Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Dubuque, IA Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Dubuque, IA

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,646 per month in Mexico City vs $1,794 in Dubuque, IA, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,613 per month in Mexico City vs $2,653 in Dubuque, IA, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,580 per month in Mexico City vs $3,513 in Dubuque, IA, rent included.

Mexico City is about 8% cheaper than Dubuque, IA, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Mexico City and Dubuque, IA sit above the global median – Mexico City by 20%, Dubuque, IA by 31%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.11 MX$204

$16.30 $16.30

-25.71%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$52.2 MX$881

$50.1 $50.1

4.17%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.90 MX$184

$9.95 $9.95

9.55%

Cappuccino

$4.05 MX$68.4

$5.02 $5.02

-19.32%

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

$1.72 MX$28.95

$2.04 $2.04

-15.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.38 MX$23.25

$1.02 $1.02

35.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.47 MX$58.5

$2.96 $2.96

17.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.81 MX$98.1

$4.58 $4.58

26.86%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.85 MX$31.28

$0.81 $0.81

128.40%

White Bread (500g)

$3.22 MX$54.4

$2.72 $2.72

18.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.09 MX$35.20

$3.42 $3.42

-38.89%

Eggs

$2.91 MX$49.10

$2.78 $2.78

4.68%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.49 MX$211

$10.14 $10.14

23.18%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.11 MX$171

$10.42 $10.42

-2.98%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.89 MX$268

$15.22 $15.22

4.40%

Apples (1kg)

$3.31 MX$56.0

$3.37 $3.37

-1.78%

Banana (1kg)

$2.13 MX$35.90

$1.23 $1.23

73.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.19 MX$36.97

$3.32 $3.32

-34.04%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.45 MX$41.31

$2.39 $2.39

2.51%

Potato (1kg)

$2.19 MX$36.95

$1.40 $1.40

56.43%

Onion (1kg)

$1.90 MX$32.15

$1.62 $1.62

17.28%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.62 MX$27.26

$2.33 $2.33

-30.47%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.35 MX$22.78

$1.78 $1.78

-24.16%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.43 MX$91.6

$9.05 $9.05

-40.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.59 MX$297

$13.46 $13.46

30.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.07 MX$34.90

$2.01 $2.01

2.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.75 MX$80.1

$2.69 $2.69

76.58%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.34 MX$5.74

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.58 MX$364

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.04 MX$34.44

$2.75 $2.75

-25.82%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 MX$9.75

$1.58 $1.58

-63.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.97 MX$101

$20.81 $20.81

-71.31%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.62 MX$27.27

$0.89 $0.89

82.02%

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

$22.8K MX$385.0K

$35.7K $35.7K

-36.04%

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

$26.7K MX$450.0K

$25.6K $25.6K

4.11%

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

$65.2 MX$1,101

$204 $204

-68.01%

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

$29.87 MX$504

$67.9 $67.9

-56.00%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.55 MX$617

$66.0 $66.0

-44.60%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.0 MX$1,030

$37.36 $37.36

63.28%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.70 MX$451

Cinema Ticket

$6.85 MX$116

$7.88 $7.88

-13.07%

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

$453 MX$7,652

$784 $784

-42.19%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.4K MX$225.7K

$24.4K $24.4K

-45.29%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$75.0 MX$1,265

$54.6 $54.6

37.41%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.3 MX$933

$35.33 $35.33

56.50%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$114 MX$1,917

$88.2 $88.2

28.82%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$123 MX$2,070

$90.7 $90.7

35.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,134 MX$19.1K

$1,006 $1,006

12.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$712 MX$12.0K

$723 $723

-1.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,571 MX$43.4K

$1,456 $1,456

76.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,311 MX$22.1K

$1,190 $1,190

10.23%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,993 MX$67.4K

$1,754 $1,754

127.69%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,095 MX$35.4K

$1,691 $1,691

23.93%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,047 MX$17.7K

$3,766 $3,766

-72.20%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.3

5.25

115.24%

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

Last update for Mexico City: August 29, 2026

Last update for Dubuque, IA: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,134 in Mexico City versus $1,006 in Dubuque, IA. 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 260% higher in Dubuque, IA, 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 $52.0 in Mexico City versus $50.0 in Dubuque, IA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $345 vs $318 – making Dubuque, IA 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 Dubuque, IA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Dubuque, IA costs about 9% more than Mexico City, with the gap driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,469 per month in Mexico City and $2,690 in Dubuque, IA. 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 $1,646 in Mexico City and $1,794 in Dubuque, IA. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $453 per month in Mexico City and $784 in Dubuque, IA. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Mexico City, where all-in costs run around $1,646, than in Dubuque, IA at $1,794. In Mexico City it covers expenses comfortably, while in Dubuque, IA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Mexico City costs $1,646 versus $1,794 in Dubuque, IA. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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