Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Champaign, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Champaign, IL

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,646 per month in Mexico City vs $2,147 in Champaign, IL, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,613 per month in Mexico City vs $3,129 in Champaign, IL, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,580 per month in Mexico City vs $4,110 in Champaign, IL, rent included.

Mexico City is about 23% cheaper than Champaign, IL, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Mexico City and Champaign, IL sit above the global median – Mexico City by 20%, Champaign, IL by 56%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.11 MX$205

$14.82 $14.82

-18.29%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$52.2 MX$883

$61.1 $61.1

-14.52%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.90 MX$184

$9.93 $9.93

9.77%

Cappuccino

$4.05 MX$68.5

$4.86 $4.86

-16.67%

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

$1.72 MX$29.00

$2.23 $2.23

-22.87%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.38 MX$23.29

$1.70 $1.70

-18.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.47 MX$58.6

$5.63 $5.63

-38.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.81 MX$98.2

$5.59 $5.59

3.94%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.85 MX$31.33

$0.81 $0.81

128.40%

White Bread (500g)

$3.22 MX$54.5

$3.20 $3.20

0.63%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.09 MX$35.25

$3.09 $3.09

-32.36%

Eggs

$2.91 MX$49.18

$3.96 $3.96

-26.52%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.49 MX$211

$12.34 $12.34

1.22%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.11 MX$171

$5.97 $5.97

69.35%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.89 MX$269

$12.80 $12.80

24.14%

Apples (1kg)

$3.31 MX$56.0

$3.34 $3.34

-0.90%

Banana (1kg)

$2.13 MX$35.95

$1.38 $1.38

54.35%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.19 MX$37.03

$3.11 $3.11

-29.58%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.45 MX$41.37

$4.53 $4.53

-45.92%

Potato (1kg)

$2.19 MX$37.00

$2.12 $2.12

3.30%

Onion (1kg)

$1.90 MX$32.20

$2.24 $2.24

-15.18%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.62 MX$27.31

$2.22 $2.22

-27.03%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.35 MX$22.82

$1.25 $1.25

8.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.43 MX$91.7

$10.07 $10.07

-46.08%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.59 MX$297

$14.89 $14.89

18.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.07 MX$34.96

$2.05 $2.05

0.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.75 MX$80.2

$4.06 $4.06

17.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.34 MX$5.75

$1.02 $1.02

-66.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.58 MX$365

$20.05 $20.05

7.63%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.04 MX$34.49

$2.55 $2.55

-20.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 MX$9.77

$1.54 $1.54

-62.34%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.97 MX$101

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.62 MX$27.31

$1.10 $1.10

47.27%

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

$22.8K MX$385.6K

$35.4K $35.4K

-35.51%

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

$26.7K MX$450.7K

$32.6K $32.6K

-18.11%

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

$65.2 MX$1,103

$239 $239

-72.65%

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

$29.87 MX$505

$44.38 $44.38

-32.69%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.55 MX$618

$69.0 $69.0

-47.04%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.0 MX$1,031

$25.20 $25.20

142.06%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.70 MX$451

$11.88 $11.88

124.75%

Cinema Ticket

$6.85 MX$116

$11.29 $11.29

-39.33%

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

$453 MX$7,664

$1,004 $1,004

-54.85%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.4K MX$226.0K

$19.8K $19.8K

-32.37%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$75.0 MX$1,267

$47.78 $47.78

56.91%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.3 MX$935

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$114 MX$1,920

$116 $116

-2.30%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$123 MX$2,073

$121 $121

1.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,134 MX$19.2K

$1,474 $1,474

-23.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$712 MX$12.0K

$1,000 $1,000

-28.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,571 MX$43.5K

$1,970 $1,970

30.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,311 MX$22.2K

$1,680 $1,680

-21.97%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,993 MX$67.5K

$1,716 $1,716

132.74%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,095 MX$35.4K

$1,683 $1,683

24.47%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,047 MX$17.7K

$3,674 $3,674

-71.51%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.3

6.36

77.67%

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

Last update for Mexico City: August 29, 2026

Last update for Champaign, IL: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,134 in Mexico City versus $1,474 in Champaign, IL. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 251% higher in Champaign, IL, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $52.0 in Mexico City versus $61.0 in Champaign, IL. Groceries tell a different story – $345 in Mexico City vs $316 in Champaign, IL – so Champaign, IL wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Champaign, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,646 in Mexico City, $2,147 in Champaign, IL – roughly 30% apart. Champaign, IL costs more across the board, with Monthly Utilities & Internet showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,469 per month in Mexico City and $3,221 in Champaign, IL. 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.

Interestingly, groceries are about 9% cheaper in Champaign, IL – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $52.0 in Mexico City and $61.0 in Champaign, IL. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Mexico City, where all-in costs run around $1,646, than in Champaign, IL at $2,147. In Mexico City it covers expenses comfortably, while in Champaign, IL 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 $2,147 in Champaign, IL. 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, Champaign, IL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.