๐A single person spends $1,484 per month in Mexico City vs $1,658 in Lodi, rent included.
๐A couple spends around $2,342 per month in Mexico City vs $2,684 in Lodi, rent included.
๐A family of three spends $3,199 per month in Mexico City vs $3,709 in Lodi, rent included.
๐Mexico City is about 10% cheaper than Lodi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
๐Both Mexico City and Lodi sit above the global median โ Mexico City by 10%, Lodi by 23%.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Mexico City
Lodi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.29MX$231
$16.17โฌ13.76
-17.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.8MX$933
$68.4โฌ58.2
-21.46%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.29MX$161
$11.43โฌ9.73
-18.72%
Cappuccino
$3.61MX$62.6
$1.98โฌ1.68
82.32%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.56MX$27.03
$3.30โฌ2.80
-52.73%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.12MX$19.46
$1.55โฌ1.32
-27.74%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.13MX$54.3
$5.91โฌ5.03
-47.04%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.71MX$81.7
$5.89โฌ5.01
-20.03%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Lodi
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.70MX$29.54
$1.96โฌ1.67
-13.27%
White Bread(500g)
$2.77MX$48.03
$1.92โฌ1.64
44.27%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.96MX$34.05
$2.34โฌ1.99
-16.24%
Eggs
$2.60MX$45.21
$2.06โฌ1.75
26.21%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.94MX$173
$16.61โฌ14.13
-40.16%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.10MX$141
$12.13โฌ10.32
-33.22%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.50MX$200
$19.20โฌ16.34
-40.10%
Apples(1kg)
$2.87MX$49.84
$2.67โฌ2.27
7.49%
Banana(1kg)
$1.73MX$30.07
$2.12โฌ1.81
-18.40%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.00MX$34.73
$3.10โฌ2.64
-35.48%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.04MX$35.38
$2.54โฌ2.16
-19.69%
Potato(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.14
$2.14โฌ1.82
-2.80%
Onion(1kg)
$2.20MX$38.12
$1.90โฌ1.62
15.79%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.45MX$25.24
$2.37โฌ2.02
-38.82%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07MX$18.63
$0.37โฌ0.31
189.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27MX$74.2
$6.17โฌ5.25
-30.79%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.32MX$249
$4.49โฌ3.82
218.93%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76MX$30.62
$1.84โฌ1.57
-4.35%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.70MX$64.2
$2.63โฌ2.24
40.68%
๐ Getting Around
Mexico City
Lodi
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.35MX$6.12
$2.45โฌ2.09
-85.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.19MX$333
$42.25โฌ35.96
-54.58%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.34MX$23.18
$3.52โฌ2.99
-61.93%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28MX$4.83
$1.07โฌ0.91
-73.83%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.33MX$92.6
$23.06โฌ19.63
-76.89%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.34MX$23.27
$2.03โฌ1.73
-33.99%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.1KMX$332.0K
$29.9Kโฌ25.4K
-35.95%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.9KMX$414.5K
$29.2Kโฌ24.9K
-18.30%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Lodi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$39.86MX$692
$245โฌ208
-83.72%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.78MX$465
$12.04โฌ10.25
122.43%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.36MX$510
$31.98โฌ27.22
-8.19%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Lodi
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$53.4MX$927
$65.6โฌ55.8
-18.49%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.09MX$453
$25.81โฌ21.97
1.08%
Cinema Ticket
$6.40MX$111
$11.74โฌ9.99
-45.49%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Lodi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$440MX$7,647
$511โฌ435
-13.82%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.8KMX$186.6K
$7,617โฌ6,482
41.15%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Lodi
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.6MX$1,000
$81.4โฌ69.3
-29.22%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.02MX$781
$40.83โฌ34.75
10.26%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104MX$1,801
$85.2โฌ72.5
21.71%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108MX$1,874
$102โฌ86.7
5.93%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Lodi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,013MX$17.6K
$574โฌ488
76.62%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$630MX$10.9K
$479โฌ408
31.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,162MX$37.5K
$1,277โฌ1,087
69.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,222MX$21.2K
$1,098โฌ934
11.31%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,793MX$65.8K
$3,463โฌ2,947
9.54%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,332MX$40.5K
$2,559โฌ2,178
-8.87%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Lodi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,075MX$18.7K
$2,389โฌ2,033
-55.01%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
4.27
165.57%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: April 11, 2026
Last update for Lodi: April 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A central one-bedroom costs $1,013 in Mexico City versus $574 in Lodi. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
๐ฐSalaries run about 122% higher in Lodi, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
๐A mid-range dinner for two costs $54 in Mexico City versus $68 in Lodi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $285 vs $323 โ making Mexico City the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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 Lodi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lodi cheaper than Mexico City?
Yes โ Lodi is pricier by about 12%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,226 per month in Mexico City and $2,487 in Lodi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled โ not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Mexico City, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $440 per month in Mexico City and $511 in Lodi. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Mexico City and Lodi?
Groceries cost about 13% more in Lodi, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for Mexico City or Lodi?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Mexico City, where all-in costs run around $1,484, than in Lodi at $1,658. In Mexico City it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lodi it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Mexico City or Lodi more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Mexico City โ lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Mexico City or Lodi?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison โ central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Mexico City. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Lodi makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Mexico City vs other spots: cost of living compared