😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,660 in Mexico City versus $1,139 in Cuautitlan Izcalli.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,565 in Mexico City versus $1,788 in Cuautitlan Izcalli.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,470 in Mexico City versus $2,437 in Cuautitlan Izcalli.
🌍Living in Mexico City is roughly 46% more expensive than in Cuautitlan Izcalli, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 21% above, Cuautitlan Izcalli is 17% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Cuautitlan Izcalli
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.92MX$205
$11.66MX$201
2.23%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$51.6MX$889
$28.44MX$490
81.43%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.41MX$197
$8.94MX$154
27.63%
Cappuccino
$3.99MX$68.8
$3.44MX$59.3
15.99%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66MX$28.57
$1.66MX$28.64
-
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.33MX$22.84
$1.39MX$23.92
-4.32%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.47MX$59.8
$2.66MX$45.76
30.45%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.90MX$102
$5.29MX$91.1
11.53%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Cuautitlan Izcalli
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.88MX$32.31
$1.76MX$30.31
6.82%
White Bread(500g)
$3.25MX$56.0
$2.89MX$49.69
12.46%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.16MX$37.21
$1.43MX$24.71
51.05%
Eggs
$2.90MX$49.87
$2.89MX$49.83
0.35%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.86MX$221
$2.96MX$50.9
334.46%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.05MX$173
$5.66MX$97.4
77.56%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.86MX$273
$7.43MX$128
113.46%
Apples(1kg)
$3.29MX$56.7
$2.62MX$45.08
25.57%
Banana(1kg)
$2.01MX$34.55
$1.73MX$29.70
16.18%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.20MX$37.88
$1.42MX$24.47
54.93%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.36MX$40.57
$2.27MX$39.12
3.96%
Potato(1kg)
$2.05MX$35.38
$2.16MX$37.26
-5.09%
Onion(1kg)
$1.90MX$32.75
$1.92MX$33.01
-1.04%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.61MX$27.64
$1.61MX$27.80
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.40MX$24.05
$1.19MX$20.51
17.65%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.46MX$94.1
$4.67MX$80.5
16.92%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.65MX$304
$10.33MX$178
70.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.06MX$35.39
$1.73MX$29.81
19.08%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.68MX$80.7
$4.74MX$81.6
-1.27%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Cuautitlan Izcalli
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.34MX$5.83
$0.89MX$15.26
-61.80%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$20.81MX$358
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.10MX$36.11
$0.86MX$14.77
144.19%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.56MX$9.63
$0.57MX$9.81
-1.75%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.81MX$100
$5.68MX$97.7
2.29%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.61MX$27.65
$1.42MX$24.51
13.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.8KMX$393.3K
$23.0KMX$396.1K
-0.70%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8KMX$460.6K
$26.6KMX$458.5K
0.46%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Cuautitlan Izcalli
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$65.2MX$1,122
$65.3MX$1,125
-0.21%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.09MX$518
$29.33MX$505
2.59%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.18MX$640
$20.76MX$357
79.09%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Cuautitlan Izcalli
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$59.8MX$1,029
$36.20MX$623
65.08%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.55MX$457
$23.59MX$406
12.55%
Cinema Ticket
$7.04MX$121
$4.78MX$82.4
47.28%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Cuautitlan Izcalli
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$465MX$8,001
$459MX$7,910
1.15%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.3KMX$228.6K
$4,857MX$83.6K
173.32%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Cuautitlan Izcalli
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$75.9MX$1,307
$58.9MX$1,014
28.89%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$56.0MX$963
$28.11MX$484
99.04%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$112MX$1,926
$113MX$1,945
-0.98%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121MX$2,075
$58.9MX$1,013
104.76%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Cuautitlan Izcalli
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,103MX$19.0K
$648MX$11.2K
70.03%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$721MX$12.4K
$408MX$7,023
76.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,530MX$43.6K
$1,087MX$18.7K
132.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,293MX$22.3K
$810MX$14.0K
59.64%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,991MX$68.7K
$1,751MX$30.1K
128.00%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,090MX$36.0K
$1,291MX$22.2K
61.89%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Cuautitlan Izcalli
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,037MX$17.9K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.3
11.3
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: September 14, 2026
Last update for Cuautitlan Izcalli: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,103 in Mexico City and $648 in Cuautitlan Izcalli. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $52.0 in Mexico City vs $28.00 in Cuautitlan Izcalli for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $345 vs $234 per month, with Cuautitlan Izcalli 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 Cuautitlan Izcalli: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cuautitlan Izcalli cheaper than Mexico City?
Cuautitlan Izcalli is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 46% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $2,489 in Mexico City and $1,709 in Cuautitlan Izcalli to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Mexico City and Cuautitlan Izcalli?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,103 in Mexico City versus $648 in Cuautitlan Izcalli. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $465 in Mexico City versus $459 in Cuautitlan Izcalli. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Mexico City or in Cuautitlan Izcalli?
Dining out is cheaper in Cuautitlan Izcalli – a meal for two runs $28.00 versus $52.0 in Mexico City. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Mexico City or in Cuautitlan Izcalli?
At $1,139 in Cuautitlan Izcalli versus $1,660 in Mexico City, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Cuautitlan Izcalli but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Cuautitlan Izcalli the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Mexico City or Cuautitlan Izcalli more family-friendly?
For families, Cuautitlan Izcalli is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Mexico City, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Mexico City or Cuautitlan Izcalli?
Safety-wise, Mexico City and Cuautitlan Izcalli are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Cuautitlan Izcalli gentler on the wallet – expenses run 46% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Mexico City vs other spots: cost of living compared