Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Medford, MA

For one person, living is cheaper in Mexico City: $1,674 a month against $3,043 in Medford, MA, rent and utilities included – about $16,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Mexico City, Mexico
Medford, MA, United States
Mexico City
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,674
/mo nomad
Medford, MA
🇺🇸 United States
$3,043
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Mexico City and in Medford, MA

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 Medford, MA actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,674 per month in Mexico City vs $3,043 in Medford, MA, rent included.

  • Mexico City $1,674
  • Medford, MA $3,043

A couple spends around $2,606 per month in Mexico City vs $4,134 in Medford, MA, rent included.

  • Mexico City $2,606
  • Medford, MA $4,134

A family of three spends $3,537 per month in Mexico City vs $5,225 in Medford, MA, rent included.

  • Mexico City $3,537
  • Medford, MA $5,225

Mexico City is about 45% cheaper than Medford, MA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Mexico City and Medford, MA sit above the global median – Mexico City by 24%, Medford, MA by 125%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Medford, MA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.59 MX$197
$17.41 $17.41
-39.17%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$52.0 MX$967
$92.9 $92.9
-44.06%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.73 MX$200
$12.15 $12.15
-11.69%
Cappuccino
$3.80 MX$70.6
$5.35 $5.35
-28.97%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.61 MX$30.01
$2.87 $2.87
-43.90%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.21 MX$22.55
$2.52 $2.52
-51.98%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.18 MX$59.1
$8.04 $8.04
-60.45%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.44 MX$101
$7.78 $7.78
-30.08%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Medford, MA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.72 MX$31.96
$1.08 $1.08
59.26%
White Bread (500g)
$2.97 MX$55.2
$3.81 $3.81
-22.05%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.93 MX$35.84
$5.51 $5.51
-64.97%
Eggs
$2.77 MX$51.6
$4.66 $4.66
-40.56%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.67 MX$217
$11.13 $11.13
4.85%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.48 MX$176
$13.98 $13.98
-32.19%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.37 MX$286
$17.86 $17.86
-13.94%
Apples (1kg)
$3.10 MX$57.8
$6.84 $6.84
-54.68%
Banana (1kg)
$1.96 MX$36.49
$1.81 $1.81
8.29%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.98 MX$36.88
$5.51 $5.51
-64.07%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.34 MX$43.46
$5.66 $5.66
-58.66%
Potato (1kg)
$2.02 MX$37.66
$4.42 $4.42
-54.30%
Onion (1kg)
$1.82 MX$33.95
$4.03 $4.03
-54.84%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.54 MX$28.74
$2.27 $2.27
-32.16%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.31 MX$24.42
$1.02 $1.02
28.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.35 MX$99.6
$13.36 $13.36
-59.96%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.19 MX$301
$13.78 $13.78
17.49%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.96 MX$36.46
$2.15 $2.15
-8.84%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.35 MX$81.0
$3.97 $3.97
9.57%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Medford, MA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.30 MX$5.67
$2.47 $2.47
-87.85%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$19.49 MX$363
$59.0 $59.0
-66.94%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.92 MX$35.68
$2.61 $2.61
-26.44%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.47 MX$8.80
$1.73 $1.73
-72.83%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.41 MX$101
$27.77 $27.77
-80.52%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.48 MX$27.61
$1.08 $1.08
37.04%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.4K MX$397.7K
$27.1K $27.1K
-21.05%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.8K MX$442.1K
$26.7K $26.7K
-10.89%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Medford, MA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$62.0 MX$1,154
$236 $236
-73.74%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.47 MX$530
$55.8 $55.8
-48.94%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.11 MX$635
$81.7 $81.7
-58.22%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Medford, MA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$58.4 MX$1,087
$42.97 $42.97
35.89%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.50 MX$456
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.59 MX$123
$14.12 $14.12
-53.33%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Medford, MA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$434 MX$8,081
$1,849 $1,849
-76.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.0K MX$261.2K
$44.9K $44.9K
-68.71%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Medford, MA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$68.4 MX$1,272
$56.0 $56.0
22.12%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$54.8 MX$1,020
$37.57 $37.57
45.86%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$111 MX$2,063
$80.8 $80.8
37.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116 MX$2,158
$101 $101
14.99%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Medford, MA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,179 MX$21.9K
$1,554 $1,554
-24.10%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$771 MX$14.3K
$1,647 $1,647
-53.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,570 MX$47.8K
$2,594 $2,594
-0.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,420 MX$26.4K
$2,116 $2,116
-32.91%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,586 MX$66.7K
$2,788 $2,788
28.61%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,064 MX$38.4K
$2,298 $2,298
-10.16%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Medford, MA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,003 MX$18.7K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.35
6.64
70.93%

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

Last update for Mexico City: November 1, 2026

Last update for Medford, MA: November 1, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
$771
Medford, MA
$1.6K 114% $876
Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
$324
Medford, MA
$431 33.1% $107
Eating Out
Mexico City
$201
Medford, MA
$317 58.2% $117
Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
$158
Medford, MA
$124 21.4% $34
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
$125
Medford, MA
$373 200% $249
Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
$72
Medford, MA
$71 0.5% $0.4
Getting Around
Mexico City
$25
Medford, MA
$80 221% $55

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,179 in Mexico City versus $1,554 in Medford, MA. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $52 in Mexico City versus $93 in Medford, MA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $324 vs $431 – making Mexico City the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇲🇽 Mexico City
🇺🇸 Medford, MA
🕒 Local time
04:41 4:41 AM
05:41 5:41 AM
1 h ahead of Mexico City
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
9,209,944 Capital
56,173
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to MXN – Mexican Peso Converter

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of November 5, 2026: 1 USD = 18.61 MXN (100 MXN = 5.37 USD). 1 EUR = 20.91 MXN (100 MXN = 4.78 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of November 5, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Mexico City Medford, MA 3,670 km ≈ 5 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Mexico City
  • Medford, MA

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 Medford, MA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mexico City cheaper than Medford, MA?
Yes – Medford, MA is pricier by about 82%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,510 per month in Mexico City and $4,565 in Medford, MA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Mexico City, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,179 there versus $1,554 in Medford, MA.
What are total monthly expenses in Mexico City and in Medford, MA?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,674 in Mexico City and $3,043 in Medford, MA. That makes Mexico City about 45% cheaper.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 67% less in Mexico City. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $3,000 a realistic budget for living in Mexico City or in Medford, MA?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Mexico City, where all-in costs run around $1,674, than in Medford, MA at $3,043. In Mexico City it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medford, MA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Mexico City or Medford, MA more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Mexico City – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
For expats, Mexico City is the easier option financially – housing and daily costs are lower, and overall it costs about 45% less, which matters a lot on a fixed budget or early-career salary.

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