Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Lincoln, NE Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Lincoln, NE

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,472 in Mexico City versus $2,019 in Lincoln, NE.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,359 in Mexico City versus $3,115 in Lincoln, NE.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,245 in Mexico City versus $4,210 in Lincoln, NE.

Living in Mexico City costs roughly 27% less than in Lincoln, NE, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Mexico City 11% above, Lincoln, NE 52% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.14 MX$227

$14.91 $14.91

-11.87%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.5 MX$926

$57.4 $57.4

-6.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.33 MX$161

$12.21 $12.21

-23.59%

Cappuccino

$3.70 MX$64.0

$5.24 $5.24

-29.39%

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

$1.60 MX$27.76

$2.19 $2.19

-26.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.12 MX$19.34

$1.51 $1.51

-25.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.14 MX$54.3

$4.88 $4.88

-35.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.85 MX$83.9

$6.05 $6.05

-19.83%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 MX$28.61

$0.84 $0.84

96.43%

White Bread (500g)

$2.71 MX$46.96

$3.10 $3.10

-12.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.91 MX$33.03

$5.47 $5.47

-65.08%

Eggs

$2.59 MX$44.81

$4.35 $4.35

-40.46%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.81 MX$170

$10.67 $10.67

-8.06%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.43 MX$146

$10.74 $10.74

-21.51%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.93 MX$206

$14.56 $14.56

-18.06%

Apples (1kg)

$2.95 MX$51.1

$6.00 $6.00

-50.83%

Banana (1kg)

$1.74 MX$30.10

$2.03 $2.03

-14.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.04 MX$35.38

$4.62 $4.62

-55.84%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.06 MX$35.64

$4.67 $4.67

-55.89%

Potato (1kg)

$2.15 MX$37.20

$4.23 $4.23

-49.17%

Onion (1kg)

$2.26 MX$39.02

$3.33 $3.33

-32.13%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.39 MX$23.97

$1.83 $1.83

-24.04%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.12 MX$19.31

$2.31 $2.31

-51.52%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.22 MX$73.0

$9.96 $9.96

-57.63%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.51 MX$303

$17.25 $17.25

1.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 MX$29.58

$1.81 $1.81

-5.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 MX$62.8

$3.31 $3.31

9.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.35 MX$6.10

$1.77 $1.77

-80.23%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.32 MX$334

$29.14 $29.14

-33.70%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.38 MX$23.80

$6.62 $6.62

-79.15%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.28 MX$4.77

$1.81 $1.81

-84.53%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.28 MX$91.3

$34.82 $34.82

-84.84%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 MX$23.50

$0.82 $0.82

65.85%

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

$19.1K MX$330.5K

$30.6K $30.6K

-37.55%

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

$23.6K MX$408.4K

$25.1K $25.1K

-6.07%

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

$40.53 MX$701

$109 $109

-62.82%

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

$27.38 MX$474

$49.12 $49.12

-44.26%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.38 MX$526

$65.1 $65.1

-53.30%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.2 MX$903

$55.8 $55.8

-6.47%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.48 MX$458

$26.97 $26.97

-1.82%

Cinema Ticket

$6.19 MX$107

$15.11 $15.11

-59.03%

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

$425 MX$7,355

$1,091 $1,091

-61.04%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.7K MX$185.7K

$23.5K $23.5K

-54.34%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.3 MX$1,009

$49.81 $49.81

17.06%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.57 MX$771

$35.68 $35.68

24.92%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 MX$1,791

$84.8 $84.8

22.08%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 MX$1,881

$93.9 $93.9

15.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,014 MX$17.5K

$1,010 $1,010

0.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$623 MX$10.8K

$837 $837

-25.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,119 MX$36.7K

$2,483 $2,483

-14.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,223 MX$21.2K

$1,681 $1,681

-27.24%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,792 MX$65.6K

$1,878 $1,878

101.88%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,110 MX$36.5K

$1,902 $1,902

10.95%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,052 MX$18.2K

$3,753 $3,753

-71.97%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.34

6.54

73.39%

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

Last update for Mexico City: July 25, 2026

Last update for Lincoln, NE: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,014 in Mexico City and $1,010 in Lincoln, NE. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lincoln, NE pays 257% 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 $57.0 in Lincoln, NE for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $293 vs $397 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 Lincoln, NE: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mexico City wins on cost – living expenses run 37% lower than in Lincoln, NE. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Mexico City the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 257% lower in Lincoln, NE. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,014 in Mexico City versus $1,010 in Lincoln, NE. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Mexico City – a meal for two runs $54.0 versus $57.0 in Lincoln, NE. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $1,472 per month in Mexico City versus $2,019 in Lincoln, NE – a 37% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,472 in Mexico City versus $2,019 in Lincoln, NE, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Mexico City but tight or insufficient in Lincoln, NE. The gap between the two cities makes Mexico City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Safety-wise, Mexico City and Lincoln, NE are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Mexico City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 37% less than in Lincoln, NE. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.