Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Manassas, VA

For one person, living is cheaper in Mexico City: $1,567 a month against $3,064 in Manassas, VA, rent and utilities included – about $18,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Mexico City
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,567
/mo nomad
Manassas, VA
🇺🇸 United States
$3,064
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Mexico City and in Manassas, VA

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Mexico City and in Manassas, VA actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,567 in Mexico City versus $3,064 in Manassas, VA.

  • Mexico City $1,567
  • Manassas, VA $3,064

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,450 in Mexico City versus $4,424 in Manassas, VA.

  • Mexico City $2,450
  • Manassas, VA $4,424

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,333 in Mexico City versus $5,784 in Manassas, VA.

  • Mexico City $3,333
  • Manassas, VA $5,784

Living in Mexico City costs roughly 49% less than in Manassas, VA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Mexico City 16% above, Manassas, VA 127% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Manassas, VA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.75 MX$199
$24.52 $24.52
-56.16%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$50.3 MX$929
$90.9 $90.9
-44.74%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.10 MX$205
$12.11 $12.11
-8.34%
Cappuccino
$3.68 MX$68.1
$6.68 $6.68
-44.91%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.65 MX$30.42
$2.59 $2.59
-36.29%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.30 MX$24.08
$2.36 $2.36
-44.92%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.32 MX$61.3
$6.63 $6.63
-49.92%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.54 MX$102
$8.19 $8.19
-32.36%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Manassas, VA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.77 MX$32.68
$1.05 $1.05
68.57%
White Bread (500g)
$3.05 MX$56.4
$3.73 $3.73
-18.23%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.01 MX$37.20
$7.19 $7.19
-72.04%
Eggs
$2.77 MX$51.1
$4.76 $4.76
-41.81%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.91 MX$220
$10.94 $10.94
8.87%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.33 MX$172
$14.50 $14.50
-35.66%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.02 MX$278
$20.11 $20.11
-25.31%
Apples (1kg)
$3.08 MX$56.8
$7.59 $7.59
-59.42%
Banana (1kg)
$1.95 MX$35.97
$2.26 $2.26
-13.72%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.03 MX$37.54
$7.99 $7.99
-74.59%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.21 MX$40.92
$6.87 $6.87
-67.83%
Potato (1kg)
$2.02 MX$37.41
$5.64 $5.64
-64.18%
Onion (1kg)
$1.82 MX$33.67
$4.15 $4.15
-56.14%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.52 MX$28.07
$2.24 $2.24
-32.14%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.28 MX$23.65
$2.11 $2.11
-39.34%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.27 MX$97.4
$9.03 $9.03
-41.64%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.12 MX$298
$14.18 $14.18
13.68%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.95 MX$36.05
$2.09 $2.09
-6.70%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.25 MX$78.6
$3.84 $3.84
10.68%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Manassas, VA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.31 MX$5.82
$5.14 $5.14
-93.97%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$19.85 MX$367
$101 $101
-80.27%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.00 MX$36.93
$3.09 $3.09
-35.28%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.53 MX$9.86
$1.46 $1.46
-63.70%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.62 MX$104
$20.39 $20.39
-72.44%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.52 MX$28.07
$1.04 $1.04
46.15%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.0K MX$388.7K
$35.9K $35.9K
-41.45%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.2K MX$465.3K
$24.8K $24.8K
1.73%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Manassas, VA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$62.5 MX$1,155
$211 $211
-70.41%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.77 MX$532
$53.0 $53.0
-45.72%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.45 MX$637
$60.0 $60.0
-42.61%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Manassas, VA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.1 MX$1,055
$44.15 $44.15
29.33%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.81 MX$458
$19.98 $19.98
24.17%
Cinema Ticket
$6.67 MX$123
$17.77 $17.77
-62.46%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Manassas, VA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$431 MX$7,964
$1,916 $1,916
-77.51%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.7K MX$216.9K
$12.1K $12.1K
-3.05%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Manassas, VA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$70.8 MX$1,308
$47.00 $47.00
50.62%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.8 MX$958
$49.01 $49.01
5.75%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$109 MX$2,011
$102 $102
6.38%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$112 MX$2,076
$105 $105
7.24%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Manassas, VA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,051 MX$19.4K
$1,838 $1,838
-42.80%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$665 MX$12.3K
$1,526 $1,526
-56.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,346 MX$43.3K
$2,920 $2,920
-19.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,227 MX$22.7K
$2,293 $2,293
-46.52%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,554 MX$65.7K
$2,733 $2,733
30.04%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,977 MX$36.5K
$2,484 $2,484
-20.40%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Manassas, VA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$975 MX$18.0K
$4,795 $4,795
-79.67%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.3
6.64
70.18%

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

Last update for Mexico City: October 11, 2026

Last update for Manassas, VA: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
$665
Manassas, VA
$1.5K 129% $861
Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
$323
Manassas, VA
$485 50.3% $162
Eating Out
Mexico City
$203
Manassas, VA
$382 88.2% $179
Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
$155
Manassas, VA
$136 11.8% $18
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
$126
Manassas, VA
$324 158% $198
Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
$70
Manassas, VA
$80 13.1% $9.3
Getting Around
Mexico City
$26
Manassas, VA
$132 410% $106

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,051 in Mexico City and $1,838 in Manassas, VA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Manassas, VA pays 392% 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: $50.0 in Mexico City vs $91.0 in Manassas, VA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $323 vs $485 per month, with Mexico City cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇲🇽 Mexico City
🇺🇸 Manassas, VA
🕒 Local time
01:02 1:02 AM
03:02 3:02 AM
2 h ahead of Mexico City
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
9,209,944 Capital
42,772
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to MXN – Mexican Peso Converter

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 18.48 MXN (100 MXN = 5.41 USD). 1 EUR = 20.77 MXN (100 MXN = 4.81 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Mexico City Manassas, VA 2,990 km ≈ 4 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Mexico City
  • Manassas, VA

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Manassas, VA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Mexico City or Manassas, VA?
Mexico City wins on cost – living expenses run 96% lower than in Manassas, VA. 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 Manassas, VA?
On paper, salaries run 392% lower in Manassas, VA. 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 Manassas, VA?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,051 in Mexico City versus $1,838 in Manassas, VA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Mexico City compared to Manassas, VA?
A monthly transit pass in Mexico City runs roughly 407% less than in Manassas, VA. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Mexico City and in Manassas, VA?
Childcare runs $431 in Mexico City versus $1,916 in Manassas, VA. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Mexico City or in Manassas, VA?
At $1,567 in Mexico City versus $3,064 in Manassas, VA, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Mexico City but tight or insufficient in Manassas, VA. 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 Manassas, VA?
Both work as nomad bases, but Mexico City delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,567 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Mexico City hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Mexico City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 96% less than in Manassas, VA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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