Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Santa Barbara, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Santa Barbara, CA

🙂 Solo nomad: Mexico City is 40.2% cheaper than Santa Barbara, CA without rent, and 61.3% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Mexico City is 27.7% cheaper than Santa Barbara, CA without rent, and 58.7% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.38 MX$253

$24.82 $24.82

-46.09%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$52.7 MX$997

$100 $100

-47.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.31 MX$176

$10.17 $10.17

-8.46%

Cappuccino

$3.61 MX$68.3

$5.62 $5.62

-35.77%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.64 MX$30.91

$2.73 $2.73

-39.93%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.12 MX$21.14

$2.1 $2.1

-46.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.26 MX$61.7

$8.16 $8.16

-60.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.82 MX$91.1

$9.1 $9.1

-47.03%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 MX$31.24

$1.3 $1.3

26.92%

White Bread (500g)

$2.74 MX$51.7

$4.89 $4.89

-43.97%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.92 MX$36.28

$4.83 $4.83

-60.25%

Eggs

$2.51 MX$47.53

$5.43 $5.43

-53.78%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.89 MX$187

$12.51 $12.51

-20.94%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.39 MX$159

$11.62 $11.62

-27.80%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.95 MX$226

$14.26 $14.26

-16.20%

Apples (1kg)

$2.87 MX$54.3

$6.24 $6.24

-54.01%

Banana (1kg)

$1.74 MX$32.85

$1.91 $1.91

-8.90%

Oranges (1kg)

$2 MX$37.81

$3.84 $3.84

-47.92%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.07 MX$39.14

$5.35 $5.35

-61.31%

Potato (1kg)

$2.05 MX$38.78

$3.31 $3.31

-38.07%

Onion (1kg)

$2.18 MX$41.22

$3.04 $3.04

-28.29%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.38 MX$26.16

$2.18 $2.18

-36.70%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.11 MX$21.06

$2.02 $2.02

-45.05%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.16 MX$78.6

$13.02 $13.02

-68.05%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.05 MX$209

$15.26 $15.26

-27.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.75 MX$33.16

$1.76 $1.76

-0.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 MX$70

$4.07 $4.07

-9.09%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.38 MX$7.25

$1.8 $1.8

-78.89%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.97 MX$359

$65.2 $65.2

-70.90%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 MX$25.72

$5.82 $5.82

-76.63%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.28 MX$5.25

$2 $2

-86.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.3 MX$100

$50.9 $50.9

-89.59%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 MX$25.63

$1.22 $1.22

11.48%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$18.8K MX$354.6K

$28.5K $28.5K

-34.13%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$23.4K MX$441.7K

$25.5K $25.5K

-8.46%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$39.97 MX$756

$201 $201

-80.12%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$27.48 MX$519

$54.1 $54.1

-49.21%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.22 MX$571

$72.4 $72.4

-58.23%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.6 MX$994

$66.1 $66.1

-20.38%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.84 MX$507

$18.29 $18.29

46.75%

Cinema Ticket

$6.32 MX$120

$12.64 $12.64

-50.00%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$437 MX$8,258

$1,445 $1,445

-69.76%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.6K MX$199.9K

$37.3K $37.3K

-71.67%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.2 MX$1,082

$68.4 $68.4

-16.35%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.14 MX$853

$41.33 $41.33

9.22%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 MX$1,928

$77.7 $77.7

31.25%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 MX$2,056

$146 $146

-25.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,000 MX$18.9K

$2,643 $2,643

-62.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$622 MX$11.8K

$2,296 $2,296

-72.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,160 MX$40.8K

$5,146 $5,146

-58.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,235 MX$23.3K

$4,439 $4,439

-72.18%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,566 MX$67.4K

$10.4K $10.4K

-65.61%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,480 MX$46.9K

$9,888 $9,888

-74.92%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$867 MX$16.4K

$5,242 $5,242

-83.45%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.34

6.68

69.76%

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

Last update for Mexico City: October 28, 2025

Last update for Santa Barbara, CA: October 29, 2025

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