Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and El Paso, TX Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and El Paso, TX

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,484 per month in Mexico City vs $2,154 in El Paso, TX, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,381 per month in Mexico City vs $3,259 in El Paso, TX, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,278 per month in Mexico City vs $4,364 in El Paso, TX, rent included.

Mexico City is about 31% cheaper than El Paso, TX, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Mexico City and El Paso, TX sit above the global median – Mexico City by 11%, El Paso, TX by 61%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.98 MX$226

$18.63 $18.63

-30.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.1 MX$923

$69.2 $69.2

-23.29%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.72 MX$169

$11.79 $11.79

-17.56%

Cappuccino

$3.75 MX$65.2

$6.51 $6.51

-42.40%

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

$1.57 MX$27.30

$2.75 $2.75

-42.91%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.13 MX$19.64

$1.93 $1.93

-41.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.18 MX$55.3

$5.03 $5.03

-36.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.66 MX$81.1

$6.11 $6.11

-23.73%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.62 MX$28.21

$0.86 $0.86

88.37%

White Bread (500g)

$2.71 MX$47.09

$2.48 $2.48

9.27%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.88 MX$32.70

$2.59 $2.59

-27.41%

Eggs

$2.51 MX$43.65

$3.68 $3.68

-31.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.08 MX$175

$11.39 $11.39

-11.50%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.29 MX$144

$11.17 $11.17

-25.78%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.94 MX$208

$11.94 $11.94

Apples (1kg)

$2.86 MX$49.77

$3.99 $3.99

-28.32%

Banana (1kg)

$1.75 MX$30.45

$1.27 $1.27

37.80%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.08 MX$36.27

$4.03 $4.03

-48.39%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.97 MX$34.27

$4.32 $4.32

-54.40%

Potato (1kg)

$2.16 MX$37.58

$3.43 $3.43

-37.03%

Onion (1kg)

$2.18 MX$37.94

$2.90 $2.90

-24.83%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.39 MX$24.20

$2.19 $2.19

-36.53%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.12 MX$19.57

$1.54 $1.54

-27.27%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.20 MX$73.1

$12.23 $12.23

-65.66%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.25 MX$248

$8.21 $8.21

73.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 MX$30.68

$2.11 $2.11

-16.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.68 MX$64.1

$4.72 $4.72

-22.03%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.39 MX$6.71

$1.46 $1.46

-73.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.66 MX$325

$47.55 $47.55

-60.76%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.39 MX$24.12

$1.63 $1.63

-14.72%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.30 MX$5.29

$1.37 $1.37

-78.10%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.42 MX$94.3

$27.32 $27.32

-80.16%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.35 MX$23.50

$0.73 $0.73

84.93%

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

$18.9K MX$328.6K

$23.5K $23.5K

-19.66%

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

$23.2K MX$402.8K

$26.0K $26.0K

-10.83%

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

$40.82 MX$710

$164 $164

-75.16%

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

$27.50 MX$479

$64.6 $64.6

-57.42%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.38 MX$529

$70.8 $70.8

-57.10%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$53.4 MX$930

$25.25 $25.25

111.60%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.30 MX$458

$7.67 $7.67

242.89%

Cinema Ticket

$6.27 MX$109

$11.56 $11.56

-45.76%

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

$436 MX$7,588

$572 $572

-23.75%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.5K MX$182.1K

$7,041 $7,041

48.66%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.8 MX$988

$40.18 $40.18

41.26%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.79 MX$779

$43.03 $43.03

4.09%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 MX$1,789

$96.0 $96.0

7.06%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 MX$1,878

$173 $173

-37.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,000 MX$17.4K

$1,038 $1,038

-3.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$620 MX$10.8K

$880 $880

-29.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,137 MX$37.2K

$1,700 $1,700

25.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,235 MX$21.5K

$1,597 $1,597

-22.68%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,865 MX$67.3K

$1,778 $1,778

117.34%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,332 MX$40.6K

$1,788 $1,788

30.47%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,067 MX$18.6K

$3,302 $3,302

-67.68%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.34

6.51

74.19%

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

Last update for Mexico City: April 27, 2026

Last update for El Paso, TX: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,000 in Mexico City versus $1,038 in El Paso, TX. 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 209% higher in El Paso, TX, 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 $69.0 in El Paso, TX. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $286 vs $329 – 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 El Paso, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

El Paso, TX costs about 45% more than Mexico City, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,225 per month in Mexico City and $3,231 in El Paso, TX. 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 $1,484 in Mexico City and $2,154 in El Paso, TX. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 155% less in Mexico City. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Mexico City, where all-in costs run around $1,484, than in El Paso, TX at $2,154. In Mexico City it covers expenses comfortably, while in El Paso, TX it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Mexico City costs $1,484 versus $2,154 in El Paso, TX. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

If budget matters most, go with Mexico City. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, El Paso, TX makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.