Cost of Living Comparison Between Orem, UT and Mexico City Cost of Living Comparison Between Orem, UT and Mexico City

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,714 in Orem, UT versus $1,448 in Mexico City.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,682 in Orem, UT versus $2,354 in Mexico City.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,650 in Orem, UT versus $3,260 in Mexico City.

Living in Orem, UT is roughly 87% more expensive than Mexico City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Orem, UT 104% above, Mexico City 9% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Orem, UT
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.75 $14.75
$12.96 MX$223
13.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$60.0 $60.0
$52.3 MX$900
14.56%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.04 $11.04
$9.69 MX$167
13.93%
Cappuccino
$6.28 $6.28
$3.75 MX$64.6
67.47%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.80 $1.80
$1.56 MX$26.91
15.38%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.22 $1.22
$1.16 MX$19.93
5.17%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.16 $6.16
$3.24 MX$55.8
90.12%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.57 $7.57
$4.90 MX$84.3
54.49%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Orem, UT
Mexico City
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.93 $0.93
$1.70 MX$29.29
-45.29%
White Bread (500g)
$3.26 $3.26
$2.67 MX$45.90
22.10%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.29 $2.29
$1.89 MX$32.49
21.16%
Eggs
$2.90 $2.90
$2.52 MX$43.37
15.08%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.84 $13.84
$10.02 MX$172
38.12%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.71 $12.71
$8.53 MX$147
49.00%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$21.50 $21.50
$11.94 MX$205
80.07%
Apples (1kg)
$3.70 $3.70
$2.97 MX$51.1
24.58%
Banana (1kg)
$1.65 $1.65
$1.79 MX$30.88
-7.82%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.07 $3.07
$2.00 MX$34.40
53.50%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.21 $5.21
$1.96 MX$33.74
165.82%
Potato (1kg)
$2.02 $2.02
$2.16 MX$37.21
-6.48%
Onion (1kg)
$1.98 $1.98
$2.27 MX$39.04
-12.78%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.82 $1.82
$1.40 MX$24.14
30.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.99 $1.99
$1.11 MX$19.18
79.28%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.15 $9.15
$4.20 MX$72.2
117.86%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.04 $15.04
$16.54 MX$285
-9.07%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.10 $2.10
$1.68 MX$28.94
25.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.08 $3.08
$3.59 MX$61.8
-14.21%
🚌 Getting Around
Orem, UT
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.45 $2.45
$0.39 MX$6.65
528.21%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$85.6 $85.6
$19.19 MX$330
345.96%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.52 $1.52
$1.38 MX$23.77
10.14%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.90 $0.90
$0.30 MX$5.19
200.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$19.80 $19.80
$5.39 MX$92.7
267.35%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.92 $0.92
$1.29 MX$22.13
-28.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.9K $22.9K
$18.9K MX$325.1K
21.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.1K $23.1K
$23.8K MX$409.5K
-3.07%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Orem, UT
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$147 $147
$39.86 MX$686
268.84%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$48.11 $48.11
$27.83 MX$479
72.87%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.8 $65.8
$29.77 MX$512
121.16%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Orem, UT
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$30.16 $30.16
$52.0 MX$894
-41.96%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$26.22 MX$451
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.69 $12.69
$6.27 MX$108
102.39%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Orem, UT
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$959 $959
$433 MX$7,443
121.75%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.0K $10.0K
$10.5K MX$181.3K
-5.11%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Orem, UT
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.9 $53.9
$57.0 MX$981
-5.53%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.41 $35.41
$45.33 MX$780
-21.88%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.0 $84.0
$102 MX$1,753
-17.58%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$160 $160
$109 MX$1,867
47.84%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Orem, UT
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,803 $1,803
$994 MX$17.1K
81.39%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,420 $1,420
$617 MX$10.6K
130.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,463 $3,463
$2,086 MX$35.9K
65.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,986 $1,986
$1,256 MX$21.6K
58.16%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,348 $2,348
$3,936 MX$67.7K
-40.35%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,354 $2,354
$2,089 MX$35.9K
12.69%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Orem, UT
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,483 $3,483
$1,131 MX$19.5K
207.85%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.87
11.34
-39.42%

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

Last update for Orem, UT: June 15, 2026

Last update for Mexico City: June 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,803 in Orem, UT and $994 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Orem, UT pays 208% 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: $60.0 in Orem, UT vs $52.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $387 vs $292 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
Orem, UT vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Orem, UT and Mexico City?
Orem, UT and Mexico City differ by about 87% in total monthly costs ($2,714 vs $1,448 including rent). Mexico City is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Orem, UT or Mexico City?
Orem, UT pays 208% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Orem, UT and Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,803 in Orem, UT versus $994 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Orem, UT and Mexico City?
A monthly transit pass in Mexico City runs roughly 346% less than in Orem, UT. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Orem, UT and Mexico City?
Childcare runs $959 in Orem, UT versus $433 in Mexico City. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,448 in Mexico City versus $2,714 in Orem, UT, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Mexico City but tight or insufficient in Orem, UT. The gap between the two cities makes Mexico City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Orem, UT and Mexico City?
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.
Is Orem, UT or Mexico City safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Orem, UT and Mexico City are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Orem, UT or Mexico City?
Expats usually find Mexico City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 87% less than in Orem, UT. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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