Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and West Caldwell, NJ Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and West Caldwell, NJ

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,481 in Mexico City versus $2,446 in West Caldwell, NJ.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,352 in Mexico City versus $3,600 in West Caldwell, NJ.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,222 in Mexico City versus $4,753 in West Caldwell, NJ.

Living in Mexico City costs roughly 39% less than in West Caldwell, NJ, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Mexico City 11% above, West Caldwell, NJ 83% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.16 MX$229

$17.07 $17.07

-22.91%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.6 MX$932

$74.9 $74.9

-28.43%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.55 MX$166

$12.86 $12.86

-25.74%

Cappuccino

$3.72 MX$64.8

$5.05 $5.05

-26.34%

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

$1.57 MX$27.28

$2.53 $2.53

-37.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.16 MX$20.12

$2.24 $2.24

-48.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.18 MX$55.4

$5.82 $5.82

-45.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.63 MX$80.6

$7.13 $7.13

-35.06%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 MX$29.67

$1.19 $1.19

43.70%

White Bread (500g)

$2.62 MX$45.54

$6.21 $6.21

-57.81%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.89 MX$32.87

$8.90 $8.90

-78.76%

Eggs

$2.60 MX$45.17

$5.61 $5.61

-53.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.91 MX$172

$9.84 $9.84

0.71%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.22 MX$143

$10.33 $10.33

-20.43%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.78 MX$205

$18.07 $18.07

-34.81%

Apples (1kg)

$3.00 MX$52.1

$6.75 $6.75

-55.56%

Banana (1kg)

$1.80 MX$31.32

$2.22 $2.22

-18.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.07 MX$36.08

$4.49 $4.49

-53.90%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.97 MX$34.23

$4.79 $4.79

-58.87%

Potato (1kg)

$2.07 MX$36.05

$4.52 $4.52

-54.20%

Onion (1kg)

$2.17 MX$37.84

$4.46 $4.46

-51.35%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.40 MX$24.41

$2.45 $2.45

-42.86%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.07 MX$18.70

$2.25 $2.25

-52.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.12 MX$71.7

$13.77 $13.77

-70.08%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.42 MX$303

$14.87 $14.87

17.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.68 MX$29.16

$1.89 $1.89

-11.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.65 MX$63.5

$3.52 $3.52

3.69%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.38 MX$6.62

$1.96 $1.96

-80.61%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.71 MX$326

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.33 MX$23.13

$6.02 $6.02

-77.91%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.30 MX$5.27

$1.38 $1.38

-78.26%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.51 MX$95.9

$29.06 $29.06

-81.04%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 MX$22.72

$0.89 $0.89

47.19%

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

$19.2K MX$333.5K

$29.9K $29.9K

-35.85%

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

$23.7K MX$413.3K

$25.4K $25.4K

-6.68%

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

$41.14 MX$716

$74.6 $74.6

-44.84%

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

$27.74 MX$483

$44.33 $44.33

-37.42%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.13 MX$524

$56.4 $56.4

-46.60%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$53.7 MX$935

$43.80 $43.80

22.69%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$25.98 MX$452

Cinema Ticket

$6.49 MX$113

$12.87 $12.87

-49.57%

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

$437 MX$7,598

$1,416 $1,416

-69.17%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.5K MX$182.0K

$23.6K $23.6K

-55.74%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.3 MX$1,015

$37.15 $37.15

57.01%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.86 MX$798

$24.45 $24.45

87.57%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 MX$1,765

$75.2 $75.2

34.88%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 MX$1,854

$70.0 $70.0

52.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,005 MX$17.5K

$1,596 $1,596

-37.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$634 MX$11.0K

$1,369 $1,369

-53.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,148 MX$37.4K

$2,591 $2,591

-17.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,247 MX$21.7K

$2,201 $2,201

-43.36%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,859 MX$67.2K

$2,759 $2,759

39.87%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,085 MX$36.3K

$2,431 $2,431

-14.25%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,072 MX$18.7K

$2,950 $2,950

-63.66%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.34

6.57

72.60%

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

Last update for Mexico City: July 22, 2026

Last update for West Caldwell, NJ: July 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,005 in Mexico City and $1,596 in West Caldwell, NJ. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

West Caldwell, NJ pays 175% 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 $75.0 in West Caldwell, NJ for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $291 vs $462 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 West Caldwell, NJ: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mexico City and West Caldwell, NJ differ by about 65% in total monthly costs ($1,481 vs $2,446 including rent). Mexico City is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 175% lower in West Caldwell, NJ. 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: $1,005 in Mexico City versus $1,596 in West Caldwell, NJ. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $437 in Mexico City versus $1,416 in West Caldwell, NJ. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Mexico City – a meal for two runs $54.0 versus $75.0 in West Caldwell, NJ. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $1,481 in Mexico City versus $2,446 in West Caldwell, NJ, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Mexico City but tight or insufficient in West Caldwell, NJ. 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.

Safety-wise, Mexico City and West Caldwell, NJ are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Mexico City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 65% less than in West Caldwell, NJ. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.