Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Fargo, ND Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Fargo, ND

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,660 per month in Mexico City vs $2,011 in Fargo, ND, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,565 per month in Mexico City vs $3,207 in Fargo, ND, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,470 per month in Mexico City vs $4,402 in Fargo, ND, rent included.

Mexico City is about 17% cheaper than Fargo, ND, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Mexico City and Fargo, ND sit above the global median – Mexico City by 21%, Fargo, ND by 47%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Fargo, ND
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.92 MX$204
$15.05 $15.05
-20.80%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$51.6 MX$884
$60.6 $60.6
-14.82%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.41 MX$196
$11.05 $11.05
3.26%
Cappuccino
$3.99 MX$68.5
$5.27 $5.27
-24.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66 MX$28.43
$2.59 $2.59
-35.91%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.33 MX$22.73
$1.97 $1.97
-32.49%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.47 MX$59.5
$5.35 $5.35
-35.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.90 MX$101
$8.94 $8.94
-34.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Fargo, ND
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.88 MX$32.15
$1.22 $1.22
54.10%
White Bread (500g)
$3.25 MX$55.8
$3.50 $3.50
-7.14%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.16 MX$37.03
$7.50 $7.50
-71.20%
Eggs
$2.90 MX$49.63
$4.09 $4.09
-29.10%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.86 MX$220
$14.43 $14.43
-10.88%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.05 MX$172
$15.35 $15.35
-34.53%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.86 MX$272
$21.43 $21.43
-25.99%
Apples (1kg)
$3.29 MX$56.5
$10.64 $10.64
-69.08%
Banana (1kg)
$2.01 MX$34.38
$2.36 $2.36
-14.83%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.20 MX$37.69
$6.35 $6.35
-65.35%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.36 MX$40.37
$5.66 $5.66
-58.30%
Potato (1kg)
$2.05 MX$35.20
$5.07 $5.07
-59.57%
Onion (1kg)
$1.90 MX$32.58
$3.82 $3.82
-50.26%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.61 MX$27.50
$1.98 $1.98
-18.69%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.40 MX$23.93
$2.71 $2.71
-48.34%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.46 MX$93.6
$9.00 $9.00
-39.33%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.65 MX$302
$18.57 $18.57
-4.95%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.06 MX$35.21
$2.61 $2.61
-21.07%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.68 MX$80.3
$5.53 $5.53
-15.37%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Fargo, ND
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.34 MX$5.80
$1.48 $1.48
-77.03%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$20.81 MX$357
$41.56 $41.56
-49.93%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.10 MX$35.93
$4.55 $4.55
-53.85%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.56 MX$9.58
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.81 MX$99.6
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.61 MX$27.51
$0.94 $0.94
71.28%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.8K MX$391.4K
$34.8K $34.8K
-34.32%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8K MX$458.3K
$24.8K $24.8K
7.82%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Fargo, ND
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$65.2 MX$1,117
$135 $135
-51.58%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.09 MX$516
$54.2 $54.2
-44.44%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.18 MX$637
$58.6 $58.6
-36.50%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Fargo, ND
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$59.8 MX$1,024
$55.9 $55.9
6.83%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.55 MX$455
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.04 MX$121
$13.68 $13.68
-48.54%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Fargo, ND
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$465 MX$7,961
$1,243 $1,243
-62.60%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13.3K MX$227.4K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Fargo, ND
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$75.9 MX$1,300
$51.7 $51.7
46.68%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$56.0 MX$959
$47.04 $47.04
18.94%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$112 MX$1,917
$91.0 $91.0
22.93%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121 MX$2,065
$101 $101
19.64%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Fargo, ND
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,103 MX$18.9K
$939 $939
17.40%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$721 MX$12.3K
$689 $689
4.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,530 MX$43.3K
$2,237 $2,237
13.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,293 MX$22.2K
$1,493 $1,493
-13.33%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,991 MX$68.4K
$1,788 $1,788
123.20%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,090 MX$35.8K
$1,777 $1,777
17.59%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Fargo, ND
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,037 MX$17.8K
$3,773 $3,773
-72.51%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.3
6.3
79.37%

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

Last update for Mexico City: September 14, 2026

Last update for Fargo, ND: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,103 in Mexico City versus $939 in Fargo, ND. 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 264% higher in Fargo, ND, 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 $61.0 in Fargo, ND. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $345 vs $524 – 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 Fargo, ND: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Mexico City or Fargo, ND?
Fargo, ND costs about 21% 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 and in Fargo, ND?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,489 per month in Mexico City and $3,017 in Fargo, ND. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Mexico City or Fargo, ND?
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 and in Fargo, ND?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $52.0 in Mexico City and $61.0 in Fargo, ND. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Mexico City compared to Fargo, ND?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,660 in Mexico City and $2,011 in Fargo, ND. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Can you live on $3,000/month in Mexico City or in Fargo, ND?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Mexico City, where all-in costs run around $1,660, than in Fargo, ND at $2,011. In Mexico City it covers expenses comfortably, while in Fargo, ND it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Mexico City or Fargo, ND?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Mexico City costs $1,660 versus $2,011 in Fargo, ND. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Mexico City compared to Fargo, ND?
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 to Fargo, ND?
If budget matters most, go with Mexico City. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Fargo, ND makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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