Cost of Living Comparison Between Monterey, CA and Mexico City Cost of Living Comparison Between Monterey, CA and Mexico City

😐 Solo nomad: Monterey, CA is 32.1% more expensive than Mexico City without rent, and 120.4% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Monterey, CA is 55.7% more expensive than Mexico City without rent, and 107.9% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Monterey, CA
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.77 $16.77
$13.29 MX$229
26.19%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.1 $64.1
$53.8 MX$928
19.26%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.45 $9.45
$9.29 MX$161
1.72%
Cappuccino
$4.41 $4.41
$3.61 MX$62.3
22.16%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.16 $3.16
$1.56 MX$26.89
102.56%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62 $1.62
$1.12 MX$19.36
44.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.15 $6.15
$3.13 MX$54.0
96.49%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.46 $4.46
$4.71 MX$81.3
-5.31%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Monterey, CA
Mexico City
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.34 $1.34
$1.70 MX$29.39
-21.18%
White Bread (500g)
$3.55 $3.55
$2.77 MX$47.78
28.16%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.31 $4.31
$1.96 MX$33.88
119.90%
Eggs
$3.89 $3.89
$2.60 MX$44.98
49.62%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.55 $9.55
$9.94 MX$172
-3.92%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$17.58 $17.58
$8.10 MX$140
117.04%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.04 $14.04
$11.50 MX$199
22.09%
Apples (1kg)
$3.98 $3.98
$2.87 MX$49.58
38.68%
Banana (1kg)
$1.14 $1.14
$1.73 MX$29.91
-34.10%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.00 MX$34.55
26.50%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.23 $2.23
$2.04 MX$35.20
9.31%
Potato (1kg)
$1.92 $1.92
$2.08 MX$35.95
-7.69%
Onion (1kg)
$2.23 $2.23
$2.20 MX$37.92
1.36%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.87 $1.87
$1.45 MX$25.11
28.97%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.87 $1.87
$1.07 MX$18.54
74.77%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.89 $11.89
$4.27 MX$73.8
178.45%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.24 $17.24
$14.32 MX$247
20.39%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.25 $2.25
$1.76 MX$30.47
27.84%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.52 $2.52
$3.70 MX$63.9
-31.89%
🚌 Getting Around
Monterey, CA
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.06 $2.06
$0.35 MX$6.09
488.57%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$54.6 $54.6
$19.19 MX$331
184.37%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.51 $1.51
$1.34 MX$23.06
12.69%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.95 $0.95
$0.28 MX$4.81
239.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.61 $29.61
$5.33 MX$92.1
455.53%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.21 $1.21
$1.34 MX$23.15
-9.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.3K $24.3K
$19.1K MX$330.3K
27.13%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.6K $24.6K
$23.9K MX$412.4K
2.89%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Monterey, CA
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$185 $185
$39.86 MX$688
365.03%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$51.4 $51.4
$26.78 MX$463
91.90%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$60.4 $60.4
$29.36 MX$507
105.59%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Monterey, CA
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.71 $43.71
$53.4 MX$923
-18.19%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.70 $10.70
$26.09 MX$451
-58.99%
Cinema Ticket
$12.51 $12.51
$6.40 MX$111
95.47%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Monterey, CA
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$568 $568
$440 MX$7,607
29.02%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.7K $12.7K
$10.8K MX$185.7K
17.93%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Monterey, CA
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$67.6 $67.6
$57.6 MX$995
17.25%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$118 $118
$45.02 MX$777
162.66%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98.8 $98.8
$104 MX$1,792
-4.75%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$199 $199
$108 MX$1,864
84.35%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Monterey, CA
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,291 $2,291
$1,013 MX$17.5K
126.18%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,963 $1,963
$630 MX$10.9K
211.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,626 $3,626
$2,162 MX$37.3K
67.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,693 $3,693
$1,222 MX$21.1K
202.22%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,943 $7,943
$3,793 MX$65.5K
109.41%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,887 $5,887
$2,332 MX$40.3K
152.43%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Monterey, CA
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,352 $5,352
$1,075 MX$18.6K
397.93%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.4
11.34
-43.56%

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

Last update for Monterey, CA: April 12, 2026

Last update for Mexico City: April 11, 2026

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

Monterey, CA vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities