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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,677 per month in Mexico City vs $3,392 in Davis, CA, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,608 per month in Mexico City vs $5,034 in Davis, CA, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,540 per month in Mexico City vs $6,676 in Davis, CA, rent included.

Mexico City is about 51% cheaper than Davis, CA, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Mexico City and Davis, CA sit above the global median – Mexico City by 22%, Davis, CA by 146%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.14 MX$206

$22.33 $22.33

-45.63%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.9 MX$914

$98.6 $98.6

-45.31%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.09 MX$188

$12.76 $12.76

-13.09%

Cappuccino

$4.10 MX$69.5

$5.12 $5.12

-19.92%

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

$1.68 MX$28.53

$3.61 $3.61

-53.46%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.39 MX$23.55

$2.38 $2.38

-41.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.33 MX$56.5

$7.94 $7.94

-58.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.88 MX$99.7

$7.77 $7.77

-24.32%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.85 MX$31.41

$1.32 $1.32

40.15%

White Bread (500g)

$3.17 MX$53.8

$3.70 $3.70

-14.32%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.07 MX$35.13

$4.14 $4.14

-50.00%

Eggs

$2.93 MX$49.67

$5.36 $5.36

-45.34%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.59 MX$214

$10.93 $10.93

15.19%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.11 MX$172

$15.35 $15.35

-34.14%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.09 MX$273

$16.57 $16.57

-2.90%

Apples (1kg)

$3.39 MX$57.5

$4.89 $4.89

-30.67%

Banana (1kg)

$2.08 MX$35.26

$1.59 $1.59

30.82%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.12 MX$35.97

$4.42 $4.42

-52.04%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.41 MX$40.95

$4.69 $4.69

-48.61%

Potato (1kg)

$2.13 MX$36.11

$2.77 $2.77

-23.10%

Onion (1kg)

$2.01 MX$34.02

$3.08 $3.08

-34.74%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.55 MX$26.21

$2.20 $2.20

-29.55%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.36 MX$23.15

$2.32 $2.32

-41.38%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.77 MX$97.8

$9.85 $9.85

-41.42%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.74 MX$301

$15.87 $15.87

11.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.07 MX$35.11

$1.87 $1.87

10.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.61 MX$78.3

$3.39 $3.39

35.99%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.37 MX$6.21

$1.53 $1.53

-75.82%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.18 MX$359

$38.16 $38.16

-44.50%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.05 MX$34.84

$2.84 $2.84

-27.82%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 MX$9.79

$1.70 $1.70

-65.88%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.07 MX$103

$28.62 $28.62

-78.79%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.55 MX$26.34

$1.30 $1.30

19.23%

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

$22.9K MX$388.1K

$35.4K $35.4K

-35.45%

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

$27.2K MX$462.0K

$25.2K $25.2K

8.19%

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

$67.4 MX$1,144

$290 $290

-76.77%

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

$30.62 MX$520

$58.7 $58.7

-47.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$37.24 MX$632

$75.6 $75.6

-50.74%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.5 MX$1,043

$58.0 $58.0

5.95%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.12 MX$460

Cinema Ticket

$7.11 MX$121

$15.60 $15.60

-54.42%

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

$456 MX$7,739

$1,436 $1,436

-68.22%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.7K MX$232.3K

$26.9K $26.9K

-49.09%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$74.2 MX$1,259

$53.8 $53.8

38.03%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$57.0 MX$967

$41.60 $41.60

37.04%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 MX$1,958

$95.2 $95.2

21.22%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 MX$2,061

$113 $113

7.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,148 MX$19.5K

$2,183 $2,183

-47.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$709 MX$12.0K

$1,919 $1,919

-63.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,577 MX$43.7K

$3,874 $3,874

-33.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,295 MX$22.0K

$3,394 $3,394

-61.85%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,005 MX$67.9K

$2,713 $2,713

47.66%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,130 MX$36.1K

$2,362 $2,362

-9.82%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,082 MX$18.4K

$4,965 $4,965

-78.20%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.3

6.1

85.25%

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

Last update for Mexico City: September 6, 2026

Last update for Davis, CA: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,148 in Mexico City versus $2,183 in Davis, CA. 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 359% higher in Davis, CA, 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 $99.0 in Davis, CA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $345 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 Davis, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Davis, CA is pricier by about 102%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,515 per month in Mexico City and $5,089 in Davis, CA. 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 $1,677 in Mexico City and $3,392 in Davis, CA. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 80% less in Mexico City. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Mexico City, where all-in costs run around $1,677, than in Davis, CA at $3,392. In Mexico City it covers expenses comfortably, while in Davis, CA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Mexico City – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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, Davis, CA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.