🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,660 in Mexico City versus $2,200 in Williston, ND.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,565 in Mexico City versus $3,658 in Williston, ND.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,470 in Mexico City versus $5,117 in Williston, ND.
🌍Living in Mexico City costs roughly 25% less than in Williston, ND, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Mexico City21% above, Williston, ND61% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Williston, ND
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.92MX$206
$19.93$19.93
-40.19%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$51.6MX$890
$75.7$75.7
-31.87%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.41MX$197
$11.71$11.71
-2.56%
Cappuccino
$3.99MX$68.9
$5.23$5.23
-23.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66MX$28.61
$2.67$2.67
-37.83%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.33MX$22.87
$2.03$2.03
-34.48%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.47MX$59.9
$6.15$6.15
-43.58%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.90MX$102
$7.95$7.95
-25.79%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Williston, ND
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.88MX$32.36
$1.00$1.00
88.00%
White Bread(500g)
$3.25MX$56.1
$2.04$2.04
59.31%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.16MX$37.26
$4.21$4.21
-48.69%
Eggs
$2.90MX$49.94
$4.21$4.21
-31.12%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.86MX$222
$30.35$30.35
-57.63%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.05MX$173
$12.38$12.38
-18.82%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.86MX$273
$13.91$13.91
14.02%
Apples(1kg)
$3.29MX$56.8
$5.06$5.06
-34.98%
Banana(1kg)
$2.01MX$34.60
$1.43$1.43
40.56%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.20MX$37.93
$4.48$4.48
-50.89%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.36MX$40.63
$4.76$4.76
-50.42%
Potato(1kg)
$2.05MX$35.43
$2.73$2.73
-24.91%
Onion(1kg)
$1.90MX$32.79
$3.03$3.03
-37.29%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.61MX$27.68
$2.20$2.20
-26.82%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.40MX$24.09
$2.32$2.32
-39.66%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.46MX$94.2
$10.19$10.19
-46.42%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.65MX$304
$14.73$14.73
19.82%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.06MX$35.44
$2.11$2.11
-2.37%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.68MX$80.8
$3.85$3.85
21.56%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Williston, ND
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.34MX$5.84
$2.19$2.19
-84.47%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$20.81MX$359
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.10MX$36.15
$2.86$2.86
-26.57%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.56MX$9.64
$1.59$1.59
-64.78%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.81MX$100
$27.50$27.50
-78.87%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.61MX$27.68
$0.99$0.99
62.63%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.8KMX$393.8K
$30.8K$30.8K
-25.96%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8KMX$461.2K
$28.4K$28.4K
-5.92%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Williston, ND
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$65.2MX$1,124
$197$197
-66.84%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.09MX$519
$56.7$56.7
-46.91%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.18MX$641
$74.6$74.6
-50.13%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Williston, ND
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$59.8MX$1,030
$38.87$38.87
53.74%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.55MX$458
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.04MX$121
$12.10$12.10
-41.82%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Williston, ND
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$465MX$8,012
$1,439$1,439
-67.72%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.3KMX$228.9K
$23.9K$23.9K
-44.43%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Williston, ND
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$75.9MX$1,308
$53.4$53.4
42.07%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$56.0MX$965
$42.16$42.16
32.71%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$112MX$1,929
$77.0$77.0
45.34%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121MX$2,078
$99.9$99.9
20.57%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Williston, ND
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,103MX$19.0K
$983$983
12.15%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$721MX$12.4K
$894$894
-19.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,530MX$43.6K
$2,060$2,060
22.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,293MX$22.3K
$2,168$2,168
-40.34%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,991MX$68.8K
$2,139$2,139
86.61%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,090MX$36.0K
$2,106$2,106
-0.78%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Williston, ND
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,037MX$17.9K
$5,840$5,840
-82.24%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.3
6.12
84.64%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: September 14, 2026
Last update for Williston, ND: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,103 in Mexico City and $983 in Williston, ND. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Williston, ND pays 463% 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 $76.0 in Williston, ND for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $345 vs $433 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 Williston, ND: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and in Williston, ND?
Mexico City and Williston, ND differ by about 33% in total monthly costs ($1,660 vs $2,200 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 463% lower in Williston, ND. 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 Williston, ND?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,103 in Mexico City versus $983 in Williston, ND. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Mexico City and Williston, ND?
Childcare runs $465 in Mexico City versus $1,439 in Williston, ND. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Mexico City – a meal for two runs $52.0 versus $76.0 in Williston, ND. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
At $1,660 in Mexico City versus $2,200 in Williston, ND, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Mexico City but tight or insufficient in Williston, ND. 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 Williston, ND?
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 Williston, ND?
Expats usually find Mexico City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 33% less than in Williston, ND. 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