🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,466 in Mexico City versus $2,608 in Brookhaven, NY.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,325 in Mexico City versus $3,895 in Brookhaven, NY.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,184 in Mexico City versus $5,182 in Brookhaven, NY.
🙂Living in Mexico City costs roughly 44% less than in Brookhaven, NY, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Mexico City9% above, Brookhaven, NY95% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Brookhaven, NY
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.30MX$231
$19.99$19.99
-33.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.8MX$932
$100$100
-46.42%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.42MX$163
$13.87$13.87
-32.08%
Cappuccino
$3.59MX$62.3
$5.45$5.45
-34.13%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$28.13
$2.35$2.35
-31.06%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.12MX$19.49
$1.88$1.88
-40.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.25MX$56.3
$6.80$6.80
-52.21%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.65MX$80.6
$8.84$8.84
-47.40%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Brookhaven, NY
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.64MX$28.37
$1.28$1.28
28.12%
White Bread(500g)
$2.65MX$46.00
$3.66$3.66
-27.60%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.96MX$33.99
$5.28$5.28
-62.88%
Eggs
$2.54MX$44.08
$4.74$4.74
-46.41%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.97MX$173
$21.78$21.78
-54.22%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.39MX$145
$11.71$11.71
-28.35%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.83MX$205
$17.07$17.07
-30.70%
Apples(1kg)
$2.86MX$49.62
$4.98$4.98
-42.57%
Banana(1kg)
$1.73MX$30.05
$1.74$1.74
-0.57%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.99MX$34.50
$3.97$3.97
-49.87%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.05MX$35.51
$4.10$4.10
-50.00%
Potato(1kg)
$2.06MX$35.64
$2.78$2.78
-25.90%
Onion(1kg)
$2.28MX$39.54
$3.89$3.89
-41.39%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.45MX$25.05
$2.37$2.37
-38.82%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09MX$18.83
$2.68$2.68
-59.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27MX$73.9
$11.88$11.88
-64.06%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.67MX$254
$15.09$15.09
-2.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76MX$30.58
$1.76$1.76
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.57MX$61.8
$5.86$5.86
-39.08%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Brookhaven, NY
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38MX$6.67
$2.04$2.04
-81.37%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.73MX$325
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.39MX$24.09
$2.96$2.96
-53.04%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.30MX$5.26
$2.02$2.02
-85.15%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.41MX$93.8
$23.73$23.73
-77.20%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.34MX$23.22
$0.85$0.85
57.65%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.9KMX$326.7K
$35.4K$35.4K
-46.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.2KMX$402.0K
$25.8K$25.8K
-10.14%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Brookhaven, NY
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.30MX$698
$123$123
-67.33%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.15MX$471
$44.21$44.21
-38.59%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.46MX$510
$66.1$66.1
-55.44%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Brookhaven, NY
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.7MX$914
$42.97$42.97
22.74%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.17MX$454
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.18MX$107
$16.96$16.96
-63.56%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Brookhaven, NY
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$441MX$7,637
$2,259$2,259
-80.49%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.7KMX$185.4K
$23.3K$23.3K
-54.09%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Brookhaven, NY
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.2MX$992
$73.8$73.8
-22.43%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.04MX$781
$64.1$64.1
-29.76%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103MX$1,793
$76.1$76.1
35.93%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109MX$1,884
$136$136
-20.18%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Brookhaven, NY
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,000MX$17.3K
$1,604$1,604
-37.67%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$632MX$11.0K
$1,375$1,375
-54.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,141MX$37.1K
$2,618$2,618
-18.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,253MX$21.7K
$2,197$2,197
-42.98%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,745MX$64.9K
$2,679$2,679
39.81%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,381MX$41.3K
$2,322$2,322
2.53%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Brookhaven, NY
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,079MX$18.7K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
6.62
71.30%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: April 20, 2026
Last update for Brookhaven, NY: April 22, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,000 in Mexico City and $1,604 in Brookhaven, NY. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $54 in Mexico City vs $100 in Brookhaven, NY for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $286 vs $445 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 Brookhaven, NY: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Brookhaven, NY cheaper than Mexico City?
Mexico City is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 78% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $2,199 in Mexico City and $3,913 in Brookhaven, NY 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.
What is the rent difference between Mexico City and Brookhaven, NY?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,000 in Mexico City versus $1,604 in Brookhaven, NY. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Mexico City and Brookhaven, NY?
Supermarket bills run roughly 55% higher in Brookhaven, NY. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Mexico City vs Brookhaven, NY?
All in, you'll spend $1,466 per month in Mexico City versus $2,608 in Brookhaven, NY – a 78% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for Mexico City or Brookhaven, NY?
At $1,466 in Mexico City versus $2,608 in Brookhaven, NY, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Mexico City but tight or insufficient in Brookhaven, NY. The gap between the two cities makes Mexico City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Mexico City or Brookhaven, NY more family-friendly?
For families, Mexico City is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Brookhaven, NY, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Mexico City or Brookhaven, NY?
Safety-wise, Mexico City and Brookhaven, NY are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Mexico City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 78% less than in Brookhaven, NY. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Mexico City vs other spots: cost of living compared