Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Barrington, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Barrington, IL

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,447 per month in Mexico City vs $2,744 in Barrington, IL, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,310 per month in Mexico City vs $4,055 in Barrington, IL, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,174 per month in Mexico City vs $5,366 in Barrington, IL, rent included.

Mexico City is about 47% cheaper than Barrington, IL, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Mexico City and Barrington, IL sit above the global median – Mexico City by 8%, Barrington, IL by 104%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.98 MX$223

$18.65 $18.65

-30.40%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$52.6 MX$903

$74.6 $74.6

-29.50%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.43 MX$162

$11.10 $11.10

-15.05%

Cappuccino

$3.57 MX$61.3

$5.11 $5.11

-30.14%

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

$5.98 $5.98

-47.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.86 MX$83.4

$7.10 $7.10

-31.55%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.70 MX$29.17

$1.11 $1.11

53.15%

White Bread (500g)

$2.64 MX$45.23

$3.67 $3.67

-28.07%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.90 MX$32.67

$4.26 $4.26

-55.40%

Eggs

$2.54 MX$43.62

$4.33 $4.33

-41.34%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.08 MX$173

$15.17 $15.17

-33.55%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.29 MX$142

$11.01 $11.01

-24.70%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.57 MX$199

$15.65 $15.65

-26.07%

Apples (1kg)

$3.03 MX$52.0

$5.84 $5.84

-48.12%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 MX$29.35

$2.00 $2.00

-14.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.05 MX$35.16

$4.31 $4.31

-52.44%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.06 MX$35.36

$6.96 $6.96

-70.40%

Potato (1kg)

$2.06 MX$35.43

$2.80 $2.80

-26.43%

Onion (1kg)

$2.17 MX$37.25

$2.15 $2.15

0.93%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.40 MX$24.08

$2.07 $2.07

-32.37%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.12 MX$19.26

$2.18 $2.18

-48.62%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.29 MX$73.7

$9.46 $9.46

-54.65%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.41 MX$265

$17.02 $17.02

-9.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.67 MX$28.74

$1.80 $1.80

-7.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.69 MX$63.3

$3.38 $3.38

9.17%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.38 MX$6.55

$1.98 $1.98

-80.81%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.06 MX$327

$119 $119

-84.01%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.38 MX$23.70

$3.42 $3.42

-59.65%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.28 MX$4.74

$1.59 $1.59

-82.39%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.42 MX$92.9

$28.69 $28.69

-81.11%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 MX$21.98

$1.01 $1.01

26.73%

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

$19.0K MX$325.8K

$29.2K $29.2K

-35.07%

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

$23.5K MX$402.7K

$25.4K $25.4K

-7.50%

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

$41.02 MX$704

$231 $231

-82.27%

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

$26.92 MX$462

$48.57 $48.57

-44.57%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.69 MX$510

$58.9 $58.9

-49.61%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.3 MX$898

$65.6 $65.6

-20.28%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.23 MX$450

$15.09 $15.09

73.82%

Cinema Ticket

$6.18 MX$106

$14.78 $14.78

-58.19%

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

$427 MX$7,331

$1,488 $1,488

-71.29%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.7K MX$183.6K

$26.9K $26.9K

-60.27%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.8 MX$975

$51.8 $51.8

9.71%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.83 MX$769

$40.08 $40.08

11.85%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$105 MX$1,794

$86.8 $86.8

20.50%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 MX$1,819

$112 $112

-5.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$995 MX$17.1K

$1,583 $1,583

-37.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$621 MX$10.7K

$1,333 $1,333

-53.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,126 MX$36.5K

$2,611 $2,611

-18.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,254 MX$21.5K

$2,228 $2,228

-43.73%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,903 MX$67.0K

$2,304 $2,304

69.37%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,096 MX$36.0K

$2,236 $2,236

-6.27%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,107 MX$19.0K

$5,922 $5,922

-81.30%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.34

6.51

74.19%

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

Last update for Mexico City: June 7, 2026

Last update for Barrington, IL: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $995 in Mexico City versus $1,583 in Barrington, IL. 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 435% higher in Barrington, IL, 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 $53.0 in Mexico City versus $75.0 in Barrington, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $288 vs $420 – 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 Barrington, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Barrington, IL costs about 90% more than Mexico City, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,171 per month in Mexico City and $4,115 in Barrington, IL. 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 526% less in Mexico City. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $427 per month in Mexico City and $1,488 in Barrington, IL. 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 Barrington, IL at $2,744. In Mexico City it covers expenses comfortably, while in Barrington, IL it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Mexico City costs $1,447 versus $2,744 in Barrington, IL. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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, Barrington, IL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.