Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Ellensburg, WA Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Ellensburg, WA

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,467 per month in Mexico City vs $1,879 in Ellensburg, WA, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,371 per month in Mexico City vs $2,979 in Ellensburg, WA, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,274 per month in Mexico City vs $4,079 in Ellensburg, WA, rent included.

Mexico City is about 22% cheaper than Ellensburg, WA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Mexico City and Ellensburg, WA sit above the global median – Mexico City by 10%, Ellensburg, WA by 40%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Ellensburg, WA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.18 MX$228
$15.06 $15.06
-12.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.9 MX$934
$98.9 $98.9
-45.48%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.42 MX$163
$11.87 $11.87
-20.64%
Cappuccino
$3.55 MX$61.5
$5.23 $5.23
-32.12%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62 MX$28.03
$1.46 $1.46
10.96%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.11 MX$19.31
$1.29 $1.29
-13.95%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.12 MX$54.1
$4.95 $4.95
-36.97%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.63 MX$80.2
$8.04 $8.04
-42.41%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Ellensburg, WA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.70 MX$29.48
$1.10 $1.10
54.55%
White Bread (500g)
$2.72 MX$47.10
$2.71 $2.71
0.37%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.91 MX$33.13
$4.81 $4.81
-60.29%
Eggs
$2.54 MX$43.94
$4.29 $4.29
-40.79%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.03 MX$174
$15.53 $15.53
-35.42%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.09 MX$140
$6.70 $6.70
20.75%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.62 MX$201
$13.81 $13.81
-15.86%
Apples (1kg)
$2.97 MX$51.4
$3.97 $3.97
-25.19%
Banana (1kg)
$1.81 MX$31.30
$1.18 $1.18
53.39%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.01 MX$34.88
$4.31 $4.31
-53.36%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.03 MX$35.26
$4.12 $4.12
-50.73%
Potato (1kg)
$2.12 MX$36.82
$1.56 $1.56
35.90%
Onion (1kg)
$2.27 MX$39.32
$2.16 $2.16
5.09%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.40 MX$24.26
$2.03 $2.03
-31.03%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.13 MX$19.59
$1.68 $1.68
-32.74%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27 MX$74.0
$7.91 $7.91
-46.02%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.56 MX$270
$14.98 $14.98
3.87%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76 MX$30.44
$2.90 $2.90
-39.31%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.60 MX$62.3
$2.56 $2.56
40.63%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Ellensburg, WA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.38 MX$6.64
$1.96 $1.96
-80.61%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$19.18 MX$332
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.38 MX$23.84
$2.60 $2.60
-46.92%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.28 MX$4.79
$1.72 $1.72
-83.72%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.45 MX$94.4
$29.73 $29.73
-81.67%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.30 MX$22.60
$1.04 $1.04
25.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.7K MX$323.8K
$31.7K $31.7K
-41.07%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.1K MX$400.8K
$25.8K $25.8K
-10.19%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Ellensburg, WA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$40.86 MX$708
$124 $124
-67.05%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.81 MX$465
$39.22 $39.22
-31.64%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.96 MX$519
$70.8 $70.8
-57.68%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Ellensburg, WA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.0 MX$901
$24.61 $24.61
111.38%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.84 MX$465
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.30 MX$109
$16.20 $16.20
-61.11%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Ellensburg, WA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$436 MX$7,558
$2,222 $2,222
-80.37%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.4K MX$180.5K
$29.5K $29.5K
-64.72%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Ellensburg, WA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.7 MX$982
$44.49 $44.49
27.33%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.38 MX$769
$34.39 $34.39
29.05%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 MX$1,784
$92.9 $92.9
10.83%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106 MX$1,829
$117 $117
-9.68%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Ellensburg, WA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,022 MX$17.7K
$936 $936
9.23%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$631 MX$10.9K
$809 $809
-21.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,136 MX$37.0K
$1,853 $1,853
15.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,243 MX$21.5K
$1,529 $1,529
-18.69%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,903 MX$67.6K
$4,465 $4,465
-12.59%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,064 MX$35.8K
$4,492 $4,492
-54.04%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Ellensburg, WA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,115 MX$19.3K
$1,789 $1,789
-37.67%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.34
6.42
76.64%

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

Last update for Mexico City: May 31, 2026

Last update for Ellensburg, WA: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,022 in Mexico City versus $936 in Ellensburg, WA. 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 60% higher in Ellensburg, WA, 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 $54.0 in Mexico City versus $99.0 in Ellensburg, WA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $288 vs $348 – 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 Ellensburg, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Mexico City or Ellensburg, WA?
Ellensburg, WA costs about 28% more than Mexico City, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. 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 vs Ellensburg, WA?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,201 per month in Mexico City and $2,819 in Ellensburg, WA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Mexico City or Ellensburg, WA?
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.
How do dining costs compare in Mexico City vs Ellensburg, WA?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $54.0 in Mexico City and $99.0 in Ellensburg, WA. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Mexico City or Ellensburg, WA?
Groceries cost about 21% more in Ellensburg, WA, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Mexico City or Ellensburg, WA?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Mexico City, where all-in costs run around $1,467, than in Ellensburg, WA at $1,879. In Mexico City it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ellensburg, WA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Mexico City or Ellensburg, WA?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Mexico City costs $1,467 versus $1,879 in Ellensburg, WA. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Mexico City compared to Ellensburg, WA?
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.
Should I move to Mexico City or Ellensburg, WA?
If budget matters most, go with Mexico City. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ellensburg, WA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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