Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Surprise, AZ Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Surprise, AZ

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,660 in Mexico City versus $2,689 in Surprise, AZ.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,565 in Mexico City versus $4,140 in Surprise, AZ.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,470 in Mexico City versus $5,590 in Surprise, AZ.

Living in Mexico City costs roughly 38% less than in Surprise, AZ, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Mexico City 21% above, Surprise, AZ 97% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.92 MX$206

$20.61 $20.61

-42.16%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$51.6 MX$890

$91.0 $91.0

-43.30%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.41 MX$197

$12.89 $12.89

-11.48%

Cappuccino

$3.99 MX$68.9

$6.27 $6.27

-36.36%

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

$1.66 MX$28.61

$2.74 $2.74

-39.42%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.33 MX$22.87

$2.45 $2.45

-45.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.47 MX$59.9

$7.06 $7.06

-50.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.90 MX$102

$8.12 $8.12

-27.34%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.88 MX$32.36

$0.95 $0.95

97.89%

White Bread (500g)

$3.25 MX$56.1

$3.50 $3.50

-7.14%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.16 MX$37.26

$6.22 $6.22

-65.27%

Eggs

$2.90 MX$49.94

$4.64 $4.64

-37.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.86 MX$222

$13.64 $13.64

-5.72%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.05 MX$173

$13.65 $13.65

-26.37%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.86 MX$273

$16.78 $16.78

-5.48%

Apples (1kg)

$3.29 MX$56.8

$5.55 $5.55

-40.72%

Banana (1kg)

$2.01 MX$34.60

$1.77 $1.77

13.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.20 MX$37.93

$3.79 $3.79

-41.95%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.36 MX$40.63

$4.14 $4.14

-43.00%

Potato (1kg)

$2.05 MX$35.43

$2.49 $2.49

-17.67%

Onion (1kg)

$1.90 MX$32.79

$2.91 $2.91

-34.71%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.61 MX$27.68

$2.07 $2.07

-22.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.40 MX$24.09

$2.08 $2.08

-32.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.46 MX$94.2

$10.69 $10.69

-48.92%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.65 MX$304

$13.55 $13.55

30.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.06 MX$35.44

$2.47 $2.47

-16.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.68 MX$80.8

$3.20 $3.20

46.25%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.34 MX$5.84

$3.93 $3.93

-91.35%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.81 MX$359

$81.4 $81.4

-74.43%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.10 MX$36.15

$2.80 $2.80

-25.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.56 MX$9.64

$1.35 $1.35

-58.52%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.81 MX$100

$36.48 $36.48

-84.07%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.61 MX$27.68

$1.04 $1.04

54.81%

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

$22.8K MX$393.8K

$36.7K $36.7K

-37.73%

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

$26.8K MX$461.2K

$25.1K $25.1K

6.72%

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

$65.2 MX$1,124

$197 $197

-66.96%

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

$30.09 MX$519

$61.0 $61.0

-50.66%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$37.18 MX$641

$74.4 $74.4

-50.00%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$59.8 MX$1,030

$61.1 $61.1

-2.21%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.55 MX$458

Cinema Ticket

$7.04 MX$121

$12.92 $12.92

-45.51%

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

$465 MX$8,012

$1,113 $1,113

-58.25%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.3K MX$228.9K

$15.4K $15.4K

-13.73%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$75.9 MX$1,308

$55.2 $55.2

37.41%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$56.0 MX$965

$43.38 $43.38

28.98%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$112 MX$1,929

$98.1 $98.1

14.00%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$121 MX$2,078

$114 $114

5.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,103 MX$19.0K

$1,675 $1,675

-34.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$721 MX$12.4K

$1,313 $1,313

-45.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,530 MX$43.6K

$2,208 $2,208

14.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,293 MX$22.3K

$2,398 $2,398

-46.07%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,991 MX$68.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,090 MX$36.0K

$1,606 $1,606

30.11%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,037 MX$17.9K

$4,241 $4,241

-75.54%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.3

6.21

81.96%

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

Last update for Mexico City: September 14, 2026

Last update for Surprise, AZ: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,103 in Mexico City and $1,675 in Surprise, AZ. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Surprise, AZ pays 309% 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: $52.0 in Mexico City vs $91.0 in Surprise, AZ for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $345 vs $414 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 Surprise, AZ: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mexico City and Surprise, AZ differ by about 62% in total monthly costs ($1,660 vs $2,689 including rent). Mexico City is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 309% lower in Surprise, AZ. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,103 in Mexico City versus $1,675 in Surprise, AZ. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Mexico City runs roughly 291% less than in Surprise, AZ. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $465 in Mexico City versus $1,113 in Surprise, AZ. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $1,660 in Mexico City versus $2,689 in Surprise, AZ, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Mexico City but tight or insufficient in Surprise, AZ. The gap between the two cities makes Mexico City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Expats usually find Mexico City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 62% less than in Surprise, AZ. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.