Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Lexington, KY Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Lexington, KY

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,472 in Mexico City versus $2,299 in Lexington, KY.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,359 in Mexico City versus $3,366 in Lexington, KY.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,245 in Mexico City versus $4,434 in Lexington, KY.

Living in Mexico City costs roughly 36% less than in Lexington, KY, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Mexico City 11% above, Lexington, KY 73% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Lexington, KY
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.14 MX$229
$14.78 $14.78
-11.10%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.5 MX$934
$69.3 $69.3
-22.76%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.33 MX$163
$10.16 $10.16
-8.17%
Cappuccino
$3.70 MX$64.5
$5.08 $5.08
-27.17%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.60 MX$27.98
$2.22 $2.22
-27.93%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.12 MX$19.49
$1.81 $1.81
-38.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.14 MX$54.7
$4.86 $4.86
-35.39%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.85 MX$84.5
$7.90 $7.90
-38.61%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Lexington, KY
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.65 MX$28.84
$0.76 $0.76
117.11%
White Bread (500g)
$2.71 MX$47.34
$2.99 $2.99
-9.36%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.91 MX$33.29
$4.57 $4.57
-58.21%
Eggs
$2.59 MX$45.17
$3.33 $3.33
-22.22%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.81 MX$171
$12.86 $12.86
-23.72%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.43 MX$147
$11.28 $11.28
-25.27%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.93 MX$208
$16.39 $16.39
-27.21%
Apples (1kg)
$2.95 MX$51.5
$4.56 $4.56
-35.31%
Banana (1kg)
$1.74 MX$30.35
$1.30 $1.30
33.85%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.04 MX$35.66
$3.58 $3.58
-43.02%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.06 MX$35.93
$4.47 $4.47
-53.91%
Potato (1kg)
$2.15 MX$37.49
$3.29 $3.29
-34.65%
Onion (1kg)
$2.26 MX$39.33
$3.18 $3.18
-28.93%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.39 MX$24.17
$2.03 $2.03
-31.53%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.12 MX$19.47
$1.87 $1.87
-40.11%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.22 MX$73.6
$7.77 $7.77
-45.69%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.51 MX$305
$13.04 $13.04
34.28%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71 MX$29.82
$2.70 $2.70
-36.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.63 MX$63.4
$3.26 $3.26
11.35%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Lexington, KY
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.35 MX$6.15
$1.02 $1.02
-65.69%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$19.32 MX$337
$29.97 $29.97
-35.54%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.38 MX$24.00
$5.07 $5.07
-72.78%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.28 MX$4.81
$1.66 $1.66
-83.13%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.28 MX$92.0
$29.56 $29.56
-82.14%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.36 MX$23.69
$0.80 $0.80
70.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.1K MX$333.2K
$22.9K $22.9K
-16.65%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.6K MX$411.7K
$25.7K $25.7K
-8.27%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Lexington, KY
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$40.53 MX$707
$210 $210
-80.72%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.38 MX$478
$70.4 $70.4
-61.08%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.38 MX$530
$67.4 $67.4
-54.91%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Lexington, KY
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.2 MX$911
$34.43 $34.43
51.67%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.48 MX$462
$30.05 $30.05
-11.88%
Cinema Ticket
$6.19 MX$108
$15.10 $15.10
-59.01%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Lexington, KY
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$425 MX$7,414
$1,153 $1,153
-63.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.7K MX$187.2K
$25.2K $25.2K
-57.39%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Lexington, KY
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.3 MX$1,017
$59.6 $59.6
-2.21%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.57 MX$777
$34.54 $34.54
29.04%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 MX$1,805
$104 $104
-0.91%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109 MX$1,897
$160 $160
-31.91%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Lexington, KY
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,014 MX$17.7K
$1,111 $1,111
-8.73%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$623 MX$10.9K
$1,039 $1,039
-40.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,119 MX$37.0K
$2,121 $2,121
-0.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,223 MX$21.3K
$1,725 $1,725
-29.09%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,792 MX$66.1K
$2,085 $2,085
81.88%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,110 MX$36.8K
$2,042 $2,042
3.32%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Lexington, KY
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,052 MX$18.4K
$4,058 $4,058
-74.07%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.34
6.67
70.01%

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

Last update for Mexico City: July 25, 2026

Last update for Lexington, KY: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,014 in Mexico City and $1,111 in Lexington, KY. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lexington, KY pays 286% 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: $54.0 in Mexico City vs $69.0 in Lexington, KY for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $293 vs $374 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 Lexington, KY: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Mexico City or Lexington, KY?
Mexico City wins on cost – living expenses run 56% lower than in Lexington, KY. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Mexico City the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Mexico City or in Lexington, KY?
On paper, salaries run 286% lower in Lexington, KY. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Mexico City compared to Lexington, KY?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,014 in Mexico City versus $1,111 in Lexington, KY. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Mexico City and in Lexington, KY?
Dining out is cheaper in Mexico City – a meal for two runs $54.0 versus $69.0 in Lexington, KY. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Mexico City compared to Lexington, KY?
All in, you'll spend $1,472 per month in Mexico City versus $2,299 in Lexington, KY – a 56% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Mexico City or in Lexington, KY?
At $1,472 in Mexico City versus $2,299 in Lexington, KY, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Mexico City but tight or insufficient in Lexington, KY. The gap between the two cities makes Mexico City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Mexico City or Lexington, KY?
Both work as nomad bases, but Mexico City delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,472 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Mexico City hard to pass up.
How safe is Mexico City compared to Lexington, KY?
Safety-wise, Mexico City and Lexington, KY 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Mexico City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 56% less than in Lexington, KY. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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