Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Bakersfield, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Bakersfield, CA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,660 in Mexico City versus $3,081 in Bakersfield, CA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,565 in Mexico City versus $4,378 in Bakersfield, CA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,470 in Mexico City versus $5,675 in Bakersfield, CA.

Living in Mexico City costs roughly 46% less than in Bakersfield, CA, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Mexico City 21% above, Bakersfield, CA 125% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.92 MX$206

$18.69 $18.69

-36.22%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$51.6 MX$890

$64.7 $64.7

-20.23%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.41 MX$197

$14.22 $14.22

-19.76%

Cappuccino

$3.99 MX$68.9

$5.81 $5.81

-31.33%

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

$1.66 MX$28.61

$2.71 $2.71

-38.75%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.33 MX$22.87

$1.94 $1.94

-31.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.47 MX$59.9

$6.01 $6.01

-42.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.90 MX$102

$5.90 $5.90

Milk (1 liter)

$1.88 MX$32.36

$1.12 $1.12

67.86%

White Bread (500g)

$3.25 MX$56.1

$4.11 $4.11

-20.92%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.16 MX$37.26

$5.23 $5.23

-58.70%

Eggs

$2.90 MX$49.94

$3.40 $3.40

-14.71%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.86 MX$222

$12.98 $12.98

-0.92%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.05 MX$173

$13.30 $13.30

-24.44%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.86 MX$273

$16.10 $16.10

-1.49%

Apples (1kg)

$3.29 MX$56.8

$3.95 $3.95

-16.71%

Banana (1kg)

$2.01 MX$34.60

$2.00 $2.00

0.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.20 MX$37.93

$3.99 $3.99

-44.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.36 MX$40.63

$3.97 $3.97

-40.55%

Potato (1kg)

$2.05 MX$35.43

$2.10 $2.10

-2.38%

Onion (1kg)

$1.90 MX$32.79

$2.44 $2.44

-22.13%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.61 MX$27.68

$2.03 $2.03

-20.69%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.40 MX$24.09

$2.49 $2.49

-43.78%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.46 MX$94.2

$9.81 $9.81

-44.34%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.65 MX$304

$18.06 $18.06

-2.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.06 MX$35.44

$1.97 $1.97

4.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.68 MX$80.8

$4.79 $4.79

-2.30%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.34 MX$5.84

$1.66 $1.66

-79.52%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.81 MX$359

$56.2 $56.2

-62.94%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.10 MX$36.15

$2.92 $2.92

-28.08%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.56 MX$9.64

$2.11 $2.11

-73.46%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.81 MX$100

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.61 MX$27.68

$1.47 $1.47

9.52%

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

$22.8K MX$393.8K

$36.9K $36.9K

-38.09%

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

$26.8K MX$461.2K

$27.2K $27.2K

-1.67%

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

$65.2 MX$1,124

$391 $391

-83.34%

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

$30.09 MX$519

$58.7 $58.7

-48.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$37.18 MX$641

$73.5 $73.5

-49.39%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$59.8 MX$1,030

$39.46 $39.46

51.44%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.55 MX$458

$24.52 $24.52

8.28%

Cinema Ticket

$7.04 MX$121

$14.83 $14.83

-52.53%

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

$465 MX$8,012

$1,521 $1,521

-69.45%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.3K MX$228.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$75.9 MX$1,308

$62.1 $62.1

22.29%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$56.0 MX$965

$48.32 $48.32

15.79%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$112 MX$1,929

$99.6 $99.6

12.38%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$121 MX$2,078

$122 $122

-1.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,103 MX$19.0K

$1,701 $1,701

-35.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$721 MX$12.4K

$1,561 $1,561

-53.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,530 MX$43.6K

$2,395 $2,395

5.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,293 MX$22.3K

$2,427 $2,427

-46.70%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,991 MX$68.8K

$2,491 $2,491

60.23%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,090 MX$36.0K

$2,514 $2,514

-16.90%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,037 MX$17.9K

$3,660 $3,660

-71.66%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.3

6.36

77.67%

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

Last update for Mexico City: September 14, 2026

Last update for Bakersfield, CA: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,103 in Mexico City and $1,701 in Bakersfield, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bakersfield, CA pays 253% 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: $52.0 in Mexico City vs $65.0 in Bakersfield, CA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $345 vs $413 per month, with Mexico City cheaper across the board.

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 Bakersfield, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mexico City is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 86% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 253% lower in Bakersfield, CA. 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: $1,103 in Mexico City versus $1,701 in Bakersfield, CA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Mexico City – a meal for two runs $52.0 versus $65.0 in Bakersfield, CA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $1,660 per month in Mexico City versus $3,081 in Bakersfield, CA – a 86% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,660 in Mexico City versus $3,081 in Bakersfield, CA, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Mexico City but tight or insufficient in Bakersfield, CA. The gap between the two cities makes Mexico City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Mexico City is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Bakersfield, CA, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Expats usually find Mexico City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 86% less than in Bakersfield, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.