Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Waterloo, IA Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Waterloo, IA

🙂 Solo nomad: Mexico City is 17.9% cheaper than Waterloo, IA without rent, and 21.5% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Mexico City is 9.9% cheaper than Waterloo, IA without rent, and 3.1% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Waterloo, IA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.12 MX$232
$17.74 $17.74
-26.04%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.8 MX$952
$66.1 $66.1
-18.62%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.40 MX$166
$9.96 $9.96
-5.62%
Cappuccino
$3.56 MX$63.0
$5.07 $5.07
-29.78%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.60 MX$28.37
$2.70 $2.70
-40.74%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.15 MX$20.44
$2.50 $2.50
-54.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.16 MX$55.9
$5.89 $5.89
-46.35%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.85 MX$85.8
$6.79 $6.79
-28.57%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Waterloo, IA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.63 MX$28.92
$1.04 $1.04
56.73%
White Bread (500g)
$2.73 MX$48.40
$1.94 $1.94
40.72%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.88 MX$33.25
$1.65 $1.65
13.94%
Eggs
$2.63 MX$46.58
$2.88 $2.88
-8.68%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.89 MX$175
$9.13 $9.13
8.32%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.40 MX$149
$6.62 $6.62
26.89%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.63 MX$206
$12.58 $12.58
-7.55%
Apples (1kg)
$2.97 MX$52.6
$3.81 $3.81
-22.05%
Banana (1kg)
$1.78 MX$31.59
$1.16 $1.16
53.45%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.06 MX$36.38
$3.38 $3.38
-39.05%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.97 MX$34.96
$4.38 $4.38
-55.02%
Potato (1kg)
$2.09 MX$36.92
$1.14 $1.14
83.33%
Onion (1kg)
$2.26 MX$39.99
$2.11 $2.11
7.11%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.46 MX$25.81
$1.84 $1.84
-20.65%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09 MX$19.29
$1.59 $1.59
-31.45%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.34 MX$76.8
$8.16 $8.16
-46.81%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.62 MX$241
$12.92 $12.92
5.42%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.67 MX$29.63
$1.77 $1.77
-5.65%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.54 MX$62.6
$1.73 $1.73
104.62%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Waterloo, IA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.36 MX$6.37
$2.03 $2.03
-82.27%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.96 MX$336
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.32 MX$23.43
$4.95 $4.95
-73.33%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.30 MX$5.33
$1.37 $1.37
-78.10%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.49 MX$97.2
$28.71 $28.71
-80.88%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.34 MX$23.66
$0.81 $0.81
65.43%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.1K MX$338.3K
$36.1K $36.1K
-47.10%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.8K MX$420.6K
$25.1K $25.1K
-5.23%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Waterloo, IA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$41.11 MX$728
$203 $203
-79.80%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.78 MX$492
$49.09 $49.09
-43.41%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.00 MX$531
$60.5 $60.5
-50.41%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Waterloo, IA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$53.5 MX$948
$43.67 $43.67
22.58%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.13 MX$463
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.28 MX$111
$13.79 $13.79
-54.46%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Waterloo, IA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$439 MX$7,777
$1,465 $1,465
-70.01%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.7K MX$190.1K
$30.6K $30.6K
-64.87%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Waterloo, IA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.1 MX$1,011
$39.46 $39.46
44.75%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.30 MX$802
$41.85 $41.85
8.24%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$104 MX$1,845
$59.8 $59.8
74.34%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 MX$1,916
$129 $129
-16.06%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Waterloo, IA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$996 MX$17.6K
$867 $867
14.90%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$624 MX$11.0K
$738 $738
-15.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,106 MX$37.3K
$1,977 $1,977
6.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,218 MX$21.6K
$849 $849
43.56%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,799 MX$67.2K
$1,501 $1,501
153.04%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,230 MX$39.5K
$1,478 $1,478
50.85%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Waterloo, IA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,096 MX$19.4K
$3,518 $3,518
-68.83%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.34
6.43
76.36%

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

Last update for Mexico City: March 1, 2026

Last update for Waterloo, IA: March 3, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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