Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Katy, TX Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Katy, TX

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,481 per month in Mexico City vs $2,706 in Katy, TX, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,352 per month in Mexico City vs $3,578 in Katy, TX, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,222 per month in Mexico City vs $4,451 in Katy, TX, rent included.

Mexico City is about 45% cheaper than Katy, TX, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Mexico City and Katy, TX sit above the global median – Mexico City by 11%, Katy, TX by 103%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Katy, TX
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.16 MX$229
$13.39 $13.39
-1.72%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.6 MX$932
$59.4 $59.4
-9.75%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.55 MX$166
$8.94 $8.94
6.82%
Cappuccino
$3.72 MX$64.8
$4.45 $4.45
-16.40%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57 MX$27.28
$2.37 $2.37
-33.76%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.16 MX$20.12
$2.00 $2.00
-42.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.18 MX$55.4
$4.05 $4.05
-21.48%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.63 MX$80.6
$5.86 $5.86
-20.99%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Katy, TX
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.71 MX$29.67
$0.97 $0.97
76.29%
White Bread (500g)
$2.62 MX$45.54
$3.07 $3.07
-14.66%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.89 MX$32.87
$4.81 $4.81
-60.71%
Eggs
$2.60 MX$45.17
$3.02 $3.02
-13.91%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.91 MX$172
$10.65 $10.65
-6.95%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.22 MX$143
$9.98 $9.98
-17.64%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.78 MX$205
$14.93 $14.93
-21.10%
Apples (1kg)
$3.00 MX$52.1
$3.73 $3.73
-19.57%
Banana (1kg)
$1.80 MX$31.32
$1.19 $1.19
51.26%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.07 MX$36.08
$3.08 $3.08
-32.79%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.97 MX$34.23
$3.26 $3.26
-39.57%
Potato (1kg)
$2.07 MX$36.05
$1.87 $1.87
10.70%
Onion (1kg)
$2.17 MX$37.84
$2.40 $2.40
-9.58%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.40 MX$24.41
$1.78 $1.78
-21.35%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07 MX$18.70
$1.28 $1.28
-16.41%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.12 MX$71.7
$8.61 $8.61
-52.15%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.42 MX$303
$12.55 $12.55
38.80%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68 MX$29.16
$1.76 $1.76
-4.55%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.65 MX$63.5
$1.81 $1.81
101.66%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Katy, TX
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.38 MX$6.62
$3.22 $3.22
-88.20%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.71 MX$326
$90.4 $90.4
-79.30%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.33 MX$23.13
$3.55 $3.55
-62.54%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.30 MX$5.27
$1.89 $1.89
-84.13%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.51 MX$95.9
$44.60 $44.60
-87.65%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 MX$22.72
$0.71 $0.71
84.51%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.2K MX$333.5K
$29.0K $29.0K
-33.85%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.7K MX$413.3K
$24.6K $24.6K
-3.27%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Katy, TX
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$41.14 MX$716
$201 $201
-79.54%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.74 MX$483
$58.7 $58.7
-52.72%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.13 MX$524
$73.9 $73.9
-59.25%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Katy, TX
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$53.7 MX$935
$30.65 $30.65
75.33%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.98 MX$452
$24.94 $24.94
4.17%
Cinema Ticket
$6.49 MX$113
$13.32 $13.32
-51.28%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Katy, TX
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$437 MX$7,598
$1,010 $1,010
-56.76%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.5K MX$182.0K
$16.7K $16.7K
-37.39%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Katy, TX
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.3 MX$1,015
$44.75 $44.75
30.35%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.86 MX$798
$41.73 $41.73
9.90%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 MX$1,765
$87.4 $87.4
16.04%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107 MX$1,854
$111 $111
-4.19%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Katy, TX
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,005 MX$17.5K
$1,671 $1,671
-39.84%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$634 MX$11.0K
$1,530 $1,530
-58.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,148 MX$37.4K
$2,353 $2,353
-8.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,247 MX$21.7K
$1,900 $1,900
-34.38%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,859 MX$67.2K
$2,038 $2,038
89.33%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,085 MX$36.3K
$1,689 $1,689
23.43%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Katy, TX
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,072 MX$18.7K
$6,105 $6,105
-82.44%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.34
6.29
80.29%

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

Last update for Mexico City: July 22, 2026

Last update for Katy, TX: July 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,005 in Mexico City versus $1,671 in Katy, TX. 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 469% higher in Katy, TX, 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 $59.0 in Katy, TX. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $291 vs $323 – 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 Katy, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Mexico City or Katy, TX?
Katy, TX costs about 83% more than Mexico City, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Mexico City and in Katy, TX?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,222 per month in Mexico City and $4,059 in Katy, TX. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Mexico City or Katy, TX?
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.
Are groceries more expensive in Mexico City or in Katy, TX?
Groceries cost about 11% more in Katy, TX, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
How do dining costs compare in Mexico City and in Katy, TX?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $54.0 in Mexico City and $59.0 in Katy, TX. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Mexico City or in Katy, TX?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Mexico City, where all-in costs run around $1,481, than in Katy, TX at $2,706. In Mexico City it covers expenses comfortably, while in Katy, TX it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Mexico City or Katy, TX?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Mexico City costs $1,481 versus $2,706 in Katy, TX. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Mexico City compared to Katy, TX?
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.
Should I move to Mexico City or to Katy, TX?
If budget matters most, go with Mexico City. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Katy, TX makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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