Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Highlands Ranch, CO

For one person, living is cheaper in Mexico City: $1,548 a month against $3,365 in Highlands Ranch, CO, rent and utilities included – about $21,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Mexico City
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,548
/mo nomad
Highlands Ranch, CO
🇺🇸 United States
$3,365
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Mexico City and in Highlands Ranch, CO

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Mexico City and in Highlands Ranch, CO actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,548 per month in Mexico City vs $3,365 in Highlands Ranch, CO, rent included.

  • Mexico City $1,548
  • Highlands Ranch, CO $3,365

A couple spends around $2,436 per month in Mexico City vs $2,987 in Highlands Ranch, CO, rent included.

  • Mexico City $2,436
  • Highlands Ranch, CO $2,987

A family of three spends $3,323 per month in Mexico City vs $2,609 in Highlands Ranch, CO, rent included.

  • Mexico City $3,323
  • Highlands Ranch, CO $2,609

Mexico City is about 54% cheaper than Highlands Ranch, CO, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Mexico City and Highlands Ranch, CO sit above the global median – Mexico City by 14%, Highlands Ranch, CO by 148%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Highlands Ranch, CO
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.02 MX$204
$15.27 $15.27
-27.83%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.68 MX$900
$79.5 $79.5
-38.78%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.90 MX$201
$10.20 $10.20
6.86%
Cappuccino
$3.68 MX$68.1
$6.26 $6.26
-41.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.63 MX$30.18
$2.48 $2.48
-34.27%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.25 MX$23.07
$2.13 $2.13
-41.31%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.25 MX$60.1
$5.06 $5.06
-35.77%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.53 MX$102
$6.15 $6.15
-10.08%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Highlands Ranch, CO
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.70 MX$31.50
$1.04 $1.04
63.46%
White Bread (500g)
$3.02 MX$55.8
$2.89 $2.89
4.50%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.92 MX$35.53
$2.80 $2.80
-31.43%
Eggs
$2.73 MX$50.5
$4.28 $4.28
-36.21%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.77 MX$218
$10.81 $10.81
8.88%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.53 MX$176
$7.20 $7.20
32.36%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.41 MX$266
$19.01 $19.01
-24.20%
Apples (1kg)
$3.02 MX$55.8
$4.04 $4.04
-25.25%
Banana (1kg)
$1.89 MX$35.01
$1.50 $1.50
26.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.99 MX$36.70
$4.86 $4.86
-59.05%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.19 MX$40.38
$5.26 $5.26
-58.37%
Potato (1kg)
$1.92 MX$35.43
$3.61 $3.61
-46.81%
Onion (1kg)
$1.87 MX$34.49
$4.58 $4.58
-59.17%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.44 MX$26.62
$2.22 $2.22
-35.14%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.27 MX$23.39
$1.71 $1.71
-25.73%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.22 MX$96.4
$10.41 $10.41
-49.86%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.17 MX$299
$16.42 $16.42
-1.52%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.90 MX$35.03
$2.50 $2.50
-24.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.22 MX$78.0
$2.61 $2.61
61.69%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Highlands Ranch, CO
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.34 MX$6.30
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$19.65 MX$363
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.00 MX$36.90
$2.48 $2.48
-19.35%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.52 MX$9.67
$1.89 $1.89
-72.49%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.34 MX$98.7
$25.39 $25.39
-78.97%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.52 MX$28.13
$1.02 $1.02
49.02%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.1K MX$408.0K
$28.0K $28.0K
-21.16%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.5K MX$452.9K
$25.9K $25.9K
-5.54%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Highlands Ranch, CO
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$61.1 MX$1,129
$215 $215
-71.57%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.58 MX$528
$56.8 $56.8
-49.65%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.47 MX$637
$68.8 $68.8
-49.89%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Highlands Ranch, CO
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$56.4 MX$1,042
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.88 MX$460
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.66 MX$123
$11.99 $11.99
-44.45%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Highlands Ranch, CO
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$427 MX$7,891
$1,306 $1,306
-67.31%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.6K MX$215.0K
$12.3K $12.3K
-5.18%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Highlands Ranch, CO
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$67.8 MX$1,253
$60.1 $60.1
12.76%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.0 MX$960
$68.4 $68.4
-24.01%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$106 MX$1,959
$78.5 $78.5
35.09%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113 MX$2,080
$118 $118
-4.72%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Highlands Ranch, CO
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,025 MX$18.9K
$2,864 $2,864
-64.22%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$654 MX$12.1K
$2,190 $2,190
-70.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,308 MX$42.7K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,242 MX$22.9K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,613 MX$66.8K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,936 MX$35.8K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Highlands Ranch, CO
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$964 MX$17.8K
$7,275 $7,275
-86.75%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.3
6.7
68.66%

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

Last update for Mexico City: October 20, 2026

Last update for Highlands Ranch, CO: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
$654
Highlands Ranch, CO
$2.2K 235% $1.5K
Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
$318
Highlands Ranch, CO
$368 15.7% $50
Eating Out
Mexico City
$204
Highlands Ranch, CO
$284 39.3% $80
Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
$152
Highlands Ranch, CO
$146 3.9% $5.9
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
$124
Highlands Ranch, CO
$340 174% $216
Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
$70
Highlands Ranch, CO
$24 * 65.6% $46
Getting Around
Mexico City
$26
Highlands Ranch, CO
$12 * 53.4% $14

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,025 in Mexico City versus $2,864 in Highlands Ranch, CO. 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 655% higher in Highlands Ranch, CO, 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 $49.00 in Mexico City versus $80.0 in Highlands Ranch, CO. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $318 vs $368 – making Mexico City the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇲🇽 Mexico City
🇺🇸 Highlands Ranch, CO
🕒 Local time
19:24 7:24 PM
19:24 7:24 PM
Same time as Mexico City
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
9,209,944 Capital
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to MXN – Mexican Peso Converter

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 22, 2026: 1 USD = 18.48 MXN (100 MXN = 5.41 USD). 1 EUR = 20.77 MXN (100 MXN = 4.81 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 22, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Mexico City Highlands Ranch, CO 2,310 km ≈ 3 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Mexico City
  • Highlands Ranch, CO

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Highlands Ranch, CO: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Mexico City and in Highlands Ranch, CO compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,548 in Mexico City, $3,365 in Highlands Ranch, CO – roughly 117% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in eating out.
What salary covers living expenses in Mexico City compared to Highlands Ranch, CO?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,322 per month in Mexico City and $5,047 in Highlands Ranch, CO. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Mexico City and Highlands Ranch, CO?
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.
Which city is more expensive overall: Mexico City or Highlands Ranch, CO?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,548 in Mexico City and $3,365 in Highlands Ranch, CO. That's a gap of about 117%.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Mexico City and Highlands Ranch, CO?
Kindergarten costs $427 per month in Mexico City and $1,306 in Highlands Ranch, CO. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Mexico City, where all-in costs run around $1,548, than in Highlands Ranch, CO at $3,365. In Mexico City it covers expenses comfortably, while in Highlands Ranch, CO it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Mexico City and Highlands Ranch, CO?
It depends on your priorities. Mexico City has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,548 in Mexico City to $3,365 in Highlands Ranch, CO. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Mexico City or Highlands Ranch, CO safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Mexico City and Highlands Ranch, CO?
If budget matters most, go with Mexico City. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Highlands Ranch, CO makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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