Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Palo Alto, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Palo Alto, CA

๐Ÿ™‚ Solo nomad: Mexico City is 52.6% cheaper than Palo Alto, CA without rent, and 70.4% cheaper with rent.
๐Ÿ™‚ Family of 3: Mexico City is 51.5% cheaper than Palo Alto, CA without rent, and 66.5% cheaper with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Mexico City
Palo Alto, CA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.38 MX$253
$24.92 $24.92
-46.31%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$52.7 MX$997
$111 $111
-52.64%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.31 MX$176
$11.34 $11.34
-17.90%
Cappuccino
$3.61 MX$68.3
$5.74 $5.74
-37.11%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.64 MX$30.91
$3.24 $3.24
-49.38%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.12 MX$21.14
$2.54 $2.54
-55.91%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.26 MX$61.7
$8.14 $8.14
-59.95%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.82 MX$91.1
$10.03 $10.03
-51.94%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Palo Alto, CA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.65 MX$31.24
$1.47 $1.47
12.24%
White Bread (500g)
$2.74 MX$51.7
$4.99 $4.99
-45.09%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.92 MX$36.28
$3.19 $3.19
-39.81%
Eggs
$2.51 MX$47.53
$6.16 $6.16
-59.25%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.89 MX$187
$21.55 $21.55
-54.11%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.39 MX$159
$14.78 $14.78
-43.23%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.95 MX$226
$22.82 $22.82
-47.63%
Apples (1kg)
$2.87 MX$54.3
$6.95 $6.95
-58.71%
Banana (1kg)
$1.74 MX$32.85
$2.56 $2.56
-32.03%
Oranges (1kg)
$2 MX$37.81
$4.84 $4.84
-58.68%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.07 MX$39.14
$6.75 $6.75
-69.33%
Potato (1kg)
$2.05 MX$38.78
$3.89 $3.89
-47.30%
Onion (1kg)
$2.18 MX$41.22
$4.37 $4.37
-50.11%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.38 MX$26.16
$2.9 $2.9
-52.41%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.11 MX$21.06
$2.86 $2.86
-61.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.16 MX$78.6
$11.11 $11.11
-62.56%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.05 MX$209
$18.33 $18.33
-39.72%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.75 MX$33.16
$2.27 $2.27
-22.91%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 MX$70
$3.35 $3.35
10.45%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Mexico City
Palo Alto, CA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.38 MX$7.25
$2.55 $2.55
-85.10%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.97 MX$359
$89.6 $89.6
-78.83%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.36 MX$25.72
$4.11 $4.11
-66.91%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.28 MX$5.25
$1.89 $1.89
-85.19%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.3 MX$100
$30.51 $30.51
-82.63%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.36 MX$25.63
$1.27 $1.27
7.09%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.8K MX$354.6K
$29.7K $29.7K
-36.78%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4K MX$441.7K
$26.6K $26.6K
-12.13%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Palo Alto, CA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$39.97 MX$756
$225 $225
-82.21%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.48 MX$519
$47.97 $47.97
-42.71%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.22 MX$571
$68.6 $68.6
-55.95%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Palo Alto, CA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.6 MX$994
$120 $120
-56.33%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.84 MX$507
$19.88 $19.88
35.01%
Cinema Ticket
$6.32 MX$120
$15.78 $15.78
-59.95%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Palo Alto, CA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$437 MX$8,258
$2,710 $2,710
-83.88%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.6K MX$199.9K
$45.7K $45.7K
-76.84%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Palo Alto, CA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.2 MX$1,082
$53.2 $53.2
7.58%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.14 MX$853
$44.76 $44.76
0.85%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 MX$1,928
$89.3 $89.3
14.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109 MX$2,056
$135 $135
-19.65%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Palo Alto, CA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,000 MX$18.9K
$3,473 $3,473
-71.22%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$622 MX$11.8K
$3,227 $3,227
-80.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,160 MX$40.8K
$5,889 $5,889
-63.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,235 MX$23.3K
$5,757 $5,757
-78.55%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,566 MX$67.4K
$2,539 $2,539
40.43%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,480 MX$46.9K
$2,123 $2,123
16.82%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Palo Alto, CA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$867 MX$16.4K
$10K $10K
-91.33%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.34
6.51
74.19%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Mexico City: October 28, 2025

Last update for Palo Alto, CA: October 28, 2025

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