🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,668 in Mexico City versus $2,696 in Montross, VA.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,613 in Mexico City versus $4,116 in Montross, VA.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,557 in Mexico City versus $5,536 in Montross, VA.
🌍Living in Mexico City costs roughly 38% less than in Montross, VA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Mexico City24% above, Montross, VA100% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Montross, VA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.03MX$213
$23.76$23.76
-49.37%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$52.8MX$937
$102$102
-48.02%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.69MX$207
$10.96$10.96
6.66%
Cappuccino
$3.87MX$68.7
$5.82$5.82
-33.51%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75MX$31.05
$3.12$3.12
-43.91%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.39MX$24.74
$2.51$2.51
-44.62%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.36MX$59.6
$8.05$8.05
-58.26%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.77MX$102
$8.90$8.90
-35.17%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Montross, VA
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.81MX$32.04
$1.21$1.21
49.59%
White Bread(500g)
$3.08MX$54.7
$4.44$4.44
-30.63%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.13MX$37.78
$5.50$5.50
-61.27%
Eggs
$2.98MX$52.8
$5.07$5.07
-41.22%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.53MX$222
$22.16$22.16
-43.46%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.24MX$182
$15.46$15.46
-33.76%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.92MX$282
$22.67$22.67
-29.78%
Apples(1kg)
$3.39MX$60.1
$5.49$5.49
-38.25%
Banana(1kg)
$2.11MX$37.37
$1.84$1.84
14.67%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.13MX$37.73
$4.67$4.67
-54.39%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.47MX$43.77
$5.67$5.67
-56.44%
Potato(1kg)
$2.04MX$36.16
$3.18$3.18
-35.85%
Onion(1kg)
$2.01MX$35.72
$3.80$3.80
-47.11%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.59MX$28.25
$2.25$2.25
-29.33%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.33MX$23.58
$2.55$2.55
-47.84%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.49MX$97.4
$10.52$10.52
-47.81%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.52MX$311
$16.86$16.86
3.91%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.01MX$35.74
$2.75$2.75
-26.91%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.74MX$84.1
$2.86$2.86
65.73%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Montross, VA
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.34MX$5.96
$2.20$2.20
-84.55%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$21.07MX$374
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.05MX$36.41
$3.99$3.99
-48.62%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.61MX$10.79
$1.21$1.21
-49.59%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.70MX$101
$24.81$24.81
-77.03%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.59MX$28.20
$0.98$0.98
62.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.9KMX$406.1K
$34.3K$34.3K
-33.18%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.4KMX$467.9K
$24.9K$24.9K
6.01%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Montross, VA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$64.2MX$1,140
$161$161
-60.08%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.42MX$522
$52.5$52.5
-43.99%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.83MX$653
$62.8$62.8
-41.37%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Montross, VA
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$58.7MX$1,042
$42.32$42.32
38.78%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.54MX$471
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.95MX$123
$16.43$16.43
-57.70%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Montross, VA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$463MX$8,210
$1,595$1,595
-70.98%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.4KMX$237.1K
$36.4K$36.4K
-63.34%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Montross, VA
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$75.4MX$1,338
$55.6$55.6
35.69%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$54.2MX$962
$63.6$63.6
-14.74%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$111MX$1,972
$103$103
7.41%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122MX$2,167
$166$166
-26.38%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Montross, VA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,133MX$20.1K
$1,439$1,439
-21.29%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$698MX$12.4K
$1,109$1,109
-37.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,442MX$43.3K
$2,545$2,545
-4.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,303MX$23.1K
$1,969$1,969
-33.83%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,910MX$69.4K
$2,976$2,976
31.37%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,069MX$36.7K
$2,579$2,579
-19.77%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Montross, VA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,052MX$18.7K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.3
6.27
80.22%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: September 21, 2026
Last update for Montross, VA: September 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,133 in Mexico City and $1,439 in Montross, VA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $53.0 in Mexico City vs $102 in Montross, VA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $343 vs $506 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 Montross, VA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and in Montross, VA?
Mexico City and Montross, VA differ by about 62% in total monthly costs ($1,668 vs $2,696 including rent). Mexico City is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Mexico City compared to Montross, VA?
You'd need roughly $2,502 in Mexico City and $4,045 in Montross, VA to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Mexico City and in Montross, VA?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,133 in Mexico City versus $1,439 in Montross, VA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Mexico City and Montross, VA?
Childcare runs $463 in Mexico City versus $1,595 in Montross, VA. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Mexico City – a meal for two runs $53.0 versus $102 in Montross, VA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
At $1,668 in Mexico City versus $2,696 in Montross, VA, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Mexico City but tight or insufficient in Montross, VA. The gap between the two cities makes Mexico City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mexico City and Montross, VA?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Where should expats move: Mexico City or Montross, VA?
Expats usually find Mexico City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 62% less than in Montross, VA. 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