Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Kauai, Hawaii

For one person, living is cheaper in Mexico City: $1,608 a month against $2,605 in Kauai, Hawaii, rent and utilities included – about $12,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

78

Cost of Living Index in Mexico City
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Mexico City Living Index
127

Cost of Living Index in Kauai, Hawaii
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Kauai, Hawaii Living Index

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Mexico City

🇲🇽 Mexico

$1,608

/mo nomad

Kauai, Hawaii

🇺🇸 United States

$2,605

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Mexico City and in Kauai, Hawaii

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 Kauai, Hawaii actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,608 in Mexico City versus $2,605 in Kauai, Hawaii.

Mexico City $1,608
Kauai, Hawaii $2,605

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,549 in Mexico City versus $3,851 in Kauai, Hawaii.

Mexico City $2,549
Kauai, Hawaii $3,851

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,490 in Mexico City versus $5,097 in Kauai, Hawaii.

Mexico City $3,490
Kauai, Hawaii $5,097

Living in Mexico City costs roughly 38% less than in Kauai, Hawaii, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Mexico City 18% above, Kauai, Hawaii 91% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.62 MX$199

$19.36 $19.36

-45.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$48.35 MX$904

$75.8 $75.8

-36.22%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.35 MX$193

$10.98 $10.98

-5.74%

Cappuccino

$3.69 MX$69.0

$4.95 $4.95

-25.45%

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

$1.67 MX$31.14

$2.53 $2.53

-33.99%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.27 MX$23.65

$1.95 $1.95

-34.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.19 MX$59.7

$6.07 $6.07

-47.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.31 MX$99.2

$6.97 $6.97

-23.82%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.72 MX$32.23

$0.99 $0.99

73.74%

White Bread (500g)

$3.04 MX$56.8

$3.48 $3.48

-12.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.94 MX$36.27

$4.27 $4.27

-54.57%

Eggs

$2.89 MX$54.0

$4.09 $4.09

-29.34%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.97 MX$205

$12.44 $12.44

-11.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.25 MX$173

$11.49 $11.49

-19.50%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.13 MX$283

$15.60 $15.60

-3.01%

Apples (1kg)

$3.05 MX$57.0

$4.77 $4.77

-36.06%

Banana (1kg)

$1.94 MX$36.27

$1.61 $1.61

20.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.03 MX$37.85

$4.35 $4.35

-53.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.31 MX$43.25

$4.59 $4.59

-49.67%

Potato (1kg)

$2.04 MX$38.03

$2.87 $2.87

-28.92%

Onion (1kg)

$1.80 MX$33.63

$2.89 $2.89

-37.72%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.48 MX$27.64

$2.00 $2.00

-26.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.27 MX$23.69

$2.17 $2.17

-41.47%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.30 MX$99.1

$9.47 $9.47

-44.03%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.10 MX$301

$13.83 $13.83

16.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.98 MX$37.06

$1.77 $1.77

11.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.25 MX$79.5

$3.44 $3.44

23.55%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.31 MX$5.70

$2.06 $2.06

-84.95%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.73 MX$369

$55.5 $55.5

-64.44%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.84 MX$34.34

$3.54 $3.54

-48.02%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 MX$9.97

$1.57 $1.57

-66.24%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.30 MX$99.0

$29.13 $29.13

-81.81%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.51 MX$28.23

$0.84 $0.84

79.76%

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

$21.8K MX$406.5K

$29.3K $29.3K

-25.71%

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

$24.0K MX$448.2K

$25.9K $25.9K

-7.51%

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

$63.0 MX$1,177

$185 $185

-65.90%

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

$27.39 MX$512

$53.9 $53.9

-49.15%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$35.67 MX$666

$68.1 $68.1

-47.61%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$58.9 MX$1,101

$43.26 $43.26

36.25%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.64 MX$442

Cinema Ticket

$6.40 MX$120

$13.53 $13.53

-52.70%

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

$432 MX$8,065

$1,282 $1,282

-66.34%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.4K MX$213.5K

$23.1K $23.1K

-50.54%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.2 MX$1,275

$50.1 $50.1

36.28%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.1 MX$993

$39.37 $39.37

34.95%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$108 MX$2,014

$85.0 $85.0

26.74%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$117 MX$2,191

$112 $112

4.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,113 MX$20.8K

$1,605 $1,605

-30.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$710 MX$13.3K

$1,329 $1,329

-46.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,588 MX$48.4K

$2,647 $2,647

-2.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,406 MX$26.3K

$2,266 $2,266

-37.95%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,631 MX$67.8K

$2,817 $2,817

28.91%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,135 MX$39.9K

$2,482 $2,482

-13.99%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$946 MX$17.7K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.35

6.51

74.35%

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

Last update for Mexico City: October 25, 2026

Last update for Kauai, Hawaii: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Mexico City

$710 44.2%

Kauai, Hawaii

$1.3K 51% 87% $618

Groceries & Markets

Mexico City

$320 19.9%

Kauai, Hawaii

$385 14.8% 20.6% $66

Eating Out

Mexico City

$199 12.4%

Kauai, Hawaii

$309 11.9% 55.8% $111

Clothing & Footwear

Mexico City

$156 9.7%

Kauai, Hawaii

$129 5% 17.2% $27

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Mexico City

$126 7.8%

Kauai, Hawaii

$307 11.8% 143% $181

Sport & Entertainment

Mexico City

$72 4.5%

Kauai, Hawaii

$70 2.7% 2% $1.4

Getting Around

Mexico City

$25 1.6%

Kauai, Hawaii

$75 2.9% 195% $50

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,113 in Mexico City and $1,605 in Kauai, Hawaii. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $48 in Mexico City vs $76 in Kauai, Hawaii for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $320 vs $385 per month, with Mexico City cheaper across the board.

Good to know

🇲🇽 Mexico City

🇺🇸 Kauai, Hawaii

🕒 Local time

10:59 10:59 AM

06:59 6:59 AM

4 h behind Mexico City

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

9,209,944 Capital

73,610

💱 Currency

Mexican Peso MXN $

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

100 MXN = 5.35 USD

100 MXN = 4.81 EUR

1 USD = 0.899 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to MXN – Mexican Peso Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇲🇽 Mexican Peso ($)

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 18.69 MXN (100 MXN = 5.35 USD). 1 EUR = 20.8 MXN (100 MXN = 4.81 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.11 USD (1 USD = 0.899 EUR).

USD to MXN in detail →

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Mexico City Kauai, Hawaii 6,250 km ≈ 8 h nonstop flight

From you

Mexico City
Kauai, Hawaii

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 Kauai, Hawaii: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mexico City wins on cost – living expenses run 38% lower than in Kauai, Hawaii. Housing and daily spending are where you’ll feel the difference most, making Mexico City the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You’d need roughly $2,412 in Mexico City and $3,907 in Kauai, Hawaii 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,113 in Mexico City versus $1,605 in Kauai, Hawaii. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Mexico City runs roughly 64% less than in Kauai, Hawaii. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you’re watching your budget.

Childcare runs $432 in Mexico City versus $1,282 in Kauai, Hawaii. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Either city works on $3,000 a month, though Mexico City gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both work as nomad bases, but Mexico City delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,608 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Mexico City hard to pass up.

Expats usually find Mexico City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 38% less than in Kauai, Hawaii. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.