Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Austin, MN Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Austin, MN

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,447 per month in Mexico City vs $2,438 in Austin, MN, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,310 per month in Mexico City vs $3,574 in Austin, MN, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,174 per month in Mexico City vs $4,711 in Austin, MN, rent included.

Mexico City is about 41% cheaper than Austin, MN, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Mexico City and Austin, MN sit above the global median – Mexico City by 8%, Austin, MN by 81%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.98 MX$223

$15.72 $15.72

-17.43%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$52.6 MX$903

$89.2 $89.2

-40.99%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.43 MX$162

$11.85 $11.85

-20.42%

Cappuccino

$3.57 MX$61.3

$4.94 $4.94

-27.73%

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

$1.61 MX$27.55

$2.59 $2.59

-37.84%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.15 MX$19.81

$2.05 $2.05

-43.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.15 MX$54.0

$5.09 $5.09

-38.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.86 MX$83.4

$7.16 $7.16

-32.12%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.70 MX$29.17

$0.81 $0.81

109.88%

White Bread (500g)

$2.64 MX$45.23

$2.47 $2.47

6.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.90 MX$32.67

$1.88 $1.88

1.06%

Eggs

$2.54 MX$43.62

$2.65 $2.65

-4.15%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.08 MX$173

$12.46 $12.46

-19.10%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.29 MX$142

$6.56 $6.56

26.37%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.57 MX$199

$18.21 $18.21

-36.46%

Apples (1kg)

$3.03 MX$52.0

$4.39 $4.39

-30.98%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 MX$29.35

$1.22 $1.22

40.16%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.05 MX$35.16

$3.70 $3.70

-44.59%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.06 MX$35.36

$1.76 $1.76

17.05%

Potato (1kg)

$2.06 MX$35.43

$1.59 $1.59

29.56%

Onion (1kg)

$2.17 MX$37.25

$2.88 $2.88

-24.65%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.40 MX$24.08

$1.51 $1.51

-7.28%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.12 MX$19.26

$1.96 $1.96

-42.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.29 MX$73.7

$8.95 $8.95

-52.07%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.41 MX$265

$3.09 $3.09

398.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.67 MX$28.74

$1.77 $1.77

-5.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.69 MX$63.3

$4.01 $4.01

-7.98%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.38 MX$6.55

$2.03 $2.03

-81.28%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.06 MX$327

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.38 MX$23.70

$1.97 $1.97

-29.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.28 MX$4.74

$1.43 $1.43

-80.42%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.42 MX$92.9

$19.95 $19.95

-72.83%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 MX$21.98

$0.79 $0.79

62.03%

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

$19.0K MX$325.8K

$26.3K $26.3K

-27.71%

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

$23.5K MX$402.7K

$24.6K $24.6K

-4.54%

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

$41.02 MX$704

$146 $146

-71.88%

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

$26.92 MX$462

$51.4 $51.4

-47.67%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.69 MX$510

$77.3 $77.3

-61.61%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.3 MX$898

$43.18 $43.18

21.19%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.23 MX$450

Cinema Ticket

$6.18 MX$106

$14.93 $14.93

-58.61%

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

$427 MX$7,331

$1,396 $1,396

-69.40%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.7K MX$183.6K

$12.0K $12.0K

-10.90%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.8 MX$975

$64.4 $64.4

-11.78%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.83 MX$769

$50.8 $50.8

-11.68%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$105 MX$1,794

$72.4 $72.4

44.30%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 MX$1,819

$141 $141

-24.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$995 MX$17.1K

$1,612 $1,612

-38.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$621 MX$10.7K

$1,370 $1,370

-54.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,126 MX$36.5K

$2,649 $2,649

-19.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,254 MX$21.5K

$2,219 $2,219

-43.51%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,903 MX$67.0K

$3,063 $3,063

27.43%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,096 MX$36.0K

$2,122 $2,122

-1.26%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,107 MX$19.0K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.34

6.61

71.56%

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

Last update for Mexico City: June 7, 2026

Last update for Austin, MN: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $995 in Mexico City versus $1,612 in Austin, MN. 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 $53.0 in Mexico City versus $89.0 in Austin, MN. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $288 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

Mexico City vs Austin, MN: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Austin, MN is pricier by about 68%, and the gap shows up most in Monthly Utilities & Internet. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,171 per month in Mexico City and $3,657 in Austin, MN. 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 $1,447 in Mexico City and $2,438 in Austin, MN. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $427 per month in Mexico City and $1,396 in Austin, MN. 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 $1,447, than in Austin, MN at $2,438. In Mexico City it covers expenses comfortably, while in Austin, MN 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, Austin, MN makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.