Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Chattanooga, TN Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Chattanooga, TN

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,472 per month in Mexico City vs $2,503 in Chattanooga, TN, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,359 per month in Mexico City vs $3,752 in Chattanooga, TN, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,245 per month in Mexico City vs $5,001 in Chattanooga, TN, rent included.

Mexico City is about 41% cheaper than Chattanooga, TN, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Mexico City and Chattanooga, TN sit above the global median – Mexico City by 11%, Chattanooga, TN by 88%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.14 MX$229

$16.42 $16.42

-19.98%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.5 MX$934

$80.7 $80.7

-33.66%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.33 MX$163

$10.82 $10.82

-13.77%

Cappuccino

$3.70 MX$64.5

$4.91 $4.91

-24.64%

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

$1.60 MX$27.98

$2.45 $2.45

-34.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.12 MX$19.49

$2.16 $2.16

-48.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.14 MX$54.7

$6.02 $6.02

-47.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.85 MX$84.5

$7.33 $7.33

-33.83%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 MX$28.84

$1.03 $1.03

60.19%

White Bread (500g)

$2.71 MX$47.34

$3.63 $3.63

-25.34%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.91 MX$33.29

$4.84 $4.84

-60.54%

Eggs

$2.59 MX$45.17

$4.24 $4.24

-38.92%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.81 MX$171

$13.84 $13.84

-29.12%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.43 MX$147

$13.67 $13.67

-38.33%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.93 MX$208

$12.53 $12.53

-4.79%

Apples (1kg)

$2.95 MX$51.5

$6.22 $6.22

-52.57%

Banana (1kg)

$1.74 MX$30.35

$1.52 $1.52

14.47%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.04 MX$35.66

$4.35 $4.35

-53.10%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.06 MX$35.93

$3.66 $3.66

-43.72%

Potato (1kg)

$2.15 MX$37.49

$3.46 $3.46

-37.86%

Onion (1kg)

$2.26 MX$39.33

$3.21 $3.21

-29.60%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.39 MX$24.17

$2.29 $2.29

-39.30%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.12 MX$19.47

$3.06 $3.06

-63.40%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.22 MX$73.6

$7.34 $7.34

-42.51%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.51 MX$305

$18.09 $18.09

-3.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 MX$29.82

$1.91 $1.91

-10.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 MX$63.4

$3.40 $3.40

6.76%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.35 MX$6.15

$4.02 $4.02

-91.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.32 MX$337

$49.86 $49.86

-61.25%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.38 MX$24.00

$1.77 $1.77

-22.03%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.28 MX$4.81

$1.53 $1.53

-81.70%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.28 MX$92.0

$23.73 $23.73

-77.75%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 MX$23.69

$0.72 $0.72

88.89%

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

$19.1K MX$333.2K

$25.3K $25.3K

-24.39%

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

$23.6K MX$411.7K

$25.9K $25.9K

-8.84%

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

$40.53 MX$707

$142 $142

-71.41%

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

$27.38 MX$478

$55.8 $55.8

-50.91%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.38 MX$530

$71.1 $71.1

-57.27%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.2 MX$911

$39.89 $39.89

30.91%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.48 MX$462

Cinema Ticket

$6.19 MX$108

$12.54 $12.54

-50.64%

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

$425 MX$7,414

$1,007 $1,007

-57.78%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.7K MX$187.2K

$24.7K $24.7K

-56.51%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.3 MX$1,017

$41.94 $41.94

39.03%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.57 MX$777

$32.17 $32.17

38.55%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 MX$1,805

$98.7 $98.7

4.85%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 MX$1,897

$111 $111

-2.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,014 MX$17.7K

$1,502 $1,502

-32.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$623 MX$10.9K

$1,277 $1,277

-51.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,119 MX$37.0K

$3,562 $3,562

-40.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,223 MX$21.3K

$2,084 $2,084

-41.31%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,792 MX$66.1K

$2,278 $2,278

66.50%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,110 MX$36.8K

$2,241 $2,241

-5.86%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,052 MX$18.4K

$3,874 $3,874

-72.84%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.34

6.45

75.81%

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

Last update for Mexico City: July 25, 2026

Last update for Chattanooga, TN: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,014 in Mexico City versus $1,502 in Chattanooga, TN. 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 268% higher in Chattanooga, TN, 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 $54.0 in Mexico City versus $81.0 in Chattanooga, TN. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $293 vs $421 – 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 Chattanooga, TN: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chattanooga, TN costs about 70% more than Mexico City, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,208 per month in Mexico City and $3,754 in Chattanooga, TN. 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 $1,472 in Mexico City and $2,503 in Chattanooga, TN. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 158% less in Mexico City. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Mexico City, where all-in costs run around $1,472, than in Chattanooga, TN at $2,503. In Mexico City it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chattanooga, TN it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Mexico City costs $1,472 versus $2,503 in Chattanooga, TN. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

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