Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Cuajimalpa

For one person, living is cheaper in Cuajimalpa: $1,227 a month against $4,906 in New York, NY, rent and utilities included – about $44,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

New York, NY, United States
Cuajimalpa, Mexico
New York, NY
🇺🇸 United States
$4,906
/mo nomad
Cuajimalpa
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,227
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in New York, NY and in Cuajimalpa

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in New York, NY and in Cuajimalpa actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $4,906 in New York, NY versus $1,227 in Cuajimalpa.

  • New York, NY $4,906
  • Cuajimalpa $1,227

Estimated couple costs with rent: $7,273 in New York, NY versus $1,916 in Cuajimalpa.

  • New York, NY $7,273
  • Cuajimalpa $1,916

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $9,641 in New York, NY versus $2,604 in Cuajimalpa.

  • New York, NY $9,641
  • Cuajimalpa $2,604

Living in New York, NY is roughly 300% more expensive than in Cuajimalpa, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: New York, NY is 263% above, Cuajimalpa is 9% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
New York, NY
Cuajimalpa
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$26.93 $26.93
$10.27 MX$192
162.22%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$117 $117
$36.51 MX$683
219.88%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$14.60 $14.60
$9.11 MX$170
60.26%
Cappuccino
$6.54 $6.54
$3.80 MX$71.0
72.11%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.86 $3.86
$1.58 MX$29.56
144.30%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.95 $2.95
$1.26 MX$23.55
134.13%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.08 $8.08
$2.61 MX$48.88
209.58%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$9.85 $9.85
$4.49 MX$84.0
119.38%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
New York, NY
Cuajimalpa
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.31 $1.31
$1.60 MX$30.01
-18.13%
White Bread (500g)
$4.97 $4.97
$2.50 MX$46.82
98.80%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$7.70 $7.70
$1.60 MX$29.97
381.25%
Eggs
$6.09 $6.09
$2.51 MX$46.92
142.63%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.55 $19.55
$7.90 MX$148
147.47%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$17.59 $17.59
$8.12 MX$152
116.63%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.26 $20.26
$11.28 MX$211
79.61%
Apples (1kg)
$6.99 $6.99
$2.62 MX$49.00
166.79%
Banana (1kg)
$2.21 $2.21
$1.54 MX$28.74
43.51%
Oranges (1kg)
$6.72 $6.72
$1.92 MX$35.90
250.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$7.12 $7.12
$1.77 MX$33.04
302.26%
Potato (1kg)
$4.61 $4.61
$2.05 MX$38.41
124.88%
Onion (1kg)
$4.78 $4.78
$1.81 MX$33.77
164.09%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.87 $2.87
$1.43 MX$26.81
100.70%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.69 $2.69
$1.05 MX$19.71
156.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$19.14 $19.14
$4.10 MX$76.6
366.83%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.63 $19.63
$10.42 MX$195
88.39%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.32 $3.32
$1.78 MX$33.34
86.52%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.19 $4.19
$3.18 MX$59.5
31.76%
🚌 Getting Around
New York, NY
Cuajimalpa
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.02 $3.02
$0.74 MX$13.89
308.11%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$139 $139
$32.15 MX$601
333.37%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.04 $3.04
$2.31 MX$43.16
31.60%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.20 $2.20
$2.07 MX$38.71
6.28%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$41.33 $41.33
$10.81 MX$202
282.33%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.13 $1.13
$1.32 MX$24.77
-14.39%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.5K $34.5K
$24.0K MX$449.2K
43.45%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.8K $25.8K
$19.9K MX$371.8K
30.02%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
New York, NY
Cuajimalpa
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$232 $232
$54.6 MX$1,021
325.63%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$71.0 $71.0
$20.16 MX$377
252.33%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$67.7 $67.7
$31.09 MX$581
117.59%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
New York, NY
Cuajimalpa
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$115 $115
$27.54 MX$515
318.92%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$76.8 $76.8
$17.76 MX$332
332.49%
Cinema Ticket
$22.41 $22.41
$5.20 MX$97.3
330.96%
🧸 Childcare & Education
New York, NY
Cuajimalpa
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$3,606 $3,606
$184 MX$3,441
1859.67%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$68.7K $68.7K
$4,094 MX$76.6K
1577.88%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
New York, NY
Cuajimalpa
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$79.3 $79.3
$61.7 MX$1,155
28.36%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.4 $51.4
$43.05 MX$805
19.40%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$121 $121
$87.5 MX$1,636
38.48%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$140 $140
$91.2 MX$1,706
53.97%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
New York, NY
Cuajimalpa
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,555 $4,555
$672 MX$12.6K
577.88%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,040 $3,040
$460 MX$8,613
560.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$9,742 $9,742
$1,032 MX$19.3K
843.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$5,331 $5,331
$851 MX$15.9K
526.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$18.2K $18.2K
$2,072 MX$38.8K
779.61%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,685 $6,685
$1,236 MX$23.1K
441.04%
💵 Salaries & Financials
New York, NY
Cuajimalpa
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,096 $5,096
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.89
11.31
-39.08%

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

Last update for New York, NY: November 1, 2026

Last update for Cuajimalpa: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
New York, NY
$3K
Cuajimalpa
$460 84.9% $2.6K
Groceries & Markets
New York, NY
$567
Cuajimalpa
$259 54.4% $309
Eating Out
New York, NY
$425
Cuajimalpa
$189 55.7% $237
Monthly Utilities & Internet
New York, NY
$371
Cuajimalpa
$106 71.5% $265
Clothing & Footwear
New York, NY
$176
Cuajimalpa
$128 27.7% $49
Getting Around
New York, NY
$165
Cuajimalpa
$48 71.1% $118
Sport & Entertainment
New York, NY
$160
Cuajimalpa
$38 76.3% $122

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $4,555 in New York, NY and $672 in Cuajimalpa. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $117 in New York, NY vs $37 in Cuajimalpa for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $567 vs $259 per month, with Cuajimalpa cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 New York, NY
🇲🇽 Cuajimalpa
🕒 Local time
18:03 6:03 PM
17:03 5:03 PM
1 h behind New York, NY
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
8,804,190
217,686
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

MXN, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.895 EUR).

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 18.7 MXN (100 MXN = 5.35 USD). 1 EUR = 20.9 MXN (100 MXN = 4.78 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • New York, NY Cuajimalpa 3,360 km ≈ 4 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • New York, NY
  • Cuajimalpa

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
New York, NY vs Cuajimalpa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cuajimalpa cheaper than New York, NY?
Cuajimalpa is about 75% cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and leisure. That difference adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You’d need roughly $7,358 in New York, NY and $1,840 in Cuajimalpa to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between New York, NY and Cuajimalpa?
Rent for a central apartment: $4,555 in New York, NY versus $672 in Cuajimalpa. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in New York, NY and in Cuajimalpa?
All in, you’ll spend $4,906 per month in New York, NY versus $1,227 in Cuajimalpa – Cuajimalpa is about 75% cheaper, which adds up to real savings over time.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Cuajimalpa runs roughly 77% less than in New York, NY. The price difference matters if you commute daily and watch your budget.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in New York, NY or in Cuajimalpa?
At $1,227 in Cuajimalpa versus $4,906 in New York, NY, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Cuajimalpa but tight or insufficient in New York, NY. The gap between the two cities makes Cuajimalpa the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in New York, NY or in Cuajimalpa?
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.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Cuajimalpa gentler on the wallet – expenses run 75% less than in New York, NY. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

New York, NY vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?