Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Bismarck, ND Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Bismarck, ND

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,660 in Mexico City versus $2,386 in Bismarck, ND.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,565 in Mexico City versus $3,275 in Bismarck, ND.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,470 in Mexico City versus $4,163 in Bismarck, ND.

Living in Mexico City costs roughly 30% less than in Bismarck, ND, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Mexico City 21% above, Bismarck, ND 74% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.92 MX$206

$29.97 $29.97

-60.23%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$51.6 MX$890

$70.9 $70.9

-27.18%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.41 MX$197

$17.75 $17.75

-35.72%

Cappuccino

$3.99 MX$68.9

$6.29 $6.29

-36.57%

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

$1.66 MX$28.61

$2.62 $2.62

-36.64%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.33 MX$22.87

$1.83 $1.83

-27.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.47 MX$59.9

$5.38 $5.38

-35.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.90 MX$102

$7.10 $7.10

-16.90%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.88 MX$32.36

$1.05 $1.05

79.05%

White Bread (500g)

$3.25 MX$56.1

$2.72 $2.72

19.49%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.16 MX$37.26

$2.16 $2.16

Eggs

$2.90 MX$49.94

$2.74 $2.74

5.84%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.86 MX$222

$7.52 $7.52

71.01%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.05 MX$173

$13.27 $13.27

-24.27%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.86 MX$273

$16.29 $16.29

-2.64%

Apples (1kg)

$3.29 MX$56.8

$3.45 $3.45

-4.64%

Banana (1kg)

$2.01 MX$34.60

$1.67 $1.67

20.36%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.20 MX$37.93

$3.07 $3.07

-28.34%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.36 MX$40.63

$4.31 $4.31

-45.24%

Potato (1kg)

$2.05 MX$35.43

$1.88 $1.88

9.04%

Onion (1kg)

$1.90 MX$32.79

$2.66 $2.66

-28.57%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.61 MX$27.68

$2.24 $2.24

-28.13%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.40 MX$24.09

$2.81 $2.81

-50.18%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.46 MX$94.2

$7.86 $7.86

-30.53%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.65 MX$304

$19.74 $19.74

-10.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.06 MX$35.44

$1.83 $1.83

12.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.68 MX$80.8

$3.89 $3.89

20.31%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.34 MX$5.84

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.81 MX$359

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.10 MX$36.15

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.56 MX$9.64

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.81 MX$100

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.61 MX$27.68

$0.87 $0.87

85.06%

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

$22.8K MX$393.8K

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

$26.8K MX$461.2K

$18.7K $18.7K

43.05%

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

$65.2 MX$1,124

$206 $206

-68.31%

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

$30.09 MX$519

$73.1 $73.1

-58.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$37.18 MX$641

$84.2 $84.2

-55.86%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$59.8 MX$1,030

$43.09 $43.09

38.69%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.55 MX$458

Cinema Ticket

$7.04 MX$121

$11.07 $11.07

-36.40%

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

$465 MX$8,012

$801 $801

-42.03%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.3K MX$228.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$75.9 MX$1,308

$63.8 $63.8

18.88%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$56.0 MX$965

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$112 MX$1,929

$94.9 $94.9

17.93%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$121 MX$2,078

$79.6 $79.6

51.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,103 MX$19.0K

$1,154 $1,154

-4.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$721 MX$12.4K

$1,076 $1,076

-33.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,530 MX$43.6K

$1,589 $1,589

59.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,293 MX$22.3K

$1,381 $1,381

-6.32%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,991 MX$68.8K

$2,086 $2,086

91.31%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,090 MX$36.0K

$2,020 $2,020

3.45%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,037 MX$17.9K

$4,555 $4,555

-77.23%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.3

6.4

76.56%

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

Last update for Mexico City: September 14, 2026

Last update for Bismarck, ND: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,103 in Mexico City and $1,154 in Bismarck, ND. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bismarck, ND pays 339% 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 $71.0 in Bismarck, ND for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $345 vs $366 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 Bismarck, ND: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mexico City and Bismarck, ND differ by about 44% in total monthly costs ($1,660 vs $2,386 including rent). Mexico City is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 339% lower in Bismarck, ND. 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 $1,154 in Bismarck, ND. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $465 in Mexico City versus $801 in Bismarck, ND. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Mexico City – a meal for two runs $52.0 versus $71.0 in Bismarck, ND. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $1,660 in Mexico City versus $2,386 in Bismarck, ND, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Mexico City but tight or insufficient in Bismarck, ND. 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 Bismarck, ND 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 44% less than in Bismarck, ND. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.