🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,448 in Mexico City versus $2,714 in Orem, UT.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,354 in Mexico City versus $3,682 in Orem, UT.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,260 in Mexico City versus $4,650 in Orem, UT.
🙂Living in Mexico City costs roughly 47% less than in Orem, UT, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Mexico City9% above, Orem, UT104% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Orem, UT
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.96MX$223
$14.75$14.75
-12.14%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$52.3MX$900
$60.0$60.0
-12.71%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.69MX$167
$11.04$11.04
-12.23%
Cappuccino
$3.75MX$64.6
$6.28$6.28
-40.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.56MX$26.91
$1.80$1.80
-13.33%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.16MX$19.93
$1.22$1.22
-4.92%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.24MX$55.8
$6.16$6.16
-47.40%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.90MX$84.3
$7.57$7.57
-35.27%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Orem, UT
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.70MX$29.29
$0.93$0.93
82.80%
White Bread(500g)
$2.67MX$45.90
$3.26$3.26
-18.10%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.89MX$32.49
$2.29$2.29
-17.47%
Eggs
$2.52MX$43.37
$2.90$2.90
-13.10%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.02MX$172
$13.84$13.84
-27.60%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.53MX$147
$12.71$12.71
-32.89%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.94MX$205
$21.50$21.50
-44.47%
Apples(1kg)
$2.97MX$51.1
$3.70$3.70
-19.73%
Banana(1kg)
$1.79MX$30.88
$1.65$1.65
8.48%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.00MX$34.40
$3.07$3.07
-34.85%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.96MX$33.74
$5.21$5.21
-62.38%
Potato(1kg)
$2.16MX$37.21
$2.02$2.02
6.93%
Onion(1kg)
$2.27MX$39.04
$1.98$1.98
14.65%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.40MX$24.14
$1.82$1.82
-23.08%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.11MX$19.18
$1.99$1.99
-44.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.20MX$72.2
$9.15$9.15
-54.10%
Wine(Bottle)
$16.54MX$285
$15.04$15.04
9.97%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68MX$28.94
$2.10$2.10
-20.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.59MX$61.8
$3.08$3.08
16.56%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Orem, UT
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.39MX$6.65
$2.45$2.45
-84.08%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.19MX$330
$85.6$85.6
-77.58%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.38MX$23.77
$1.52$1.52
-9.21%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.30MX$5.19
$0.90$0.90
-66.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.39MX$92.7
$19.80$19.80
-72.78%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.29MX$22.13
$0.92$0.92
40.22%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.9KMX$325.1K
$22.9K$22.9K
-17.36%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.8KMX$409.5K
$23.1K$23.1K
3.17%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Orem, UT
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$39.86MX$686
$147$147
-72.89%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.83MX$479
$48.11$48.11
-42.15%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.77MX$512
$65.8$65.8
-54.78%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Orem, UT
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.0MX$894
$30.16$30.16
72.28%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.22MX$451
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.27MX$108
$12.69$12.69
-50.59%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Orem, UT
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$433MX$7,443
$959$959
-54.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.5KMX$181.3K
$10.0K$10.0K
5.38%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Orem, UT
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.0MX$981
$53.9$53.9
5.85%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.33MX$780
$35.41$35.41
28.01%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102MX$1,753
$84.0$84.0
21.33%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109MX$1,867
$160$160
-32.36%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Orem, UT
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$994MX$17.1K
$1,803$1,803
-44.87%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$617MX$10.6K
$1,420$1,420
-56.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,086MX$35.9K
$3,463$3,463
-39.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,256MX$21.6K
$1,986$1,986
-36.77%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,936MX$67.7K
$2,348$2,348
67.64%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,089MX$35.9K
$2,354$2,354
-11.26%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Orem, UT
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,131MX$19.5K
$3,483$3,483
-67.52%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
6.87
65.07%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: June 14, 2026
Last update for Orem, UT: June 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $994 in Mexico City and $1,803 in Orem, UT. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Orem, UT pays 208% 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: $52.0 in Mexico City vs $60.0 in Orem, UT for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $292 vs $387 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 Orem, UT: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and Orem, UT?
Mexico City and Orem, UT differ by about 87% in total monthly costs ($1,448 vs $2,714 including rent). Mexico City is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Orem, UT earns 208% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Mexico City and Orem, UT?
Rent for a central apartment: $994 in Mexico City versus $1,803 in Orem, UT. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Mexico City and Orem, UT?
A monthly transit pass in Mexico City runs roughly 346% less than in Orem, UT. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Mexico City and Orem, UT?
Childcare runs $433 in Mexico City versus $959 in Orem, UT. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,448 in Mexico City versus $2,714 in Orem, UT, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Mexico City but tight or insufficient in Orem, UT. 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 Orem, UT?
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.
Is Mexico City or Orem, UT safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Mexico City and Orem, UT are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Mexico City or Orem, UT?
Expats usually find Mexico City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 87% less than in Orem, UT. 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