Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Des Moines, IA Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Des Moines, IA

πŸ™‚ Solo nomad: Mexico City is 32% cheaper than Des Moines, IA without rent, and 31.4% cheaper with rent.
πŸ™‚ Family of 3: Mexico City is 27.6% cheaper than Des Moines, IA without rent, and 22.5% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Des Moines, IA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.38 MX$253
$15.83 $15.83
-15.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$52.7 MX$997
$79.4 $79.4
-33.61%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.31 MX$176
$12.17 $12.17
-23.50%
Cappuccino
$3.61 MX$68.3
$4.78 $4.78
-24.48%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.64 MX$30.91
$2.32 $2.32
-29.31%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.12 MX$21.14
$1.93 $1.93
-41.97%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.26 MX$61.7
$4.86 $4.86
-32.92%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.82 MX$91.1
$6.97 $6.97
-30.85%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Des Moines, IA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.65 MX$31.24
$0.97 $0.97
70.10%
White Bread (500g)
$2.74 MX$51.7
$2.57 $2.57
6.61%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.92 MX$36.28
$2.26 $2.26
-15.04%
Eggs
$2.51 MX$47.53
$3.72 $3.72
-32.53%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.89 MX$187
$12.89 $12.89
-23.27%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.39 MX$159
$10.58 $10.58
-20.70%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.95 MX$226
$12.82 $12.82
-6.79%
Apples (1kg)
$2.87 MX$54.3
$4.33 $4.33
-33.72%
Banana (1kg)
$1.74 MX$32.85
$1.44 $1.44
20.83%
Oranges (1kg)
$2 MX$37.81
$3.75 $3.75
-46.67%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.07 MX$39.14
$3.61 $3.61
-42.66%
Potato (1kg)
$2.05 MX$38.78
$1.66 $1.66
23.49%
Onion (1kg)
$2.18 MX$41.22
$2.97 $2.97
-26.60%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.38 MX$26.16
$2.29 $2.29
-39.74%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.11 MX$21.06
$1.08 $1.08
2.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.16 MX$78.6
$7.17 $7.17
-41.98%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.05 MX$209
$13.95 $13.95
-20.79%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.75 MX$33.16
$1.78 $1.78
-1.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 MX$70
$4.11 $4.11
-9.98%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Des Moines, IA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.38 MX$7.25
$1.7 $1.7
-77.65%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.97 MX$359
$57 $57
-66.72%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.36 MX$25.72
$1.94 $1.94
-29.90%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.28 MX$5.25
$1.23 $1.23
-77.24%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.3 MX$100
$19.71 $19.71
-73.11%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.36 MX$25.63
$0.81 $0.81
67.90%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.8K MX$354.6K
$25.7K $25.7K
-26.99%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4K MX$441.7K
$24.9K $24.9K
-6.02%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Des Moines, IA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$39.97 MX$756
$145 $145
-72.42%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.48 MX$519
$52.1 $52.1
-47.20%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.22 MX$571
$54.2 $54.2
-44.24%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Des Moines, IA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.6 MX$994
$66.1 $66.1
-20.46%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.84 MX$507
$20.16 $20.16
33.13%
Cinema Ticket
$6.32 MX$120
$15.29 $15.29
-58.67%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Des Moines, IA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$437 MX$8,258
$1,380 $1,380
-68.35%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.6K MX$199.9K
$12K $12K
-11.88%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Des Moines, IA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.2 MX$1,082
$53 $53
8.00%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.14 MX$853
$42.04 $42.04
7.37%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 MX$1,928
$74 $74
37.75%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109 MX$2,056
$127 $127
-14.15%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Des Moines, IA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,000 MX$18.9K
$1,226 $1,226
-18.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$622 MX$11.8K
$896 $896
-30.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,160 MX$40.8K
$1,740 $1,740
24.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,235 MX$23.3K
$1,494 $1,494
-17.32%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,566 MX$67.4K
$2,284 $2,284
56.09%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,480 MX$46.9K
$2,291 $2,291
8.23%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Des Moines, IA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$867 MX$16.4K
$3,655 $3,655
-76.27%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.34
6.5
74.46%

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

Last update for Mexico City: October 28, 2025

Last update for Des Moines, IA: October 28, 2025

Join the CityCost newsletter – low traffic, no spam, and easy to unsubscribe. Your email stays private.