Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Downingtown, PA

For one person, living is cheaper in Mexico City: $1,674 a month against $3,249 in Downingtown, PA, rent and utilities included – about $18,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Mexico City, Mexico
Downingtown, PA, United States
Mexico City
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,674
/mo nomad
Downingtown, PA
🇺🇸 United States
$3,249
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Mexico City and in Downingtown, PA

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Mexico City and in Downingtown, PA actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,674 per month in Mexico City vs $3,249 in Downingtown, PA, rent included.

  • Mexico City $1,674
  • Downingtown, PA $3,249

A couple spends around $2,606 per month in Mexico City vs $4,456 in Downingtown, PA, rent included.

  • Mexico City $2,606
  • Downingtown, PA $4,456

A family of three spends $3,537 per month in Mexico City vs $5,663 in Downingtown, PA, rent included.

  • Mexico City $3,537
  • Downingtown, PA $5,663

Mexico City is about 48% cheaper than Downingtown, PA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Mexico City and Downingtown, PA sit above the global median – Mexico City by 24%, Downingtown, PA by 140%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Downingtown, PA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.59 MX$197
$16.19 $16.19
-34.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$52.0 MX$965
$120 $120
-56.71%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.73 MX$199
$12.78 $12.78
-16.04%
Cappuccino
$3.80 MX$70.5
$4.40 $4.40
-13.64%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.61 MX$29.95
$2.46 $2.46
-34.55%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.21 MX$22.51
$1.47 $1.47
-17.69%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.18 MX$59.0
$6.98 $6.98
-54.44%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.44 MX$101
$6.45 $6.45
-15.66%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Downingtown, PA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.72 MX$31.90
$1.20 $1.20
43.33%
White Bread (500g)
$2.97 MX$55.1
$4.12 $4.12
-27.91%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.93 MX$35.77
$3.99 $3.99
-51.63%
Eggs
$2.77 MX$51.5
$1.99 $1.99
39.20%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.67 MX$217
$13.37 $13.37
-12.72%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.48 MX$176
$6.44 $6.44
47.20%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.37 MX$286
$10.93 $10.93
40.62%
Apples (1kg)
$3.10 MX$57.7
$6.30 $6.30
-50.79%
Banana (1kg)
$1.96 MX$36.41
$1.40 $1.40
40.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.98 MX$36.81
$4.03 $4.03
-50.87%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.34 MX$43.37
$4.31 $4.31
-45.71%
Potato (1kg)
$2.02 MX$37.58
$2.15 $2.15
-6.05%
Onion (1kg)
$1.82 MX$33.88
$2.62 $2.62
-30.53%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.54 MX$28.68
$2.97 $2.97
-48.15%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.31 MX$24.37
$1.98 $1.98
-33.84%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.35 MX$99.4
$14.99 $14.99
-64.31%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.19 MX$301
$17.82 $17.82
-9.15%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.96 MX$36.38
$1.75 $1.75
12.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.35 MX$80.8
$3.26 $3.26
33.44%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Downingtown, PA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.30 MX$5.66
$2.05 $2.05
-85.37%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$19.49 MX$362
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.92 MX$35.61
$8.05 $8.05
-76.15%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.47 MX$8.78
$2.93 $2.93
-83.96%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.41 MX$100
$35.24 $35.24
-84.65%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.48 MX$27.55
$0.99 $0.99
49.49%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.4K MX$396.9K
$22.9K $22.9K
-6.69%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.8K MX$441.2K
$23.7K $23.7K
0.12%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Downingtown, PA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$62.0 MX$1,151
$210 $210
-70.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.47 MX$529
$39.07 $39.07
-27.13%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.11 MX$634
$69.0 $69.0
-50.57%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Downingtown, PA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$58.4 MX$1,084
$67.4 $67.4
-13.32%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.50 MX$455
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.59 MX$122
$12.77 $12.77
-48.39%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Downingtown, PA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$434 MX$8,064
$3,193 $3,193
-86.40%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.0K MX$260.7K
$66.0K $66.0K
-78.72%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Downingtown, PA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$68.4 MX$1,269
$49.91 $49.91
36.95%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$54.8 MX$1,018
$50.1 $50.1
9.45%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$111 MX$2,059
$101 $101
9.47%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116 MX$2,154
$120 $120
-3.05%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Downingtown, PA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,179 MX$21.9K
$2,095 $2,095
-43.70%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$771 MX$14.3K
$2,020 $2,020
-61.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,570 MX$47.7K
$4,018 $4,018
-36.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,420 MX$26.4K
$2,765 $2,765
-48.66%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,586 MX$66.6K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,064 MX$38.3K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Downingtown, PA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,003 MX$18.6K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.35
4
183.75%

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

Last update for Mexico City: November 1, 2026

Last update for Downingtown, PA: November 1, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
$771
Downingtown, PA
$2K 162% $1.2K
Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
$324
Downingtown, PA
$358 10.7% $35
Eating Out
Mexico City
$201
Downingtown, PA
$284 41.7% $84
Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
$158
Downingtown, PA
$144 8.3% $13
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
$125
Downingtown, PA
$318 156% $194
Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
$72
Downingtown, PA
$93 29.8% $21
Getting Around
Mexico City
$25
Downingtown, PA
$31 * 23.6% $5.9

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,179 in Mexico City versus $2,095 in Downingtown, PA. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $52 in Mexico City versus $120 in Downingtown, PA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $324 vs $358 – making Mexico City the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇲🇽 Mexico City
🇺🇸 Downingtown, PA
🕒 Local time
11:39 11:39 AM
12:39 12:39 PM
1 h ahead of Mexico City
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
9,209,944 Capital
8,000
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to MXN – Mexican Peso Converter

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of November 3, 2026: 1 USD = 18.57 MXN (100 MXN = 5.38 USD). 1 EUR = 20.79 MXN (100 MXN = 4.81 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of November 3, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.893 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Mexico City Downingtown, PA 3,200 km ≈ 4 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Mexico City
  • Downingtown, PA

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Downingtown, PA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Mexico City or Downingtown, PA?
Downingtown, PA costs about 94% more than Mexico City, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from eating out. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Mexico City and in Downingtown, PA?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,510 per month in Mexico City and $4,874 in Downingtown, PA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Mexico City or Downingtown, PA?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Mexico City, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,179 there versus $2,095 in Downingtown, PA.
How much does it cost to live in Mexico City compared to Downingtown, PA?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,674 in Mexico City and $3,249 in Downingtown, PA. That makes Mexico City about 48% cheaper.
How do childcare costs compare in Mexico City and in Downingtown, PA?
Kindergarten costs $434 per month in Mexico City and $3,193 in Downingtown, PA. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $3,000/month in Mexico City or in Downingtown, PA?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Mexico City, where all-in costs run around $1,674, than in Downingtown, PA at $3,249. In Mexico City it covers expenses comfortably, while in Downingtown, PA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for families?
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.

Mexico City vs other spots: cost of living compared

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