Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Fort Madison, IA Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Fort Madison, IA

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,467 per month in Mexico City vs $2,532 in Fort Madison, IA, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,371 per month in Mexico City vs $3,724 in Fort Madison, IA, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,274 per month in Mexico City vs $4,915 in Fort Madison, IA, rent included.

Mexico City is about 42% cheaper than Fort Madison, IA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Mexico City and Fort Madison, IA sit above the global median – Mexico City by 10%, Fort Madison, IA by 89%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.18 MX$230

$19.23 $19.23

-31.46%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.9 MX$941

$74.0 $74.0

-27.14%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.42 MX$165

$11.08 $11.08

-14.98%

Cappuccino

$3.55 MX$62.0

$5.06 $5.06

-29.84%

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

$1.62 MX$28.25

$2.49 $2.49

-34.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.11 MX$19.46

$1.98 $1.98

-43.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.12 MX$54.5

$5.98 $5.98

-47.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.63 MX$80.9

$6.88 $6.88

-32.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.70 MX$29.71

$0.99 $0.99

71.72%

White Bread (500g)

$2.72 MX$47.47

$3.60 $3.60

-24.44%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.91 MX$33.39

$4.31 $4.31

-55.68%

Eggs

$2.54 MX$44.29

$4.18 $4.18

-39.23%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.03 MX$175

$12.07 $12.07

-16.90%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.09 MX$141

$11.34 $11.34

-28.66%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.62 MX$203

$15.54 $15.54

-25.23%

Apples (1kg)

$2.97 MX$51.8

$5.01 $5.01

-40.72%

Banana (1kg)

$1.81 MX$31.55

$1.64 $1.64

10.37%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.01 MX$35.16

$4.34 $4.34

-53.69%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.03 MX$35.54

$4.80 $4.80

-57.71%

Potato (1kg)

$2.12 MX$37.10

$2.87 $2.87

-26.13%

Onion (1kg)

$2.27 MX$39.63

$2.80 $2.80

-18.93%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.40 MX$24.45

$2.02 $2.02

-30.69%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.13 MX$19.74

$2.19 $2.19

-48.40%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.27 MX$74.6

$9.87 $9.87

-56.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.56 MX$272

$14.77 $14.77

5.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 MX$30.68

$1.76 $1.76

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.60 MX$62.8

$3.44 $3.44

4.65%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.38 MX$6.69

$1.96 $1.96

-80.61%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.18 MX$335

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.38 MX$24.03

$3.51 $3.51

-60.68%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.28 MX$4.83

$1.59 $1.59

-82.39%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.45 MX$95.1

$28.82 $28.82

-81.09%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.30 MX$22.77

$0.90 $0.90

44.44%

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

$18.7K MX$326.4K

$29.7K $29.7K

-37.00%

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

$23.1K MX$404.0K

$25.1K $25.1K

-7.98%

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

$40.86 MX$714

$188 $188

-78.23%

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

$26.81 MX$468

$51.9 $51.9

-48.38%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.96 MX$523

$68.3 $68.3

-56.12%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.0 MX$908

$42.73 $42.73

21.74%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.84 MX$469

Cinema Ticket

$6.30 MX$110

$13.61 $13.61

-53.71%

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

$436 MX$7,617

$1,320 $1,320

-66.95%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.4K MX$181.9K

$23.6K $23.6K

-55.93%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.7 MX$989

$51.7 $51.7

9.64%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.38 MX$775

$39.61 $39.61

12.04%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 MX$1,798

$87.1 $87.1

18.22%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 MX$1,843

$111 $111

-5.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,022 MX$17.8K

$1,574 $1,574

-35.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$631 MX$11.0K

$1,342 $1,342

-53.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,136 MX$37.3K

$2,619 $2,619

-18.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,243 MX$21.7K

$2,251 $2,251

-44.78%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,903 MX$68.2K

$2,511 $2,511

55.44%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,064 MX$36.1K

$2,421 $2,421

-14.74%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,115 MX$19.5K

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Fort Madison, IA: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,022 in Mexico City versus $1,574 in Fort Madison, IA. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $54.0 in Mexico City versus $74.0 in Fort Madison, IA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $288 vs $389 – 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 Fort Madison, IA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,467 in Mexico City, $2,532 in Fort Madison, IA – roughly 73% apart. Fort Madison, IA costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,201 per month in Mexico City and $3,799 in Fort Madison, 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $54.0 in Mexico City and $74.0 in Fort Madison, IA. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 35% more in Fort Madison, IA, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Mexico City, where all-in costs run around $1,467, than in Fort Madison, IA at $2,532. In Mexico City it covers expenses comfortably, while in Fort Madison, IA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Mexico City has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,467 in Mexico City to $2,532 in Fort Madison, IA. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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