🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,466 in Mexico City versus $2,503 in Spring Valley, IL.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,325 in Mexico City versus $3,594 in Spring Valley, IL.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,184 in Mexico City versus $4,686 in Spring Valley, IL.
🙂Living in Mexico City costs roughly 41% less than in Spring Valley, IL, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Mexico City9% above, Spring Valley, IL87% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Spring Valley, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.30MX$231
$14.82$14.82
-10.26%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.8MX$932
$70.1$70.1
-23.21%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.42MX$163
$10.32$10.32
-8.72%
Cappuccino
$3.59MX$62.3
$5.41$5.41
-33.64%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$28.13
$1.90$1.90
-14.74%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.12MX$19.49
$1.48$1.48
-24.32%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.25MX$56.3
$4.39$4.39
-25.97%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.65MX$80.6
$6.18$6.18
-24.76%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Spring Valley, IL
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.64MX$28.37
$0.80$0.80
105.00%
White Bread(500g)
$2.65MX$46.00
$2.77$2.77
-4.33%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.96MX$33.99
$4.60$4.60
-57.39%
Eggs
$2.54MX$44.08
$3.09$3.09
-17.80%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.97MX$173
$6.79$6.79
46.83%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.39MX$145
$4.50$4.50
86.44%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.83MX$205
$13.14$13.14
-9.97%
Apples(1kg)
$2.86MX$49.62
$4.51$4.51
-36.59%
Banana(1kg)
$1.73MX$30.05
$1.17$1.17
47.86%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.99MX$34.50
$5.38$5.38
-63.01%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.05MX$35.51
$4.77$4.77
-57.02%
Potato(1kg)
$2.06MX$35.64
$2.26$2.26
-8.85%
Onion(1kg)
$2.28MX$39.54
$2.25$2.25
1.33%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.45MX$25.05
$1.47$1.47
-1.36%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09MX$18.83
$1.95$1.95
-44.10%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27MX$73.9
$7.77$7.77
-45.05%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.67MX$254
$12.07$12.07
21.54%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76MX$30.58
$2.19$2.19
-19.63%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.57MX$61.8
$3.39$3.39
5.31%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Spring Valley, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38MX$6.67
$1.98$1.98
-80.81%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.73MX$325
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.39MX$24.09
$3.56$3.56
-60.96%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.30MX$5.26
$1.63$1.63
-81.60%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.41MX$93.8
$45.11$45.11
-88.01%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.34MX$23.22
$0.83$0.83
61.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.9KMX$326.7K
$39.6K$39.6K
-52.38%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.2KMX$402.0K
$26.7K$26.7K
-13.12%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Spring Valley, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.30MX$698
$207$207
-80.54%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.15MX$471
$54.4$54.4
-50.06%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.46MX$510
$70.3$70.3
-58.06%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Spring Valley, IL
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.7MX$914
$42.24$42.24
24.86%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.17MX$454
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.18MX$107
$12.54$12.54
-50.72%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Spring Valley, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$441MX$7,637
$962$962
-54.17%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.7KMX$185.4K
$23.2K$23.2K
-53.91%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Spring Valley, IL
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.2MX$992
$62.2$62.2
-7.92%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.04MX$781
$63.4$63.4
-28.93%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103MX$1,793
$130$130
-20.44%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109MX$1,884
$152$152
-28.65%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Spring Valley, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,000MX$17.3K
$1,587$1,587
-37.01%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$632MX$11.0K
$1,340$1,340
-52.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,141MX$37.1K
$2,673$2,673
-19.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,253MX$21.7K
$2,245$2,245
-44.20%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,745MX$64.9K
$2,517$2,517
48.79%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,381MX$41.3K
$2,551$2,551
-6.68%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Spring Valley, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,079MX$18.7K
-
-
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: April 20, 2026
Last update for Spring Valley, IL: April 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,000 in Mexico City and $1,587 in Spring Valley, IL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $54 in Mexico City vs $70 in Spring Valley, IL for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $286 vs $306 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 Spring Valley, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and Spring Valley, IL?
Mexico City and Spring Valley, IL differ by about 71% in total monthly costs ($1,466 vs $2,503 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 Spring Valley, IL?
You'd need roughly $2,199 in Mexico City and $3,755 in Spring Valley, IL 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 Spring Valley, IL?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,000 in Mexico City versus $1,587 in Spring Valley, IL. 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 Spring Valley, IL?
Childcare runs $441 in Mexico City versus $962 in Spring Valley, IL. 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 $54.0 versus $70.0 in Spring Valley, IL. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,466 in Mexico City versus $2,503 in Spring Valley, IL, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Mexico City but tight or insufficient in Spring Valley, IL. 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 Spring Valley, IL?
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 Spring Valley, IL?
Expats usually find Mexico City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 71% less than in Spring Valley, IL. 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