Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Howell Township, NJ Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Howell Township, NJ

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,466 in Mexico City versus $2,642 in Howell Township, NJ.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,325 in Mexico City versus $3,793 in Howell Township, NJ.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,184 in Mexico City versus $4,943 in Howell Township, NJ.

Living in Mexico City costs roughly 45% less than in Howell Township, NJ, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Mexico City 9% above, Howell Township, NJ 97% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Howell Township, NJ
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.30 MX$231
$18.85 $18.85
-29.44%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.8 MX$932
$76.1 $76.1
-29.33%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.42 MX$163
$10.92 $10.92
-13.74%
Cappuccino
$3.59 MX$62.3
$4.99 $4.99
-28.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62 MX$28.13
$2.56 $2.56
-36.72%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.12 MX$19.49
$2.06 $2.06
-45.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.25 MX$56.3
$5.95 $5.95
-45.38%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.65 MX$80.6
$6.93 $6.93
-32.90%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Howell Township, NJ
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.64 MX$28.37
$1.48 $1.48
10.81%
White Bread (500g)
$2.65 MX$46.00
$3.77 $3.77
-29.71%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.96 MX$33.99
$4.40 $4.40
-55.45%
Eggs
$2.54 MX$44.08
$4.09 $4.09
-37.90%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.97 MX$173
$12.26 $12.26
-18.68%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.39 MX$145
$12.01 $12.01
-30.14%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.83 MX$205
$15.19 $15.19
-22.12%
Apples (1kg)
$2.86 MX$49.62
$5.04 $5.04
-43.25%
Banana (1kg)
$1.73 MX$30.05
$1.28 $1.28
35.16%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.99 MX$34.50
$4.30 $4.30
-53.72%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.05 MX$35.51
$4.68 $4.68
-56.20%
Potato (1kg)
$2.06 MX$35.64
$2.87 $2.87
-28.22%
Onion (1kg)
$2.28 MX$39.54
$2.92 $2.92
-21.92%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.45 MX$25.05
$2.10 $2.10
-30.95%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09 MX$18.83
$2.20 $2.20
-50.45%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27 MX$73.9
$9.70 $9.70
-55.98%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.67 MX$254
$14.93 $14.93
-1.74%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76 MX$30.58
$1.83 $1.83
-3.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.57 MX$61.8
$3.41 $3.41
4.69%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Howell Township, NJ
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.38 MX$6.67
$2.04 $2.04
-81.37%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.73 MX$325
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.39 MX$24.09
$3.49 $3.49
-60.17%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.30 MX$5.26
$1.67 $1.67
-82.04%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.41 MX$93.8
$28.72 $28.72
-81.16%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.34 MX$23.22
$0.92 $0.92
45.65%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.9K MX$326.7K
$29.7K $29.7K
-36.61%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.2K MX$402.0K
$25.9K $25.9K
-10.38%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Howell Township, NJ
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$40.30 MX$698
$186 $186
-78.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.15 MX$471
$53.2 $53.2
-48.99%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.46 MX$510
$126 $126
-76.68%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Howell Township, NJ
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.7 MX$914
$42.50 $42.50
24.09%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.17 MX$454
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.18 MX$107
$13.44 $13.44
-54.02%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Howell Township, NJ
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$441 MX$7,637
$1,282 $1,282
-65.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.7K MX$185.4K
$23.6K $23.6K
-54.58%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Howell Township, NJ
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.2 MX$992
$50.6 $50.6
13.06%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.04 MX$781
$40.66 $40.66
10.77%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 MX$1,793
$85.0 $85.0
21.74%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109 MX$1,884
$112 $112
-2.64%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Howell Township, NJ
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,000 MX$17.3K
$1,624 $1,624
-38.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$632 MX$11.0K
$1,366 $1,366
-53.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,141 MX$37.1K
$2,596 $2,596
-17.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,253 MX$21.7K
$2,196 $2,196
-42.96%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,745 MX$64.9K
$2,659 $2,659
40.86%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,381 MX$41.3K
$2,365 $2,365
0.68%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Howell Township, NJ
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,079 MX$18.7K
$3,042 $3,042
-64.52%
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: April 20, 2026

Last update for Howell Township, NJ: April 22, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,000 in Mexico City and $1,624 in Howell Township, NJ. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Howell Township, NJ pays 182% 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: $54 in Mexico City vs $76 in Howell Township, NJ for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $286 vs $397 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 Howell Township, NJ: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Howell Township, NJ cheaper than Mexico City?
Mexico City is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 80% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Mexico City or Howell Township, NJ?
On paper, Howell Township, NJ earns 182% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Mexico City and Howell Township, NJ?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,000 in Mexico City versus $1,624 in Howell Township, NJ. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Mexico City and Howell Township, NJ?
Supermarket bills run roughly 39% higher in Howell Township, NJ. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Mexico City vs Howell Township, NJ?
All in, you'll spend $1,466 per month in Mexico City versus $2,642 in Howell Township, NJ – a 80% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for Mexico City or Howell Township, NJ?
At $1,466 in Mexico City versus $2,642 in Howell Township, NJ, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Mexico City but tight or insufficient in Howell Township, NJ. The gap between the two cities makes Mexico City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Mexico City or Howell Township, NJ more family-friendly?
For families, Mexico City is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Howell Township, NJ, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Mexico City or Howell Township, NJ?
Safety-wise, Mexico City and Howell Township, NJ are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Mexico City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 80% less than in Howell Township, NJ. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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