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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,484 in Mexico City versus $2,609 in Lexington, MA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,381 in Mexico City versus $3,741 in Lexington, MA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,278 in Mexico City versus $4,873 in Lexington, MA.

Living in Mexico City costs roughly 43% less than in Lexington, MA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Mexico City 11% above, Lexington, MA 95% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Lexington, MA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.98 MX$227
$18.81 $18.81
-30.99%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.1 MX$929
$73.9 $73.9
-28.18%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.72 MX$170
$10.92 $10.92
-10.99%
Cappuccino
$3.75 MX$65.6
$5.19 $5.19
-27.75%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57 MX$27.46
$2.57 $2.57
-38.91%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.13 MX$19.76
$1.98 $1.98
-42.93%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.18 MX$55.7
$5.84 $5.84
-45.55%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.66 MX$81.6
$6.81 $6.81
-31.57%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Lexington, MA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.62 MX$28.37
$1.00 $1.00
62.00%
White Bread (500g)
$2.71 MX$47.36
$3.54 $3.54
-23.45%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.88 MX$32.89
$4.46 $4.46
-57.85%
Eggs
$2.51 MX$43.90
$4.26 $4.26
-41.08%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.08 MX$176
$12.12 $12.12
-16.83%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.29 MX$145
$11.40 $11.40
-27.28%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.94 MX$209
$15.73 $15.73
-24.09%
Apples (1kg)
$2.86 MX$50.1
$4.84 $4.84
-40.91%
Banana (1kg)
$1.75 MX$30.62
$1.63 $1.63
7.36%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.08 MX$36.48
$4.26 $4.26
-51.17%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.97 MX$34.46
$4.66 $4.66
-57.73%
Potato (1kg)
$2.16 MX$37.79
$2.92 $2.92
-26.03%
Onion (1kg)
$2.18 MX$38.16
$2.82 $2.82
-22.70%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.39 MX$24.34
$2.08 $2.08
-33.17%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.12 MX$19.69
$2.17 $2.17
-48.39%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.20 MX$73.5
$9.85 $9.85
-57.36%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.25 MX$249
$13.46 $13.46
5.87%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76 MX$30.85
$1.76 $1.76
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68 MX$64.5
$3.41 $3.41
7.92%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Lexington, MA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.39 MX$6.74
$2.03 $2.03
-80.79%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.66 MX$327
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.39 MX$24.26
$3.54 $3.54
-60.73%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.30 MX$5.32
$1.64 $1.64
-81.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.42 MX$94.9
$29.70 $29.70
-81.75%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.35 MX$23.63
$0.89 $0.89
51.69%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.9K MX$330.5K
$29.0K $29.0K
-34.99%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.2K MX$405.2K
$26.0K $26.0K
-11.06%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Lexington, MA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$40.82 MX$714
$190 $190
-78.52%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.50 MX$481
$53.1 $53.1
-48.23%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.38 MX$532
$67.7 $67.7
-55.12%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Lexington, MA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$53.4 MX$935
$43.05 $43.05
24.11%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.30 MX$460
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.27 MX$110
$13.65 $13.65
-54.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Lexington, MA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$436 MX$7,632
$1,306 $1,306
-66.60%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.5K MX$183.2K
$23.6K $23.6K
-55.63%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Lexington, MA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.8 MX$993
$52.1 $52.1
8.97%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.79 MX$784
$39.60 $39.60
13.11%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 MX$1,799
$87.8 $87.8
17.14%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 MX$1,888
$112 $112
-3.94%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Lexington, MA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,000 MX$17.5K
$1,601 $1,601
-37.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$620 MX$10.9K
$1,370 $1,370
-54.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,137 MX$37.4K
$2,623 $2,623
-18.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,235 MX$21.6K
$2,223 $2,223
-44.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,865 MX$67.6K
$2,724 $2,724
41.91%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,332 MX$40.8K
$2,355 $2,355
-0.99%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Lexington, MA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,067 MX$18.7K
-
-
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 27, 2026

Last update for Lexington, MA: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,000 in Mexico City and $1,601 in Lexington, MA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $53.0 in Mexico City vs $74.0 in Lexington, MA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $286 vs $386 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, MA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and Lexington, MA?
Mexico City and Lexington, MA differ by about 76% in total monthly costs ($1,484 vs $2,609 including rent). Mexico City is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Mexico City compared to Lexington, MA?
You'd need roughly $2,225 in Mexico City and $3,913 in Lexington, MA 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.
How do apartment prices compare in Mexico City and Lexington, MA?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,000 in Mexico City versus $1,601 in Lexington, MA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 35% higher in Lexington, MA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Mexico City or Lexington, MA?
All in, you'll spend $1,484 per month in Mexico City versus $2,609 in Lexington, MA – a 76% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,484 in Mexico City versus $2,609 in Lexington, MA, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Mexico City but tight or insufficient in Lexington, MA. The gap between the two cities makes Mexico City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mexico City and Lexington, MA?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Mexico City or Lexington, MA safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Mexico City and Lexington, MA are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Mexico City or Lexington, MA?
Expats usually find Mexico City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 76% less than in Lexington, MA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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