Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Bothell, WA Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Bothell, WA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,677 in Mexico City versus $3,073 in Bothell, WA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,608 in Mexico City versus $4,790 in Bothell, WA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,540 in Mexico City versus $6,506 in Bothell, WA.

Living in Mexico City costs roughly 45% less than in Bothell, WA, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Mexico City 22% above, Bothell, WA 123% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Bothell, WA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.14 MX$206
$22.90 $22.90
-46.99%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.9 MX$914
$93.1 $93.1
-42.12%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.09 MX$188
$14.92 $14.92
-25.67%
Cappuccino
$4.10 MX$69.5
$6.65 $6.65
-38.35%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68 MX$28.53
$3.01 $3.01
-44.19%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.39 MX$23.55
$2.33 $2.33
-40.34%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.33 MX$56.5
$7.82 $7.82
-57.42%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.88 MX$99.7
$7.92 $7.92
-25.76%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Bothell, WA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.85 MX$31.41
$1.18 $1.18
56.78%
White Bread (500g)
$3.17 MX$53.8
$4.38 $4.38
-27.63%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.07 MX$35.13
$5.06 $5.06
-59.09%
Eggs
$2.93 MX$49.67
$5.16 $5.16
-43.22%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.59 MX$214
$17.98 $17.98
-29.98%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.11 MX$172
$13.25 $13.25
-23.70%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.09 MX$273
$22.85 $22.85
-29.58%
Apples (1kg)
$3.39 MX$57.5
$6.04 $6.04
-43.87%
Banana (1kg)
$2.08 MX$35.26
$1.88 $1.88
10.64%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.12 MX$35.97
$5.42 $5.42
-60.89%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.41 MX$40.95
$5.37 $5.37
-55.12%
Potato (1kg)
$2.13 MX$36.11
$3.79 $3.79
-43.80%
Onion (1kg)
$2.01 MX$34.02
$2.90 $2.90
-30.69%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.55 MX$26.21
$2.34 $2.34
-33.76%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.36 MX$23.15
$2.61 $2.61
-47.89%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.77 MX$97.8
$12.47 $12.47
-53.73%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.74 MX$301
$14.71 $14.71
20.60%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.07 MX$35.11
$2.51 $2.51
-17.53%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61 MX$78.3
$3.02 $3.02
52.65%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Bothell, WA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.37 MX$6.21
$2.95 $2.95
-87.46%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$21.18 MX$359
$103 $103
-79.46%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.05 MX$34.84
$2.62 $2.62
-21.76%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.58 MX$9.79
$2.56 $2.56
-77.34%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.07 MX$103
$29.72 $29.72
-79.58%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.55 MX$26.34
$1.32 $1.32
17.42%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.9K MX$388.1K
$36.1K $36.1K
-36.67%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.2K MX$462.0K
$25.4K $25.4K
7.08%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Bothell, WA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$67.4 MX$1,144
$172 $172
-60.81%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.62 MX$520
$49.05 $49.05
-37.57%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.24 MX$632
$85.0 $85.0
-56.20%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Bothell, WA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$61.5 MX$1,043
$57.6 $57.6
6.78%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$27.12 MX$460
$12.09 $12.09
124.32%
Cinema Ticket
$7.11 MX$121
$14.88 $14.88
-52.22%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Bothell, WA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$456 MX$7,739
$1,468 $1,468
-68.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13.7K MX$232.3K
$30.6K $30.6K
-55.29%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Bothell, WA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$74.2 MX$1,259
$44.73 $44.73
65.86%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$57.0 MX$967
$54.5 $54.5
4.62%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$115 MX$1,958
$113 $113
2.20%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122 MX$2,061
$161 $161
-24.35%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Bothell, WA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,148 MX$19.5K
$1,939 $1,939
-40.81%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$709 MX$12.0K
$1,596 $1,596
-55.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,577 MX$43.7K
$3,567 $3,567
-27.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,295 MX$22.0K
$2,964 $2,964
-56.31%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,005 MX$67.9K
$5,884 $5,884
-31.93%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,130 MX$36.1K
$4,778 $4,778
-55.43%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Bothell, WA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,082 MX$18.4K
$6,326 $6,326
-82.90%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.3
6.38
77.12%

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

Last update for Mexico City: September 6, 2026

Last update for Bothell, WA: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,148 in Mexico City and $1,939 in Bothell, WA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bothell, WA pays 485% 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: $54.0 in Mexico City vs $93.0 in Bothell, WA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $345 vs $481 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 Bothell, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and in Bothell, WA?
Mexico City and Bothell, WA differ by about 83% in total monthly costs ($1,677 vs $3,073 including rent). Mexico City is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 485% lower in Bothell, WA. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Mexico City and in Bothell, WA?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,148 in Mexico City versus $1,939 in Bothell, WA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 40% higher in Bothell, WA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Mexico City – a meal for two runs $54.0 versus $93.0 in Bothell, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
At $1,677 in Mexico City versus $3,073 in Bothell, WA, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Mexico City but tight or insufficient in Bothell, WA. The gap between the two cities makes Mexico City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mexico City and Bothell, WA?
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.
Is Mexico City or Bothell, WA safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Mexico City and Bothell, WA are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Mexico City or Bothell, WA?
Expats usually find Mexico City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 83% less than in Bothell, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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