Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Johnson City, TN Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Johnson City, TN

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,467 per month in Mexico City vs $2,069 in Johnson City, TN, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,371 per month in Mexico City vs $3,019 in Johnson City, TN, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,274 per month in Mexico City vs $3,968 in Johnson City, TN, rent included.

Mexico City is about 29% cheaper than Johnson City, TN, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Mexico City and Johnson City, TN sit above the global median – Mexico City by 10%, Johnson City, TN by 54%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.18 MX$228

$12.78 $12.78

3.13%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.9 MX$934

$49.26 $49.26

9.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.42 MX$163

$11.80 $11.80

-20.17%

Cappuccino

$3.55 MX$61.5

$3.79 $3.79

-6.33%

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

$1.62 MX$28.03

$2.10 $2.10

-22.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.11 MX$19.31

$1.74 $1.74

-36.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.12 MX$54.1

$5.06 $5.06

-38.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.63 MX$80.2

$5.85 $5.85

-20.85%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.70 MX$29.48

$1.00 $1.00

70.00%

White Bread (500g)

$2.72 MX$47.10

$3.83 $3.83

-28.98%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.91 MX$33.13

$3.06 $3.06

-37.58%

Eggs

$2.54 MX$43.94

$3.28 $3.28

-22.56%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.03 MX$174

$7.49 $7.49

33.91%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.09 MX$140

$8.43 $8.43

-4.03%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.62 MX$201

$13.30 $13.30

-12.63%

Apples (1kg)

$2.97 MX$51.4

$4.01 $4.01

-25.94%

Banana (1kg)

$1.81 MX$31.30

$1.62 $1.62

11.73%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.01 MX$34.88

$3.96 $3.96

-49.24%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.03 MX$35.26

$3.61 $3.61

-43.77%

Potato (1kg)

$2.12 MX$36.82

$2.44 $2.44

-13.11%

Onion (1kg)

$2.27 MX$39.32

$3.65 $3.65

-37.81%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.40 MX$24.26

$1.86 $1.86

-24.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.13 MX$19.59

$2.22 $2.22

-49.10%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.27 MX$74.0

$7.33 $7.33

-41.75%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.56 MX$270

$13.20 $13.20

17.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 MX$30.44

$1.62 $1.62

8.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.60 MX$62.3

$4.09 $4.09

-11.98%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.38 MX$6.64

$2.56 $2.56

-85.16%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.18 MX$332

$37.08 $37.08

-48.27%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.38 MX$23.84

$5.40 $5.40

-74.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.28 MX$4.79

$1.48 $1.48

-81.08%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.45 MX$94.4

$64.1 $64.1

-91.50%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.30 MX$22.60

$0.78 $0.78

66.67%

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

$18.7K MX$323.8K

$29.9K $29.9K

-37.52%

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

$23.1K MX$400.8K

$22.4K $22.4K

3.23%

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

$40.86 MX$708

$151 $151

-72.88%

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

$26.81 MX$465

$74.6 $74.6

-64.05%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.96 MX$519

$52.1 $52.1

-42.46%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.0 MX$901

$47.39 $47.39

9.77%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.84 MX$465

$20.31 $20.31

32.15%

Cinema Ticket

$6.30 MX$109

$12.94 $12.94

-51.31%

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

$436 MX$7,558

$909 $909

-52.04%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.4K MX$180.5K

$14.7K $14.7K

-28.93%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.7 MX$982

$39.32 $39.32

44.07%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.38 MX$769

$36.77 $36.77

20.70%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 MX$1,784

$62.7 $62.7

64.15%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 MX$1,829

$116 $116

-9.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,022 MX$17.7K

$1,182 $1,182

-13.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$631 MX$10.9K

$1,023 $1,023

-38.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,136 MX$37.0K

$2,035 $2,035

4.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,243 MX$21.5K

$1,636 $1,636

-24.03%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,903 MX$67.6K

$2,156 $2,156

81.02%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,064 MX$35.8K

$2,218 $2,218

-6.95%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,115 MX$19.3K

$3,409 $3,409

-67.29%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.34

6.15

84.39%

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

Last update for Mexico City: May 31, 2026

Last update for Johnson City, TN: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,022 in Mexico City versus $1,182 in Johnson City, TN. 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 206% higher in Johnson City, TN, 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 $54.0 in Mexico City versus $49.00 in Johnson City, TN. Groceries tell a different story – $288 in Mexico City vs $333 in Johnson City, TN – so Mexico City wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Johnson City, TN: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Johnson City, TN is pricier by about 41%, and the gap shows up most in Monthly Utilities & Internet. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,201 per month in Mexico City and $3,104 in Johnson City, TN. 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 $49.00 in Johnson City, TN. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,467 in Mexico City and $2,069 in Johnson City, TN. 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 $1,467, than in Johnson City, TN at $2,069. In Mexico City it covers expenses comfortably, while in Johnson City, TN it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Mexico City – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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, Johnson City, TN makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.