😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,677 in Mexico City versus $1,066 in Usak.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,608 in Mexico City versus $1,720 in Usak.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,540 in Mexico City versus $2,374 in Usak.
🌍Living in Mexico City is roughly 57% more expensive than in Usak, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 22% above, Usak is 23% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Usak
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.14MX$206
$10.13₺492
19.84%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.9MX$914
$47.76₺2,319
12.86%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.09MX$188
$9.34₺453
18.74%
Cappuccino
$4.10MX$69.5
$4.03₺196
1.74%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68MX$28.53
$2.02₺98.0
-16.83%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.39MX$23.55
$0.38₺18.31
265.79%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.33MX$56.5
$3.65₺177
-8.77%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.88MX$99.7
$5.20₺253
13.08%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Usak
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.85MX$31.41
$1.04₺50.6
77.88%
White Bread(500g)
$3.17MX$53.8
$1.05₺51.0
201.90%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.07MX$35.13
$1.98₺96.2
4.55%
Eggs
$2.93MX$49.67
$2.49₺121
17.67%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.59MX$214
$10.16₺493
23.92%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.11MX$172
$5.05₺245
100.20%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.09MX$273
$20.98₺1,019
-23.31%
Apples(1kg)
$3.39MX$57.5
$1.74₺84.4
94.83%
Banana(1kg)
$2.08MX$35.26
$1.89₺91.5
10.05%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.12MX$35.97
$1.00₺48.52
112.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.41MX$40.95
$1.46₺70.9
65.07%
Potato(1kg)
$2.13MX$36.11
$0.67₺32.74
217.91%
Onion(1kg)
$2.01MX$34.02
$0.63₺30.80
219.05%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.55MX$26.21
$1.01₺48.86
53.47%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.36MX$23.15
$0.71₺34.24
91.55%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.77MX$97.8
$2.42₺118
138.43%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.74MX$301
$10.44₺507
69.92%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.07MX$35.11
$2.20₺107
-5.91%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61MX$78.3
$2.89₺140
59.52%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Usak
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.37MX$6.21
$0.73₺35.61
-49.32%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$21.18MX$359
$30.71₺1,491
-31.03%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.05MX$34.84
$0.98₺47.37
109.18%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.58MX$9.79
$0.70₺34.02
-17.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.07MX$103
$8.40₺408
-27.74%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.55MX$26.34
$1.29₺62.7
20.16%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.9KMX$388.1K
$43.8K₺2.1M
-47.79%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.2KMX$462.0K
$40.1K₺1.9M
-32.04%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Usak
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$67.4MX$1,144
$79.1₺3,841
-14.78%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.62MX$520
$11.74₺570
160.82%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.24MX$632
$16.32₺792
128.19%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Usak
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.5MX$1,043
$52.8₺2,566
16.31%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$27.12MX$460
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.11MX$121
$5.56₺270
27.88%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Usak
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$456MX$7,739
$696₺33.8K
-34.41%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.7KMX$232.3K
$13.6K₺662.0K
0.44%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Usak
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$74.2MX$1,259
$52.9₺2,570
40.17%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$57.0MX$967
$32.20₺1,563
77.05%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115MX$1,958
$97.0₺4,709
19.00%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122MX$2,061
$83.8₺4,069
45.02%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Usak
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,148MX$19.5K
$411₺19.9K
179.46%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$709MX$12.0K
$311₺15.1K
128.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,577MX$43.7K
$770₺37.4K
234.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,295MX$22.0K
$568₺27.6K
127.82%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,005MX$67.9K
$1,188₺57.7K
237.28%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,130MX$36.1K
$906₺44.0K
134.93%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Usak
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,082MX$18.4K
$886₺43.0K
22.14%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.3
40
-71.75%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: September 6, 2026
Last update for Usak: September 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,148 in Mexico City and $411 in Usak. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 22% 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: $54.0 in Mexico City vs $48.00 in Usak for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $345 vs $242 per month, with Usak 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 Usak: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and in Usak?
Mexico City and Usak differ by about 57% in total monthly costs ($1,677 vs $1,066 including rent). Usak is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Mexico City or Usak?
Average pay runs 22% higher in Mexico City, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Mexico City and in Usak?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,148 in Mexico City versus $411 in Usak. 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 Usak?
A monthly transit pass in Usak runs roughly 45% less than in Mexico City. 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 Usak?
Childcare runs $456 in Mexico City versus $696 in Usak. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,066 in Usak versus $1,677 in Mexico City, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Usak but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Usak the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mexico City and Usak?
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.
Is Mexico City or Usak safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Mexico City and Usak are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Mexico City or Usak?
Expats usually find Usak gentler on the wallet – expenses run 57% less than in Mexico City. 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