Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Burlington, NC Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Burlington, NC

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,646 per month in Mexico City vs $2,548 in Burlington, NC, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,613 per month in Mexico City vs $3,709 in Burlington, NC, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,580 per month in Mexico City vs $4,871 in Burlington, NC, rent included.

Mexico City is about 35% cheaper than Burlington, NC, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Mexico City and Burlington, NC sit above the global median – Mexico City by 20%, Burlington, NC by 85%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.11 MX$204

$18.67 $18.67

-35.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$52.2 MX$881

$73.5 $73.5

-28.96%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.90 MX$184

$10.97 $10.97

-0.64%

Cappuccino

$4.05 MX$68.4

$4.96 $4.96

-18.35%

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

$1.72 MX$28.95

$2.58 $2.58

-33.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.38 MX$23.25

$2.05 $2.05

-32.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.47 MX$58.5

$6.10 $6.10

-43.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.81 MX$98.1

$7.12 $7.12

-18.40%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.85 MX$31.28

$0.99 $0.99

86.87%

White Bread (500g)

$3.22 MX$54.4

$3.55 $3.55

-9.30%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.09 MX$35.20

$4.29 $4.29

-51.28%

Eggs

$2.91 MX$49.10

$4.27 $4.27

-31.85%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.49 MX$211

$12.12 $12.12

3.05%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.11 MX$171

$11.45 $11.45

-11.70%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.89 MX$268

$15.21 $15.21

4.47%

Apples (1kg)

$3.31 MX$56.0

$4.98 $4.98

-33.53%

Banana (1kg)

$2.13 MX$35.90

$1.57 $1.57

35.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.19 MX$36.97

$4.18 $4.18

-47.61%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.45 MX$41.31

$4.75 $4.75

-48.42%

Potato (1kg)

$2.19 MX$36.95

$2.80 $2.80

-21.79%

Onion (1kg)

$1.90 MX$32.15

$2.77 $2.77

-31.41%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.62 MX$27.26

$2.03 $2.03

-20.20%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.35 MX$22.78

$2.12 $2.12

-36.32%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.43 MX$91.6

$9.33 $9.33

-41.80%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.59 MX$297

$13.91 $13.91

26.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.07 MX$34.90

$1.76 $1.76

17.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.75 MX$80.1

$3.38 $3.38

40.53%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.34 MX$5.74

$2.04 $2.04

-83.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.58 MX$364

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.04 MX$34.44

$3.52 $3.52

-42.05%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 MX$9.75

$1.60 $1.60

-63.75%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.97 MX$101

$29.01 $29.01

-79.42%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.62 MX$27.27

$0.85 $0.85

90.59%

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

$22.8K MX$385.0K

$29.8K $29.8K

-23.56%

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

$26.7K MX$450.0K

$25.4K $25.4K

4.83%

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

$65.2 MX$1,101

$188 $188

-65.32%

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

$29.87 MX$504

$51.8 $51.8

-42.32%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.55 MX$617

$66.2 $66.2

-44.80%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.0 MX$1,030

$42.67 $42.67

42.96%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.70 MX$451

Cinema Ticket

$6.85 MX$116

$13.54 $13.54

-49.41%

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

$453 MX$7,652

$1,320 $1,320

-65.64%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.4K MX$225.7K

$23.8K $23.8K

-43.86%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$75.0 MX$1,265

$51.1 $51.1

46.83%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.3 MX$933

$40.40 $40.40

36.86%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$114 MX$1,917

$86.4 $86.4

31.48%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$123 MX$2,070

$111 $111

10.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,134 MX$19.1K

$1,595 $1,595

-28.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$712 MX$12.0K

$1,366 $1,366

-47.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,571 MX$43.4K

$2,589 $2,589

-0.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,311 MX$22.1K

$2,257 $2,257

-41.91%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,993 MX$67.4K

$2,724 $2,724

46.56%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,095 MX$35.4K

$2,438 $2,438

-14.06%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,047 MX$17.7K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.3

6.51

73.58%

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

Last update for Mexico City: August 29, 2026

Last update for Burlington, NC: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,134 in Mexico City versus $1,595 in Burlington, NC. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $52.0 in Mexico City versus $74.0 in Burlington, NC. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $345 vs $385 – 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 Burlington, NC: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,646 in Mexico City, $2,548 in Burlington, NC – roughly 55% apart. Burlington, NC costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,469 per month in Mexico City and $3,822 in Burlington, NC. 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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,646 in Mexico City and $2,548 in Burlington, NC. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $453 per month in Mexico City and $1,320 in Burlington, NC. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Mexico City, where all-in costs run around $1,646, than in Burlington, NC at $2,548. In Mexico City it covers expenses comfortably, while in Burlington, NC it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Mexico City has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,646 in Mexico City to $2,548 in Burlington, NC. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Mexico City. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Burlington, NC makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.