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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,481 in Mexico City versus $2,740 in Brentwood, CA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,352 in Mexico City versus $4,119 in Brentwood, CA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,222 in Mexico City versus $5,498 in Brentwood, CA.

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

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Mexico City 11% above, Brentwood, CA 105% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.16 MX$229

$29.64 $29.64

-55.60%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.6 MX$932

$109 $109

-50.79%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.55 MX$166

$13.97 $13.97

-31.64%

Cappuccino

$3.72 MX$64.8

$6.19 $6.19

-39.90%

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

$1.57 MX$27.28

$3.74 $3.74

-58.02%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.16 MX$20.12

$3.38 $3.38

-65.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.18 MX$55.4

$9.08 $9.08

-64.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.63 MX$80.6

$9.19 $9.19

-49.62%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 MX$29.67

$1.32 $1.32

29.55%

White Bread (500g)

$2.62 MX$45.54

$4.71 $4.71

-44.37%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.89 MX$32.87

$3.16 $3.16

-40.19%

Eggs

$2.60 MX$45.17

$5.42 $5.42

-52.03%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.91 MX$172

$10.98 $10.98

-9.74%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.22 MX$143

$10.81 $10.81

-23.96%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.78 MX$205

$12.91 $12.91

-8.75%

Apples (1kg)

$3.00 MX$52.1

$4.56 $4.56

-34.21%

Banana (1kg)

$1.80 MX$31.32

$2.17 $2.17

-17.05%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.07 MX$36.08

$4.44 $4.44

-53.38%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.97 MX$34.23

$4.92 $4.92

-59.96%

Potato (1kg)

$2.07 MX$36.05

$2.92 $2.92

-29.11%

Onion (1kg)

$2.17 MX$37.84

$3.57 $3.57

-39.22%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.40 MX$24.41

$2.67 $2.67

-47.57%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.07 MX$18.70

$2.65 $2.65

-59.62%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.12 MX$71.7

$8.58 $8.58

-51.98%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.42 MX$303

$12.87 $12.87

35.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.68 MX$29.16

$2.09 $2.09

-19.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.65 MX$63.5

$2.31 $2.31

58.01%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.38 MX$6.62

$1.99 $1.99

-80.90%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.71 MX$326

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.33 MX$23.13

$4.52 $4.52

-70.58%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.30 MX$5.27

$1.82 $1.82

-83.52%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.51 MX$95.9

$29.96 $29.96

-81.61%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 MX$22.72

$1.21 $1.21

8.26%

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

$19.2K MX$333.5K

$29.9K $29.9K

-35.81%

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

$23.7K MX$413.3K

$27.2K $27.2K

-12.64%

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

$41.14 MX$716

$216 $216

-80.98%

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

$27.74 MX$483

$38.72 $38.72

-28.36%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.13 MX$524

$62.4 $62.4

-51.68%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$53.7 MX$935

$42.59 $42.59

26.18%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$25.98 MX$452

Cinema Ticket

$6.49 MX$113

$17.78 $17.78

-63.50%

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

$437 MX$7,598

$1,155 $1,155

-62.21%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.5K MX$182.0K

$23.6K $23.6K

-55.75%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.3 MX$1,015

$44.97 $44.97

29.71%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.86 MX$798

$39.83 $39.83

15.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 MX$1,765

$77.3 $77.3

31.25%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 MX$1,854

$78.8 $78.8

35.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,005 MX$17.5K

$1,602 $1,602

-37.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$634 MX$11.0K

$1,350 $1,350

-53.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,148 MX$37.4K

$3,803 $3,803

-43.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,247 MX$21.7K

$2,187 $2,187

-42.98%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,859 MX$67.2K

$2,442 $2,442

58.04%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,085 MX$36.3K

$2,066 $2,066

0.91%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,072 MX$18.7K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.34

6.67

70.01%

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

Last update for Mexico City: July 22, 2026

Last update for Brentwood, CA: July 22, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,005 in Mexico City and $1,602 in Brentwood, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $54.0 in Mexico City vs $109 in Brentwood, CA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $291 vs $398 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 Brentwood, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mexico City and Brentwood, CA differ by about 85% in total monthly costs ($1,481 vs $2,740 including rent). Mexico City is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $2,222 in Mexico City and $4,110 in Brentwood, CA to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,005 in Mexico City versus $1,602 in Brentwood, CA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 37% higher in Brentwood, CA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,481 per month in Mexico City versus $2,740 in Brentwood, CA – a 85% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,481 in Mexico City versus $2,740 in Brentwood, CA, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Mexico City but tight or insufficient in Brentwood, CA. 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 Brentwood, CA 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 85% less than in Brentwood, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.