Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Chicago, IL

For one person, living is cheaper in Mexico City: $1,608 a month against $3,037 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $17,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

78

Cost of Living Index in Mexico City
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Mexico City Living Index
147

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
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Chicago, IL Living Index

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Mexico City

🇲🇽 Mexico

$1,608

/mo nomad

Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,037

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Mexico City and in Chicago, IL

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Mexico City and in Chicago, IL actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,608 per month in Mexico City vs $3,037 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Mexico City $1,608
Chicago, IL $3,037

A couple spends around $2,549 per month in Mexico City vs $4,518 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Mexico City $2,549
Chicago, IL $4,518

A family of three spends $3,490 per month in Mexico City vs $5,999 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Mexico City $3,490
Chicago, IL $5,999

Mexico City is about 47% cheaper than Chicago, IL, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Mexico City and Chicago, IL sit above the global median – Mexico City by 18%, Chicago, IL by 123%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.62 MX$198

$20.71 $20.71

-48.72%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$48.35 MX$901

$89.2 $89.2

-45.81%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.35 MX$193

$13.19 $13.19

-21.53%

Cappuccino

$3.69 MX$68.8

$5.66 $5.66

-34.81%

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

$1.67 MX$31.07

$2.64 $2.64

-36.74%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.27 MX$23.59

$2.28 $2.28

-44.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.19 MX$59.5

$6.87 $6.87

-53.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.31 MX$98.9

$8.84 $8.84

-39.93%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.72 MX$32.15

$1.25 $1.25

37.60%

White Bread (500g)

$3.04 MX$56.7

$3.72 $3.72

-18.28%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.94 MX$36.19

$5.39 $5.39

-64.01%

Eggs

$2.89 MX$53.8

$4.74 $4.74

-39.03%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.97 MX$205

$13.84 $13.84

-20.74%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.25 MX$172

$14.40 $14.40

-35.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.13 MX$282

$18.38 $18.38

-17.68%

Apples (1kg)

$3.05 MX$56.8

$5.22 $5.22

-41.57%

Banana (1kg)

$1.94 MX$36.19

$1.98 $1.98

-2.02%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.03 MX$37.75

$4.06 $4.06

-50.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.31 MX$43.15

$4.97 $4.97

-53.52%

Potato (1kg)

$2.04 MX$37.94

$2.67 $2.67

-23.60%

Onion (1kg)

$1.80 MX$33.55

$2.66 $2.66

-32.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.48 MX$27.58

$2.24 $2.24

-33.93%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.27 MX$23.63

$3.13 $3.13

-59.42%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.30 MX$98.9

$13.82 $13.82

-61.65%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.10 MX$300

$14.88 $14.88

8.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.98 MX$36.97

$2.54 $2.54

-22.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.25 MX$79.3

$3.51 $3.51

21.08%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.31 MX$5.69

$2.43 $2.43

-87.24%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.73 MX$368

$73.5 $73.5

-73.17%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.84 MX$34.25

$3.18 $3.18

-42.14%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 MX$9.94

$1.39 $1.39

-61.87%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.30 MX$98.7

$25.03 $25.03

-78.83%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.51 MX$28.16

$1.20 $1.20

25.83%

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

$21.8K MX$405.5K

$35.0K $35.0K

-37.91%

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

$24.0K MX$447.1K

$26.7K $26.7K

-10.08%

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

$63.0 MX$1,174

$194 $194

-67.61%

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

$27.39 MX$511

$69.5 $69.5

-60.56%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$35.67 MX$665

$61.6 $61.6

-42.13%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$58.9 MX$1,099

$47.90 $47.90

23.05%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.64 MX$441

$27.34 $27.34

-13.53%

Cinema Ticket

$6.40 MX$119

$17.81 $17.81

-64.07%

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

$432 MX$8,045

$1,794 $1,794

-75.94%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.4K MX$212.9K

$31.9K $31.9K

-64.24%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.2 MX$1,272

$67.0 $67.0

1.79%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.1 MX$990

$52.1 $52.1

1.90%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$108 MX$2,009

$102 $102

6.16%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$117 MX$2,186

$144 $144

-18.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,113 MX$20.8K

$2,526 $2,526

-55.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$710 MX$13.2K

$1,578 $1,578

-54.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,588 MX$48.2K

$4,738 $4,738

-45.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,406 MX$26.2K

$2,693 $2,693

-47.79%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,631 MX$67.7K

$4,190 $4,190

-13.33%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,135 MX$39.8K

$2,768 $2,768

-22.87%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$946 MX$17.6K

$4,931 $4,931

-80.81%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.35

6.81

66.67%

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

Last update for Mexico City: October 25, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Mexico City

$710 44.2%

Chicago, IL

$1.6K 52% 122% $868

Groceries & Markets

Mexico City

$320 19.9%

Chicago, IL

$447 14.7% 40% $128

Eating Out

Mexico City

$199 12.4%

Chicago, IL

$345 11.4% 73.7% $146

Clothing & Footwear

Mexico City

$156 9.7%

Chicago, IL

$164 5.4% 5.2% $8.1

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Mexico City

$126 7.8%

Chicago, IL

$326 10.7% 158% $199

Sport & Entertainment

Mexico City

$72 4.5%

Chicago, IL

$84 2.8% 16.4% $12

Getting Around

Mexico City

$25 1.6%

Chicago, IL

$93 3.1% 267% $68

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,113 in Mexico City versus $2,526 in Chicago, IL. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries in Chicago, IL are about 5.2 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $48 in Mexico City versus $89 in Chicago, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $320 vs $447 – making Mexico City the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇲🇽 Mexico City

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🕒 Local time

13:59 1:59 PM

14:59 2:59 PM

1 h ahead of Mexico City

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

9,209,944 Capital

2,746,388

💱 Currency

Mexican Peso MXN $

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

100 MXN = 5.36 USD

100 MXN = 4.82 EUR

1 USD = 0.898 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to MXN – Mexican Peso Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇲🇽 Mexican Peso ($)

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 18.64 MXN (100 MXN = 5.36 USD). 1 EUR = 20.75 MXN (100 MXN = 4.82 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.11 USD (1 USD = 0.898 EUR).

USD to MXN in detail →

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Between locations

Mexico City Chicago, IL 2,720 km ≈ 4 h nonstop flight

From you

Mexico City
Chicago, IL

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Chicago, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,608 in Mexico City, $3,037 in Chicago, IL – Mexico City comes out roughly 47% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in eating out.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,412 per month in Mexico City and $4,555 in Chicago, 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: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,113 there versus $2,526 in Chicago, IL.

Groceries cost about 40% more in Chicago, IL, though the gap depends on what you buy.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $48 in Mexico City and $89 in Chicago, 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 $1,608, than in Chicago, IL at $3,037. In Mexico City it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chicago, IL it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Chicago, IL has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,608 in Mexico City to $3,037 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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