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

πŸ™‚ Solo nomad: Mexico City is 39.5% cheaper than Santa Monica, CA without rent, and 67.6% cheaper with rent.
πŸ™‚ Family of 3: Mexico City is 35.1% cheaper than Santa Monica, CA without rent, and 66.7% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Santa Monica, CA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.38 MX$253
$25.29 $25.29
-47.09%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$52.7 MX$997
$99.5 $99.5
-47.00%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.31 MX$176
$12.3 $12.3
-24.31%
Cappuccino
$3.61 MX$68.3
$5.68 $5.68
-36.44%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.64 MX$30.91
$2.88 $2.88
-43.06%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.12 MX$21.14
$2.3 $2.3
-51.30%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.26 MX$61.7
$8.59 $8.59
-62.05%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.82 MX$91.1
$9.32 $9.32
-48.28%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Santa Monica, CA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.65 MX$31.24
$1.18 $1.18
39.83%
White Bread (500g)
$2.74 MX$51.7
$4.45 $4.45
-38.43%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.92 MX$36.28
$4.49 $4.49
-57.24%
Eggs
$2.51 MX$47.53
$7.19 $7.19
-65.09%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.89 MX$187
$12.47 $12.47
-20.69%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.39 MX$159
$13.7 $13.7
-38.76%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.95 MX$226
$14.46 $14.46
-17.36%
Apples (1kg)
$2.87 MX$54.3
$5.37 $5.37
-46.55%
Banana (1kg)
$1.74 MX$32.85
$1.95 $1.95
-10.77%
Oranges (1kg)
$2 MX$37.81
$3.97 $3.97
-49.62%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.07 MX$39.14
$5.73 $5.73
-63.87%
Potato (1kg)
$2.05 MX$38.78
$2.98 $2.98
-31.21%
Onion (1kg)
$2.18 MX$41.22
$2.45 $2.45
-11.02%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.38 MX$26.16
$1.82 $1.82
-24.18%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.11 MX$21.06
$2.12 $2.12
-47.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.16 MX$78.6
$10.83 $10.83
-61.59%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.05 MX$209
$15.28 $15.28
-27.68%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.75 MX$33.16
$2.53 $2.53
-30.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 MX$70
$5.34 $5.34
-30.71%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Santa Monica, CA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.38 MX$7.25
$2.08 $2.08
-81.73%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.97 MX$359
$81.5 $81.5
-76.74%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.36 MX$25.72
$3.15 $3.15
-56.83%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.28 MX$5.25
$1.71 $1.71
-83.63%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.3 MX$100
$29.08 $29.08
-81.77%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.36 MX$25.63
$1.24 $1.24
9.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.8K MX$354.6K
$23.8K $23.8K
-21.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4K MX$441.7K
$25.5K $25.5K
-8.34%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Santa Monica, CA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$39.97 MX$756
$190 $190
-78.92%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.48 MX$519
$58.4 $58.4
-52.98%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.22 MX$571
$67 $67
-54.92%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Santa Monica, CA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.6 MX$994
$122 $122
-56.99%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.84 MX$507
$44.73 $44.73
-40.00%
Cinema Ticket
$6.32 MX$120
$18.03 $18.03
-64.95%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Santa Monica, CA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$437 MX$8,258
$1,791 $1,791
-75.60%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.6K MX$199.9K
$14.7K $14.7K
-28.29%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Santa Monica, CA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.2 MX$1,082
$62.8 $62.8
-8.86%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.14 MX$853
$34.08 $34.08
32.45%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 MX$1,928
$102 $102
0.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109 MX$2,056
$153 $153
-28.81%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Santa Monica, CA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,000 MX$18.9K
$3,279 $3,279
-69.52%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$622 MX$11.8K
$2,892 $2,892
-78.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,160 MX$40.8K
$6,850 $6,850
-68.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,235 MX$23.3K
$5,897 $5,897
-79.06%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,566 MX$67.4K
$10.8K $10.8K
-66.97%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,480 MX$46.9K
$8,171 $8,171
-69.65%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Santa Monica, CA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$867 MX$16.4K
$7,229 $7,229
-88.00%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.34
6.49
74.73%

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 Monica, CA: October 27, 2025

Join the CityCost newsletter – low traffic, no spam, and easy to unsubscribe. Your email stays private.