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

๐Ÿ™‚ Solo nomad: Mexico City is 38.9% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 51.6% cheaper with rent.
๐Ÿ™‚ Family of 3: Mexico City is 37.4% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 47.6% cheaper with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Mexico City
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.29 MX$230
$20.53 $20.53
-35.27%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.8 MX$929
$102 $102
-47.13%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.29 MX$161
$12.03 $12.03
-22.78%
Cappuccino
$3.61 MX$62.4
$5.62 $5.62
-35.77%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.56 MX$26.92
$3.07 $3.07
-49.19%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.12 MX$19.38
$2.42 $2.42
-53.72%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.13 MX$54.0
$6.98 $6.98
-55.16%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.71 MX$81.4
$8.10 $8.10
-41.85%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.70 MX$29.42
$1.08 $1.08
57.41%
White Bread (500g)
$2.77 MX$47.84
$3.95 $3.95
-29.87%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.96 MX$33.91
$5.52 $5.52
-64.49%
Eggs
$2.60 MX$45.03
$4.55 $4.55
-42.86%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.94 MX$172
$14.58 $14.58
-31.82%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.10 MX$140
$14.91 $14.91
-45.67%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.50 MX$199
$18.83 $18.83
-38.93%
Apples (1kg)
$2.87 MX$49.64
$5.34 $5.34
-46.25%
Banana (1kg)
$1.73 MX$29.95
$1.76 $1.76
-1.70%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.00 MX$34.59
$4.39 $4.39
-54.44%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.04 MX$35.24
$4.37 $4.37
-53.32%
Potato (1kg)
$2.08 MX$36.00
$2.55 $2.55
-18.43%
Onion (1kg)
$2.20 MX$37.96
$2.78 $2.78
-20.86%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.45 MX$25.13
$2.46 $2.46
-41.06%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07 MX$18.56
$2.66 $2.66
-59.77%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27 MX$73.9
$14.74 $14.74
-71.03%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.32 MX$248
$15.17 $15.17
-5.60%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76 MX$30.50
$2.45 $2.45
-28.16%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.70 MX$63.9
$3.68 $3.68
0.54%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Mexico City
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.35 MX$6.10
$2.52 $2.52
-86.11%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$19.19 MX$332
$74.5 $74.5
-74.25%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.34 MX$23.09
$3.29 $3.29
-59.27%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.28 MX$4.81
$1.43 $1.43
-80.42%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.33 MX$92.2
$24.86 $24.86
-78.56%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.34 MX$23.18
$1.09 $1.09
22.94%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.1K MX$330.6K
$31.3K $31.3K
-38.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.9K MX$412.9K
$26.8K $26.8K
-10.83%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$39.86 MX$689
$187 $187
-78.70%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.78 MX$463
$62.4 $62.4
-57.06%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.36 MX$508
$67.1 $67.1
-56.26%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$53.4 MX$924
$75.2 $75.2
-28.92%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.09 MX$451
$13.17 $13.17
98.10%
Cinema Ticket
$6.40 MX$111
$15.21 $15.21
-57.92%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$440 MX$7,616
$2,039 $2,039
-78.40%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.8K MX$185.9K
$39.3K $39.3K
-72.67%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.6 MX$996
$64.0 $64.0
-9.91%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.02 MX$778
$50.6 $50.6
-11.01%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$104 MX$1,794
$95.4 $95.4
8.73%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 MX$1,866
$144 $144
-24.84%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,013 MX$17.5K
$2,355 $2,355
-56.98%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$630 MX$10.9K
$1,613 $1,613
-60.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,162 MX$37.4K
$4,728 $4,728
-54.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,222 MX$21.1K
$2,754 $2,754
-55.64%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,793 MX$65.6K
$3,803 $3,803
-0.27%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,332 MX$40.3K
$2,580 $2,580
-9.61%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,075 MX$18.6K
$4,738 $4,738
-77.31%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.34
6.6
71.82%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Mexico City: April 11, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: April 14, 2026

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

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