🙂A single person spends $1,484 per month in Mexico City vs $3,198 in Davis, CA, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $2,381 per month in Mexico City vs $4,580 in Davis, CA, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $3,278 per month in Mexico City vs $5,962 in Davis, CA, rent included.
🙂Mexico City is about 54% cheaper than Davis, CA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Mexico City and Davis, CA sit above the global median – Mexico City by 11%, Davis, CA by 139%.
Moneda
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Davis, CA
Diferencia
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.98MX$227
$15.17$15.17
-14.44%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.1MX$929
$65.4$65.4
-18.89%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.72MX$170
$12.10$12.10
-19.67%
Cappuccino
$3.75MX$65.6
$4.83$4.83
-22.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57MX$27.46
$3.36$3.36
-53.27%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.13MX$19.76
$2.37$2.37
-52.32%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.18MX$55.7
$7.96$7.96
-60.05%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.66MX$81.6
$7.92$7.92
-41.16%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Davis, CA
Diferencia
Milk(1 liter)
$1.62MX$28.37
$1.21$1.21
33.88%
White Bread(500g)
$2.71MX$47.36
$4.20$4.20
-35.48%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.88MX$32.89
$3.33$3.33
-43.54%
Eggs
$2.51MX$43.90
$5.11$5.11
-50.88%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.08MX$176
$12.52$12.52
-19.49%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.29MX$145
$11.67$11.67
-28.96%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.94MX$209
$24.93$24.93
-52.11%
Apples(1kg)
$2.86MX$50.1
$4.68$4.68
-38.89%
Banana(1kg)
$1.75MX$30.62
$2.80$2.80
-37.50%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.48
$6.23$6.23
-66.61%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.97MX$34.46
$4.69$4.69
-58.00%
Potato(1kg)
$2.16MX$37.79
$3.97$3.97
-45.59%
Onion(1kg)
$2.18MX$38.16
$3.56$3.56
-38.76%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.39MX$24.34
$2.57$2.57
-45.91%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.12MX$19.69
$3.43$3.43
-67.35%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.20MX$73.5
$10.04$10.04
-58.17%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.25MX$249
$12.08$12.08
17.96%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76MX$30.85
$1.80$1.80
-2.22%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68MX$64.5
$7.95$7.95
-53.71%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Davis, CA
Diferencia
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.39MX$6.74
$1.24$1.24
-68.55%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.66MX$327
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.39MX$24.26
$3.42$3.42
-59.36%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.30MX$5.32
$1.60$1.60
-81.25%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.42MX$94.9
$29.06$29.06
-81.35%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35MX$23.63
$1.23$1.23
9.76%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.9KMX$330.5K
$27.7K$27.7K
-31.77%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.2KMX$405.2K
$24.0K$24.0K
-3.57%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Davis, CA
Diferencia
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.82MX$714
$235$235
-82.65%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.50MX$481
$52.5$52.5
-47.66%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.38MX$532
$69.6$69.6
-56.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Davis, CA
Diferencia
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$53.4MX$935
$42.53$42.53
25.63%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.30MX$460
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.27MX$110
$12.08$12.08
-48.10%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Davis, CA
Diferencia
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$436MX$7,632
$1,482$1,482
-70.57%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.5KMX$183.2K
$23.2K$23.2K
-54.80%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Davis, CA
Diferencia
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.8MX$993
$48.74$48.74
16.45%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.79MX$784
$38.10$38.10
17.56%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103MX$1,799
$95.1$95.1
8.06%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108MX$1,888
$137$137
-21.12%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Davis, CA
Diferencia
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,000MX$17.5K
$2,191$2,191
-54.37%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$620MX$10.9K
$1,901$1,901
-67.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,137MX$37.4K
$3,400$3,400
-37.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,235MX$21.6K
$3,149$3,149
-60.78%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,865MX$67.6K
$2,656$2,656
45.55%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,332MX$40.8K
$2,354$2,354
-0.93%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Davis, CA
Diferencia
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,067MX$18.7K
$4,888$4,888
-78.16%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
6.36
78.30%
Los datos de CityCost se basan en IA y aportaciones de usuarios. Puede haber pequeñas variaciones.
Última actualización para Mexico City: April 27, 2026
Última actualización para Davis, CA: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,000 in Mexico City versus $2,191 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 358% 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 $53.0 in Mexico City versus $65.0 in Davis, CA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $286 vs $467 – making Mexico City the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
Comparación de velocidades medias de internet por ciudad (actualizado April 2026)
El gráfico resalta el umbral de precisión para velocidades de internet móvil y fija, actualizado trimestralmente.
Índice del coste de vida para nómadas digitales
Mexico City vs Davis, CA: Coste de vida - preguntas frecuentes
Is Davis, CA cheaper than Mexico City?
Yes – Davis, CA is pricier by about 116%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,225 per month in Mexico City and $4,797 in Davis, CA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
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.
What are total monthly expenses in Mexico City vs Davis, CA?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,484 in Mexico City and $3,198 in Davis, CA. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $436 per month in Mexico City and $1,482 in Davis, CA. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for Mexico City or Davis, CA?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Mexico City, where all-in costs run around $1,484, than in Davis, CA at $3,198. In Mexico City it covers expenses comfortably, while in Davis, CA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Mexico City or Davis, CA more family-friendly?
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.
Which city is safer, Mexico City or Davis, CA?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
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.
Mexico City vs otros destinos: coste de vida comparado