Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Streamwood, IL

For one person, living is cheaper in Mexico City: $1,548 a month against $2,519 in Streamwood, IL, rent and utilities included – about $11,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Mexico City
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,548
/mo nomad
Streamwood, IL
🇺🇸 United States
$2,519
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Mexico City and in Streamwood, IL

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Mexico City and in Streamwood, IL actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,548 in Mexico City versus $2,519 in Streamwood, IL.

  • Mexico City $1,548
  • Streamwood, IL $2,519

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,436 in Mexico City versus $3,740 in Streamwood, IL.

  • Mexico City $2,436
  • Streamwood, IL $3,740

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,323 in Mexico City versus $4,961 in Streamwood, IL.

  • Mexico City $3,323
  • Streamwood, IL $4,961

Living in Mexico City costs roughly 39% less than in Streamwood, IL, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Mexico City 14% above, Streamwood, IL 86% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Streamwood, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.02 MX$204
$19.86 $19.86
-44.51%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.68 MX$900
$76.0 $76.0
-35.91%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.90 MX$201
$11.94 $11.94
-8.71%
Cappuccino
$3.68 MX$68.1
$5.39 $5.39
-31.73%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.63 MX$30.18
$3.04 $3.04
-46.38%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.25 MX$23.07
$2.50 $2.50
-50.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.25 MX$60.1
$5.85 $5.85
-44.44%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.53 MX$102
$7.80 $7.80
-29.10%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Streamwood, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.70 MX$31.50
$0.93 $0.93
82.80%
White Bread (500g)
$3.02 MX$55.8
$3.49 $3.49
-13.47%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.92 MX$35.53
$2.93 $2.93
-34.47%
Eggs
$2.73 MX$50.5
$3.57 $3.57
-23.53%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.77 MX$218
$10.14 $10.14
16.07%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.53 MX$176
$11.30 $11.30
-15.66%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.41 MX$266
$14.36 $14.36
0.35%
Apples (1kg)
$3.02 MX$55.8
$4.78 $4.78
-36.82%
Banana (1kg)
$1.89 MX$35.01
$1.67 $1.67
13.17%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.99 MX$36.70
$4.46 $4.46
-55.38%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.19 MX$40.38
$4.81 $4.81
-54.47%
Potato (1kg)
$1.92 MX$35.43
$2.75 $2.75
-30.18%
Onion (1kg)
$1.87 MX$34.49
$3.09 $3.09
-39.48%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.44 MX$26.62
$1.54 $1.54
-6.49%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.27 MX$23.39
$1.49 $1.49
-14.77%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.22 MX$96.4
$10.86 $10.86
-51.93%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.17 MX$299
$12.14 $12.14
33.20%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.90 MX$35.03
$1.70 $1.70
11.76%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.22 MX$78.0
$4.38 $4.38
-3.65%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Streamwood, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.34 MX$6.30
$2.04 $2.04
-83.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$19.65 MX$363
$40.10 $40.10
-51.00%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.00 MX$36.90
$4.08 $4.08
-50.98%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.52 MX$9.67
$2.05 $2.05
-74.63%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.34 MX$98.7
$44.25 $44.25
-87.93%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.52 MX$28.13
$1.09 $1.09
39.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.1K MX$408.0K
$25.0K $25.0K
-11.52%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.5K MX$452.9K
$25.2K $25.2K
-2.60%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Streamwood, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$61.1 MX$1,129
$173 $173
-64.71%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.58 MX$528
$51.0 $51.0
-43.91%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.47 MX$637
$54.9 $54.9
-37.22%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Streamwood, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$56.4 MX$1,042
$41.70 $41.70
35.16%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.88 MX$460
$8.19 $8.19
203.79%
Cinema Ticket
$6.66 MX$123
$15.23 $15.23
-56.27%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Streamwood, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$427 MX$7,891
$1,505 $1,505
-71.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.6K MX$215.0K
$23.3K $23.3K
-50.04%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Streamwood, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$67.8 MX$1,253
$56.8 $56.8
19.32%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.0 MX$960
$45.21 $45.21
14.93%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$106 MX$1,959
$98.2 $98.2
8.00%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113 MX$2,080
$102 $102
10.47%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Streamwood, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,025 MX$18.9K
$1,616 $1,616
-36.57%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$654 MX$12.1K
$1,287 $1,287
-49.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,308 MX$42.7K
$2,495 $2,495
-7.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,242 MX$22.9K
$2,185 $2,185
-43.17%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,613 MX$66.8K
$2,723 $2,723
32.67%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,936 MX$35.8K
$2,365 $2,365
-18.16%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Streamwood, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$964 MX$17.8K
$7,119 $7,119
-86.46%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.3
6.43
75.74%

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

Last update for Mexico City: October 20, 2026

Last update for Streamwood, IL: October 20, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
$654
Streamwood, IL
$1.3K 96.7% $633
Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
$318
Streamwood, IL
$356 11.9% $38
Eating Out
Mexico City
$204
Streamwood, IL
$326 60.1% $123
Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
$152
Streamwood, IL
$136 10.7% $16
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
$124
Streamwood, IL
$279 125% $155
Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
$70
Streamwood, IL
$72 3.6% $2.5
Getting Around
Mexico City
$26
Streamwood, IL
$63 144% $37

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,025 in Mexico City and $1,616 in Streamwood, IL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Streamwood, IL pays 638% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $49.00 in Mexico City vs $76.0 in Streamwood, IL for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $318 vs $356 per month, with Mexico City cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇲🇽 Mexico City
🇺🇸 Streamwood, IL
🕒 Local time
21:57 9:57 PM
22:57 10:57 PM
1 h ahead of Mexico City
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
9,209,944 Capital
37,535
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to MXN – Mexican Peso Converter

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 22, 2026: 1 USD = 18.48 MXN (100 MXN = 5.41 USD). 1 EUR = 20.77 MXN (100 MXN = 4.81 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 22, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Mexico City Streamwood, IL 2,720 km ≈ 4 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Mexico City
  • Streamwood, IL

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Streamwood, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and in Streamwood, IL?
Mexico City and Streamwood, IL differ by about 63% in total monthly costs ($1,548 vs $2,519 including rent). Mexico City is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 638% lower in Streamwood, IL. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Mexico City and in Streamwood, IL?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,025 in Mexico City versus $1,616 in Streamwood, IL. 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 Streamwood, IL?
A monthly transit pass in Mexico City runs roughly 104% less than in Streamwood, IL. 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 Streamwood, IL?
Childcare runs $427 in Mexico City versus $1,505 in Streamwood, IL. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,548 in Mexico City versus $2,519 in Streamwood, IL, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Mexico City but tight or insufficient in Streamwood, 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 Streamwood, 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 Streamwood, IL?
Expats usually find Mexico City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 63% less than in Streamwood, 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

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?