Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Houston, MO Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Houston, MO

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,456 in Mexico City versus $2,577 in Houston, MO.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,361 in Mexico City versus $3,720 in Houston, MO.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,266 in Mexico City versus $4,863 in Houston, MO.

Living in Mexico City costs roughly 43% less than in Houston, MO, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Mexico City 9% above, Houston, MO 93% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Houston, MO
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.07 MX$228
$12.13 $12.13
7.75%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.8 MX$936
$86.3 $86.3
-37.72%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.68 MX$169
$11.12 $11.12
-12.95%
Cappuccino
$3.74 MX$65.1
$5.62 $5.62
-33.45%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62 MX$28.13
$2.63 $2.63
-38.40%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.16 MX$20.23
$2.12 $2.12
-45.28%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.23 MX$56.2
$6.03 $6.03
-46.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.74 MX$82.5
$6.59 $6.59
-28.07%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Houston, MO
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.65 MX$28.68
$1.12 $1.12
47.32%
White Bread (500g)
$2.75 MX$47.95
$3.27 $3.27
-15.90%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.87 MX$32.63
$6.42 $6.42
-70.87%
Eggs
$2.50 MX$43.54
$4.87 $4.87
-48.67%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.20 MX$178
$18.46 $18.46
-44.75%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.25 MX$144
$16.51 $16.51
-50.03%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.82 MX$206
$16.60 $16.60
-28.80%
Apples (1kg)
$3.01 MX$52.4
$4.56 $4.56
-33.99%
Banana (1kg)
$1.81 MX$31.54
$1.35 $1.35
34.07%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.00 MX$34.81
$3.47 $3.47
-42.36%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.00 MX$34.74
$2.73 $2.73
-26.74%
Potato (1kg)
$2.08 MX$36.30
$2.40 $2.40
-13.33%
Onion (1kg)
$2.27 MX$39.56
$2.55 $2.55
-10.98%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.46 MX$25.36
$1.82 $1.82
-19.78%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08 MX$18.74
$2.69 $2.69
-59.85%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.35 MX$75.7
$10.11 $10.11
-56.97%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.99 MX$296
$14.78 $14.78
14.95%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73 MX$30.18
$1.84 $1.84
-5.98%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.58 MX$62.3
$3.14 $3.14
14.01%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Houston, MO
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.39 MX$6.74
$1.98 $1.98
-80.30%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.69 MX$325
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.33 MX$23.08
$3.40 $3.40
-60.88%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.28 MX$4.87
$1.59 $1.59
-82.39%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.25 MX$91.5
$29.43 $29.43
-82.16%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.34 MX$23.27
$0.76 $0.76
76.32%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.4K MX$338.0K
$31.5K $31.5K
-38.38%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.8K MX$415.0K
$33.8K $33.8K
-29.49%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Houston, MO
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$40.69 MX$709
$195 $195
-79.14%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.87 MX$468
$49.02 $49.02
-45.19%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.51 MX$531
$50.8 $50.8
-39.91%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Houston, MO
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.8 MX$919
$43.42 $43.42
21.56%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.65 MX$464
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.51 MX$113
$15.22 $15.22
-57.23%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Houston, MO
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$428 MX$7,454
$1,303 $1,303
-67.15%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.5K MX$182.8K
$23.2K $23.2K
-54.72%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Houston, MO
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.3 MX$997
$46.82 $46.82
22.28%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.50 MX$792
$38.94 $38.94
16.85%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$104 MX$1,812
$68.5 $68.5
52.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 MX$1,878
$70.5 $70.5
52.89%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Houston, MO
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,003 MX$17.5K
$1,583 $1,583
-36.61%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$623 MX$10.8K
$1,363 $1,363
-54.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,109 MX$36.7K
$2,591 $2,591
-18.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,218 MX$21.2K
$2,219 $2,219
-45.10%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,885 MX$67.6K
$2,355 $2,355
64.98%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,033 MX$35.4K
$2,097 $2,097
-3.08%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Houston, MO
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,038 MX$18.1K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.34
6.56
72.87%

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

Last update for Mexico City: July 13, 2026

Last update for Houston, MO: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,003 in Mexico City and $1,583 in Houston, MO. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $54.0 in Mexico City vs $86.0 in Houston, MO for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $292 vs $432 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 Houston, MO: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Houston, MO cheaper than Mexico City?
Mexico City is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 77% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $2,185 in Mexico City and $3,865 in Houston, MO to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Mexico City and Houston, MO?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,003 in Mexico City versus $1,583 in Houston, MO. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $428 in Mexico City versus $1,303 in Houston, MO. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Mexico City or in Houston, MO?
Dining out is cheaper in Mexico City – a meal for two runs $54.0 versus $86.0 in Houston, MO. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Mexico City or in Houston, MO?
At $1,456 in Mexico City versus $2,577 in Houston, MO, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Mexico City but tight or insufficient in Houston, MO. The gap between the two cities makes Mexico City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Mexico City or Houston, MO more family-friendly?
For families, Mexico City is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Houston, MO, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Mexico City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 77% less than in Houston, MO. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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