Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Chico, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Chico, CA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,456 in Mexico City versus $2,626 in Chico, CA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,361 in Mexico City versus $3,963 in Chico, CA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,266 in Mexico City versus $5,299 in Chico, CA.

Living in Mexico City costs roughly 45% less than in Chico, CA, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Mexico City 9% above, Chico, CA 97% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.07 MX$228

$25.21 $25.21

-48.16%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.8 MX$936

$60.9 $60.9

-11.77%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.68 MX$169

$13.20 $13.20

-26.67%

Cappuccino

$3.74 MX$65.1

$5.89 $5.89

-36.50%

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

$1.62 MX$28.13

$2.49 $2.49

-34.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.16 MX$20.23

$2.17 $2.17

-46.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.23 MX$56.2

$7.16 $7.16

-54.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.74 MX$82.5

$8.65 $8.65

-45.20%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 MX$28.68

$1.34 $1.34

23.13%

White Bread (500g)

$2.75 MX$47.95

$3.70 $3.70

-25.68%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.87 MX$32.63

$3.50 $3.50

-46.57%

Eggs

$2.50 MX$43.54

$5.61 $5.61

-55.44%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.20 MX$178

$13.33 $13.33

-23.48%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.25 MX$144

$10.60 $10.60

-22.17%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.82 MX$206

$16.75 $16.75

-29.43%

Apples (1kg)

$3.01 MX$52.4

$5.53 $5.53

-45.57%

Banana (1kg)

$1.81 MX$31.54

$2.23 $2.23

-18.83%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.00 MX$34.81

$3.80 $3.80

-47.37%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.00 MX$34.74

$5.58 $5.58

-64.16%

Potato (1kg)

$2.08 MX$36.30

$4.61 $4.61

-54.88%

Onion (1kg)

$2.27 MX$39.56

$3.50 $3.50

-35.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.46 MX$25.36

$2.20 $2.20

-33.64%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 MX$18.74

$2.29 $2.29

-52.84%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.35 MX$75.7

$7.79 $7.79

-44.16%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.99 MX$296

$11.84 $11.84

43.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.73 MX$30.18

$1.69 $1.69

2.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.58 MX$62.3

$5.43 $5.43

-34.07%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.39 MX$6.74

$2.91 $2.91

-86.60%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.69 MX$325

$34.53 $34.53

-45.87%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.33 MX$23.08

$3.54 $3.54

-62.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.28 MX$4.87

$2.04 $2.04

-86.27%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.25 MX$91.5

$40.34 $40.34

-86.99%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 MX$23.27

$1.27 $1.27

5.51%

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

$19.4K MX$338.0K

$23.7K $23.7K

-18.05%

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

$23.8K MX$415.0K

$24.4K $24.4K

-2.35%

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

$40.69 MX$709

$192 $192

-78.85%

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

$26.87 MX$468

$53.2 $53.2

-49.46%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.51 MX$531

$70.5 $70.5

-56.72%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.8 MX$919

$62.1 $62.1

-14.97%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.65 MX$464

Cinema Ticket

$6.51 MX$113

$13.74 $13.74

-52.62%

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

$428 MX$7,454

$1,834 $1,834

-76.66%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.5K MX$182.8K

$37.3K $37.3K

-71.87%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.3 MX$997

$58.5 $58.5

-2.15%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.50 MX$792

$31.30 $31.30

45.37%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$104 MX$1,812

$78.7 $78.7

32.26%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 MX$1,878

$98.1 $98.1

9.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,003 MX$17.5K

$1,459 $1,459

-31.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$623 MX$10.8K

$1,192 $1,192

-47.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,109 MX$36.7K

$2,755 $2,755

-23.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,218 MX$21.2K

$2,294 $2,294

-46.90%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,885 MX$67.6K

$3,245 $3,245

19.70%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,033 MX$35.4K

$2,971 $2,971

-31.58%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,038 MX$18.1K

$3,857 $3,857

-73.09%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.34

6.55

73.13%

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

Last update for Mexico City: July 13, 2026

Last update for Chico, CA: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,003 in Mexico City and $1,459 in Chico, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Chico, CA pays 272% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $54.0 in Mexico City vs $61.0 in Chico, CA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $292 vs $414 per month, with Mexico City cheaper across the board.

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 Chico, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mexico City is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 80% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 272% lower in Chico, CA. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,003 in Mexico City versus $1,459 in Chico, CA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Mexico City – a meal for two runs $54.0 versus $61.0 in Chico, CA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $1,456 per month in Mexico City versus $2,626 in Chico, CA – a 80% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,456 in Mexico City versus $2,626 in Chico, CA, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Mexico City but tight or insufficient in Chico, CA. The gap between the two cities makes Mexico City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Mexico City is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Chico, CA, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Expats usually find Mexico City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 80% less than in Chico, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.