$3.73 $3.73
-45.58%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.31 MX$43.15
$3.18 $3.18
-27.36%
Potato (1kg)
$2.04 MX$37.94
$1.89 $1.89
7.94%
Onion (1kg)
$1.80 MX$33.55
$2.72 $2.72
-33.82%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.48 MX$27.58
$1.78 $1.78
-16.85%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.27 MX$23.63
$1.63 $1.63
-22.09%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.30 MX$98.9
$10.56 $10.56
-49.81%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.10 MX$300
$13.70 $13.70
17.52%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.98 MX$36.97
$2.31 $2.31
-14.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.25 MX$79.3
$2.81 $2.81
51.25%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Aurora, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.31 MX$5.69
$2.27 $2.27
-86.34%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$19.73 MX$368
$96.8 $96.8
-79.61%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.84 MX$34.25
$4.04 $4.04
-54.46%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.53 MX$9.94
$1.98 $1.98
-73.23%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.30 MX$98.7
$43.86 $43.86
-87.92%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.51 MX$28.16
$1.09 $1.09
38.53%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.8K MX$405.5K
$27.1K $27.1K
-19.80%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.0K MX$447.1K
$26.0K $26.0K
-7.69%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Aurora, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$63.0 MX$1,174
$174 $174
-63.80%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.39 MX$511
$51.5 $51.5
-46.86%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$35.67 MX$665
$55.2 $55.2
-35.39%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Aurora, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$58.9 MX$1,099
$17.52 $17.52
236.42%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.64 MX$441
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.40 MX$119
$12.19 $12.19
-47.50%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Aurora, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$432 MX$8,045
$1,470 $1,470
-70.64%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.4K MX$212.9K
$23.6K $23.6K
-51.65%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Aurora, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$68.2 MX$1,272
$56.2 $56.2
21.47%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$53.1 MX$990
$51.2 $51.2
3.77%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$108 MX$2,009
$89.2 $89.2
20.88%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$117 MX$2,186
$80.6 $80.6
45.57%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Aurora, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,113 MX$20.8K
$1,594 $1,594
-30.17%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$710 MX$13.2K
$1,577 $1,577
-54.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,588 MX$48.2K
$2,856 $2,856
-9.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,406 MX$26.2K
$2,215 $2,215
-36.54%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,631 MX$67.7K
$5,141 $5,141
-29.37%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,135 MX$39.8K
$2,361 $2,361
-9.55%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Aurora, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$946 MX$17.6K
$3,880 $3,880
-75.62%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.35
6.45
75.97%

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

Last update for Mexico City: October 25, 2026

Last update for Aurora, IL: October 24, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
$710
Aurora, IL
$1.6K 122% $866
Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
$320
Aurora, IL
$356 11.3% $36
Eating Out
Mexico City
$199
Aurora, IL
$274 38.2% $76
Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
$156
Aurora, IL
$125 20% $31
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
$126
Aurora, IL
$281 123% $155
Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
$72
Aurora, IL
$42 41.6% $30
Getting Around
Mexico City
$25
Aurora, IL
$120 371% $94

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,113 in Mexico City versus $1,594 in Aurora, IL. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries in Aurora, IL are about 4.1 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $48 in Mexico City versus $59 in Aurora, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $320 vs $356 – making Mexico City the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇲🇽 Mexico City
🇺🇸 Aurora, IL
🕒 Local time
17:02 5:02 PM
18:02 6:02 PM
1 h ahead of Mexico City
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
9,209,944 Capital
180,542
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to MXN – Mexican Peso Converter

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 18.64 MXN (100 MXN = 5.36 USD). 1 EUR = 20.75 MXN (100 MXN = 4.82 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.11 USD (1 USD = 0.898 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Mexico City Aurora, IL 2,680 km ≈ 3 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Mexico City
  • Aurora, IL

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Aurora, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Mexico City or Aurora, IL?
Aurora, IL costs about 73% more than Mexico City, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from transport. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Mexico City and in Aurora, IL?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,412 per month in Mexico City and $4,161 in Aurora, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Mexico City or Aurora, IL?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Mexico City, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,113 there versus $1,594 in Aurora, IL.
How do dining costs compare in Mexico City and in Aurora, IL?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $48 in Mexico City and $59 in Aurora, IL. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Mexico City compared to Aurora, IL?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,608 in Mexico City and $2,774 in Aurora, IL. That makes Mexico City about 42% cheaper.
Which city is better for families?
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.
Should I move to Mexico City or to Aurora, IL?
If budget matters most, go with Mexico City. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Aurora, IL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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