🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,646 in Mexico City versus $2,296 in Stephenville.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,613 in Mexico City versus $3,360 in Stephenville.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,580 in Mexico City versus $4,425 in Stephenville.
🌍Living in Mexico City costs roughly 28% less than in Stephenville, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Mexico City20% above, Stephenville67% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Stephenville
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.11MX$204
$18.15CA$25.12
-33.28%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$52.2MX$881
$67.4CA$93.3
-22.54%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.90MX$184
$10.63CA$14.71
2.54%
Cappuccino
$4.05MX$68.4
$3.73CA$5.16
8.58%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.72MX$28.95
$1.88CA$2.60
-8.51%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38MX$23.25
$1.68CA$2.32
-17.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.47MX$58.5
$4.82CA$6.67
-28.01%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.81MX$98.1
$5.35CA$7.41
8.60%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Stephenville
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.85MX$31.28
$2.58CA$3.57
-28.29%
White Bread(500g)
$3.22MX$54.4
$2.66CA$3.68
21.05%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.09MX$35.20
$3.27CA$4.52
-36.09%
Eggs
$2.91MX$49.10
$3.40CA$4.70
-14.41%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.49MX$211
$10.01CA$13.85
24.78%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.11MX$171
$11.53CA$15.96
-12.32%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.89MX$268
$14.92CA$20.65
6.50%
Apples(1kg)
$3.31MX$56.0
$3.89CA$5.39
-14.91%
Banana(1kg)
$2.13MX$35.90
$1.38CA$1.91
54.35%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.19MX$36.97
$3.65CA$5.05
-40.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.45MX$41.31
$3.86CA$5.34
-36.53%
Potato(1kg)
$2.19MX$36.95
$2.56CA$3.54
-14.45%
Onion(1kg)
$1.90MX$32.15
$2.26CA$3.13
-15.93%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.62MX$27.26
$4.28CA$5.92
-62.15%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.35MX$22.78
$1.68CA$2.32
-19.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.43MX$91.6
$14.55CA$20.13
-62.68%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.59MX$297
$11.02CA$15.25
59.62%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.07MX$34.90
$2.65CA$3.67
-21.89%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.75MX$80.1
$3.18CA$4.40
49.37%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Stephenville
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.34MX$5.74
$2.48CA$3.43
-86.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$21.58MX$364
$59.6CA$82.5
-63.79%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.04MX$34.44
$2.89CA$3.99
-29.41%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.58MX$9.75
$1.58CA$2.19
-63.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.97MX$101
$21.06CA$29.15
-71.65%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.62MX$27.27
$1.13CA$1.57
43.36%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.8KMX$385.0K
$27.5KCA$38.0K
-17.00%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7KMX$450.0K
$20.3KCA$28.1K
31.36%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Stephenville
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$65.2MX$1,101
$137CA$189
-52.22%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.87MX$504
$38.59CA$53.4
-22.60%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.55MX$617
$57.3CA$79.3
-36.24%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Stephenville
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.0MX$1,030
$41.26CA$57.1
47.84%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.70MX$451
$18.50CA$25.60
44.32%
Cinema Ticket
$6.85MX$116
$11.66CA$16.13
-41.25%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Stephenville
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$453MX$7,652
$776CA$1,074
-41.58%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.4KMX$225.7K
$12.0KCA$16.6K
11.63%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Stephenville
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$75.0MX$1,265
$53.8CA$74.4
39.45%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.3MX$933
$39.51CA$54.7
39.94%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$114MX$1,917
$85.0CA$118
33.66%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$123MX$2,070
$102CA$141
20.09%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Stephenville
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,134MX$19.1K
$1,279CA$1,770
-11.37%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$712MX$12.0K
$1,001CA$1,386
-28.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,571MX$43.4K
$1,964CA$2,717
30.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,311MX$22.1K
$1,772CA$2,452
-26.02%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,993MX$67.4K
$4,933CA$6,826
-19.06%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,095MX$35.4K
$3,217CA$4,451
-34.87%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Stephenville
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,047MX$17.7K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.3
4.68
141.45%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: August 29, 2026
Last update for Stephenville: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,134 in Mexico City and $1,279 in Stephenville. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $52.0 in Mexico City vs $67.0 in Stephenville for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $345 vs $364 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 Stephenville: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and in Stephenville?
Mexico City and Stephenville differ by about 39% in total monthly costs ($1,646 vs $2,296 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 Stephenville?
You'd need roughly $2,469 in Mexico City and $3,443 in Stephenville 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 in Stephenville?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,134 in Mexico City versus $1,279 in Stephenville. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Mexico City and in Stephenville?
A monthly transit pass in Mexico City runs roughly 176% less than in Stephenville. 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 Stephenville?
Childcare runs $453 in Mexico City versus $776 in Stephenville. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
At $1,646 in Mexico City versus $2,296 in Stephenville, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Mexico City but tight or insufficient in Stephenville. 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 Stephenville?
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 Stephenville?
Expats usually find Mexico City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 39% less than in Stephenville. 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