Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Highland, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Highland, CA

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,447 per month in Mexico City vs $2,555 in Highland, CA, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,310 per month in Mexico City vs $3,712 in Highland, CA, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,174 per month in Mexico City vs $4,869 in Highland, CA, rent included.

Mexico City is about 43% cheaper than Highland, CA, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Mexico City and Highland, CA sit above the global median – Mexico City by 8%, Highland, CA by 90%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.98 MX$223

$17.79 $17.79

-27.04%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$52.6 MX$906

$79.9 $79.9

-34.16%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.43 MX$162

$12.08 $12.08

-21.94%

Cappuccino

$3.57 MX$61.5

$4.86 $4.86

-26.54%

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

$1.61 MX$27.63

$2.64 $2.64

-39.02%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.15 MX$19.86

$2.02 $2.02

-43.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.15 MX$54.2

$7.08 $7.08

-55.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.86 MX$83.6

$6.86 $6.86

-29.15%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.70 MX$29.25

$1.11 $1.11

53.15%

White Bread (500g)

$2.64 MX$45.36

$3.93 $3.93

-32.82%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.90 MX$32.76

$4.06 $4.06

-53.20%

Eggs

$2.54 MX$43.74

$3.90 $3.90

-34.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.08 MX$174

$10.70 $10.70

-5.79%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.29 MX$143

$8.56 $8.56

-3.15%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.57 MX$199

$14.56 $14.56

-20.54%

Apples (1kg)

$3.03 MX$52.1

$3.41 $3.41

-11.14%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 MX$29.44

$1.75 $1.75

-2.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.05 MX$35.26

$4.01 $4.01

-48.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.06 MX$35.46

$5.65 $5.65

-63.54%

Potato (1kg)

$2.06 MX$35.53

$3.29 $3.29

-37.39%

Onion (1kg)

$2.17 MX$37.35

$2.86 $2.86

-24.13%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.40 MX$24.15

$1.39 $1.39

0.72%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.12 MX$19.31

$2.11 $2.11

-46.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.29 MX$73.9

$11.10 $11.10

-61.35%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.41 MX$265

$15.87 $15.87

-2.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.67 MX$28.83

$2.00 $2.00

-16.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.69 MX$63.4

$3.59 $3.59

2.79%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.38 MX$6.57

$1.99 $1.99

-80.90%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.06 MX$328

$30.02 $30.02

-36.51%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.38 MX$23.76

$6.45 $6.45

-78.60%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.28 MX$4.76

$1.58 $1.58

-82.28%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.42 MX$93.2

$29.10 $29.10

-81.37%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 MX$22.04

$1.29 $1.29

-0.78%

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

$19.0K MX$326.7K

$24.3K $24.3K

-21.98%

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

$23.5K MX$403.8K

$24.1K $24.1K

-2.55%

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

$41.02 MX$706

$159 $159

-74.14%

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

$26.92 MX$463

$47.15 $47.15

-42.91%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.69 MX$511

$61.0 $61.0

-51.36%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.3 MX$901

$42.99 $42.99

21.73%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.23 MX$452

Cinema Ticket

$6.18 MX$106

$13.83 $13.83

-55.31%

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

$427 MX$7,352

$1,200 $1,200

-64.41%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.7K MX$184.1K

$23.9K $23.9K

-55.19%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.8 MX$978

$47.71 $47.71

19.09%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.83 MX$772

$33.09 $33.09

35.48%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$105 MX$1,799

$86.4 $86.4

20.97%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 MX$1,824

$84.6 $84.6

25.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$995 MX$17.1K

$1,623 $1,623

-38.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$621 MX$10.7K

$1,356 $1,356

-54.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,126 MX$36.6K

$2,658 $2,658

-20.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,254 MX$21.6K

$2,232 $2,232

-43.84%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,903 MX$67.2K

$2,888 $2,888

35.16%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,096 MX$36.1K

$2,668 $2,668

-21.44%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,107 MX$19.1K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.34

6.58

72.34%

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

Last update for Mexico City: June 7, 2026

Last update for Highland, CA: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $995 in Mexico City versus $1,623 in Highland, CA. 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 $53.0 in Mexico City versus $80.0 in Highland, CA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $288 vs $368 – 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 Highland, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,447 in Mexico City, $2,555 in Highland, CA – roughly 77% apart. Highland, CA costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,171 per month in Mexico City and $3,832 in Highland, CA. 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 $53.0 in Mexico City and $80.0 in Highland, CA. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,447 in Mexico City and $2,555 in Highland, CA. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Mexico City, where all-in costs run around $1,447, than in Highland, CA at $2,555. In Mexico City it covers expenses comfortably, while in Highland, CA 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 $1,447 in Mexico City to $2,555 in Highland, CA. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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