🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,447 in Mexico City versus $2,616 in Florence, SC.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,310 in Mexico City versus $3,755 in Florence, SC.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,174 in Mexico City versus $4,894 in Florence, SC.
🙂Living in Mexico City costs roughly 45% less than in Florence, SC, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Mexico City8% above, Florence, SC95% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Florence, SC
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.98MX$223
$15.15$15.15
-14.32%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$52.6MX$903
$65.1$65.1
-19.21%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.43MX$162
$10.79$10.79
-12.60%
Cappuccino
$3.57MX$61.3
$5.16$5.16
-30.81%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.61MX$27.55
$2.38$2.38
-32.35%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.15MX$19.81
$2.04$2.04
-43.63%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.15MX$54.0
$4.07$4.07
-22.60%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.86MX$83.4
$5.88$5.88
-17.35%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Florence, SC
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.70MX$29.17
$0.99$0.99
71.72%
White Bread(500g)
$2.64MX$45.23
$3.28$3.28
-19.51%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.90MX$32.67
$4.47$4.47
-57.49%
Eggs
$2.54MX$43.62
$5.69$5.69
-55.36%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.08MX$173
$8.89$8.89
13.39%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.29MX$142
$19.06$19.06
-56.51%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.57MX$199
$22.78$22.78
-49.21%
Apples(1kg)
$3.03MX$52.0
$4.36$4.36
-30.50%
Banana(1kg)
$1.71MX$29.35
$1.33$1.33
28.57%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.05MX$35.16
$4.49$4.49
-54.34%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.06MX$35.36
$4.34$4.34
-52.53%
Potato(1kg)
$2.06MX$35.43
$2.25$2.25
-8.44%
Onion(1kg)
$2.17MX$37.25
$4.39$4.39
-50.57%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.40MX$24.08
$1.97$1.97
-28.93%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.12MX$19.26
$1.98$1.98
-43.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.29MX$73.7
$6.57$6.57
-34.70%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.41MX$265
$16.03$16.03
-3.87%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.67MX$28.74
$1.75$1.75
-4.57%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.69MX$63.3
$2.94$2.94
25.51%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Florence, SC
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38MX$6.55
$2.02$2.02
-81.19%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.06MX$327
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.38MX$23.70
$4.07$4.07
-66.09%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28MX$4.74
$2.34$2.34
-88.03%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.42MX$92.9
$29.04$29.04
-81.34%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.28MX$21.98
$0.80$0.80
60.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.0KMX$325.8K
$28.5K$28.5K
-33.39%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.5KMX$402.7K
$24.4K$24.4K
-3.80%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Florence, SC
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$41.02MX$704
$183$183
-77.64%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.92MX$462
$54.6$54.6
-50.66%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.69MX$510
$70.4$70.4
-57.80%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Florence, SC
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.3MX$898
$42.81$42.81
22.24%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.23MX$450
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.18MX$106
$11.80$11.80
-47.63%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Florence, SC
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$427MX$7,331
$1,429$1,429
-70.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.7KMX$183.6K
$23.7K$23.7K
-54.87%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Florence, SC
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.8MX$975
$39.45$39.45
44.03%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.83MX$769
$30.21$30.21
48.39%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$105MX$1,794
$103$103
1.32%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106MX$1,819
$113$113
-5.84%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Florence, SC
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$995MX$17.1K
$756$756
31.59%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$621MX$10.7K
$1,344$1,344
-53.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,126MX$36.5K
$3,924$3,924
-45.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,254MX$21.5K
$2,240$2,240
-44.03%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,903MX$67.0K
$1,559$1,559
150.27%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,096MX$36.0K
$1,573$1,573
33.26%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Florence, SC
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,107MX$19.0K
$3,087$3,087
-64.13%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
6.45
75.81%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: June 7, 2026
Last update for Florence, SC: June 9, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $995 in Mexico City and $756 in Florence, SC. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Florence, SC pays 179% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $53.0 in Mexico City vs $65.0 in Florence, SC for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $288 vs $437 per month, with Mexico City cheaper across the board.
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 Florence, SC: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Mexico City or Florence, SC?
Mexico City wins on cost – living expenses run 81% lower than in Florence, SC. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Mexico City the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Mexico City or Florence, SC?
On paper, Florence, SC earns 179% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Mexico City vs Florence, SC?
Rent for a central apartment: $995 in Mexico City versus $756 in Florence, SC. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Mexico City and Florence, SC?
Childcare runs $427 in Mexico City versus $1,429 in Florence, SC. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Mexico City vs Florence, SC?
Dining out is cheaper in Mexico City – a meal for two runs $53.0 versus $65.0 in Florence, SC. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Mexico City or Florence, SC?
At $1,447 in Mexico City versus $2,616 in Florence, SC, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Mexico City but tight or insufficient in Florence, SC. The gap between the two cities makes Mexico City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Mexico City or Florence, SC?
Both work as nomad bases, but Mexico City delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,447 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Mexico City hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Mexico City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 81% less than in Florence, SC. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Mexico City vs other spots: cost of living compared