🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,481 in Mexico City versus $2,538 in Lisle, IL.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,352 in Mexico City versus $3,759 in Lisle, IL.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,222 in Mexico City versus $4,980 in Lisle, IL.
🌍Living in Mexico City costs roughly 42% less than in Lisle, IL, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Mexico City11% above, Lisle, IL90% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Lisle, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.16MX$229
$18.85$18.85
-30.19%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.6MX$932
$75.8$75.8
-29.34%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.55MX$166
$10.79$10.79
-11.49%
Cappuccino
$3.72MX$64.8
$4.97$4.97
-25.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57MX$27.28
$2.53$2.53
-37.94%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.16MX$20.12
$2.06$2.06
-43.69%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.18MX$55.4
$6.12$6.12
-48.04%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.63MX$80.6
$7.17$7.17
-35.43%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Lisle, IL
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.71MX$29.67
$1.03$1.03
66.02%
White Bread(500g)
$2.62MX$45.54
$3.48$3.48
-24.71%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.89MX$32.87
$4.32$4.32
-56.25%
Eggs
$2.60MX$45.17
$4.28$4.28
-39.25%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.91MX$172
$12.37$12.37
-19.89%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.22MX$143
$11.69$11.69
-29.68%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.78MX$205
$15.71$15.71
-25.02%
Apples(1kg)
$3.00MX$52.1
$4.82$4.82
-37.76%
Banana(1kg)
$1.80MX$31.32
$1.64$1.64
9.76%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.07MX$36.08
$4.17$4.17
-50.36%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.97MX$34.23
$4.61$4.61
-57.27%
Potato(1kg)
$2.07MX$36.05
$2.85$2.85
-27.37%
Onion(1kg)
$2.17MX$37.84
$2.78$2.78
-21.94%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.40MX$24.41
$2.09$2.09
-33.01%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07MX$18.70
$2.10$2.10
-49.05%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.12MX$71.7
$9.62$9.62
-57.17%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.42MX$303
$15.15$15.15
14.98%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68MX$29.16
$1.84$1.84
-8.70%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.65MX$63.5
$3.41$3.41
7.04%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Lisle, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38MX$6.62
$1.96$1.96
-80.61%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.71MX$326
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.33MX$23.13
$3.43$3.43
-61.22%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.30MX$5.27
$1.57$1.57
-80.89%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.51MX$95.9
$28.97$28.97
-80.98%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31MX$22.72
$0.91$0.91
43.96%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.2KMX$333.5K
$30.0K$30.0K
-36.09%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.7KMX$413.3K
$25.3K$25.3K
-6.11%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Lisle, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$41.14MX$716
$191$191
-78.41%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.74MX$483
$53.0$53.0
-47.66%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.13MX$524
$68.0$68.0
-55.69%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Lisle, IL
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$53.7MX$935
$43.02$43.02
24.92%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.98MX$452
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.49MX$113
$13.55$13.55
-52.10%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Lisle, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$437MX$7,598
$1,316$1,316
-66.83%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.5KMX$182.0K
$23.5K$23.5K
-55.49%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Lisle, IL
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.3MX$1,015
$51.6$51.6
13.06%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.86MX$798
$39.70$39.70
15.52%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101MX$1,765
$86.7$86.7
17.07%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107MX$1,854
$112$112
-4.85%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Lisle, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,005MX$17.5K
$1,613$1,613
-37.67%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$634MX$11.0K
$1,327$1,327
-52.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,148MX$37.4K
$2,595$2,595
-17.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,247MX$21.7K
$2,233$2,233
-44.16%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,859MX$67.2K
$2,456$2,456
57.12%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,085MX$36.3K
$2,214$2,214
-5.85%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Lisle, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,072MX$18.7K
$5,418$5,418
-80.21%
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: July 22, 2026
Last update for Lisle, IL: July 21, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,005 in Mexico City and $1,613 in Lisle, IL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisle, IL pays 405% 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 $76.0 in Lisle, IL for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $291 vs $390 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 Lisle, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Mexico City or Lisle, IL?
Mexico City wins on cost – living expenses run 71% lower than in Lisle, IL. 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 Lisle, IL?
On paper, salaries run 405% lower in Lisle, IL. 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 Lisle, IL?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,005 in Mexico City versus $1,613 in Lisle, IL. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Mexico City or in Lisle, IL?
Supermarket bills run roughly 34% higher in Lisle, IL. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How much does it cost to live in Mexico City compared to Lisle, IL?
All in, you'll spend $1,481 per month in Mexico City versus $2,538 in Lisle, IL – a 71% 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 Lisle, IL?
At $1,481 in Mexico City versus $2,538 in Lisle, IL, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Mexico City but tight or insufficient in Lisle, IL. 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 Lisle, IL?
Both work as nomad bases, but Mexico City delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,481 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 Lisle, IL?
Safety-wise, Mexico City and Lisle, IL 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 71% less than in Lisle, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Mexico City vs other spots: cost of living compared