Cost of Living Comparison Between Phoenix, AZ and Mexico City Cost of Living Comparison Between Phoenix, AZ and Mexico City

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,831 in Phoenix, AZ versus $1,472 in Mexico City.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,127 in Phoenix, AZ versus $2,359 in Mexico City.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,424 in Phoenix, AZ versus $3,245 in Mexico City.

Living in Phoenix, AZ is roughly 92% more expensive than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Phoenix, AZ 113% above, Mexico City 11% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.06 $20.06

$13.14 MX$228

52.66%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$80.2 $80.2

$53.5 MX$928

49.82%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.88 $11.88

$9.33 MX$162

27.33%

Cappuccino

$5.77 $5.77

$3.70 MX$64.2

55.95%

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

$2.63 $2.63

$1.60 MX$27.82

64.37%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.11 $2.11

$1.12 MX$19.39

88.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.12 $6.12

$3.14 MX$54.4

94.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.08 $7.08

$4.85 MX$84.1

45.98%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.85 $0.85

$1.65 MX$28.68

-48.48%

White Bread (500g)

$4.13 $4.13

$2.71 MX$47.07

52.40%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.97 $4.97

$1.91 MX$33.10

160.21%

Eggs

$4.67 $4.67

$2.59 MX$44.92

80.31%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.72 $11.72

$9.81 MX$170

19.47%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.99 $11.99

$8.43 MX$146

42.23%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.53 $13.53

$11.93 MX$207

13.41%

Apples (1kg)

$4.50 $4.50

$2.95 MX$51.2

52.54%

Banana (1kg)

$1.47 $1.47

$1.74 MX$30.18

-15.52%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.04 $4.04

$2.04 MX$35.46

98.04%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.99 $4.99

$2.06 MX$35.73

142.23%

Potato (1kg)

$3.40 $3.40

$2.15 MX$37.28

58.14%

Onion (1kg)

$2.57 $2.57

$2.26 MX$39.11

13.72%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.95 $1.95

$1.39 MX$24.03

40.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.33 $2.33

$1.12 MX$19.36

108.04%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.60 $11.60

$4.22 MX$73.2

174.88%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.02 $14.02

$17.51 MX$304

-19.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.14 $2.14

$1.71 MX$29.65

25.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.98 $3.98

$3.63 MX$63.0

9.64%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.43 $2.43

$0.35 MX$6.12

594.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$62.4 $62.4

$19.32 MX$335

222.83%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.95 $3.95

$1.38 MX$23.86

186.23%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 $1.35

$0.28 MX$4.78

382.14%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.39 $35.39

$5.28 MX$91.5

570.27%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.00 $1.00

$1.36 MX$23.55

-26.47%

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

$30.8K $30.8K

$19.1K MX$331.3K

61.35%

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

$26.6K $26.6K

$23.6K MX$409.4K

12.70%

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

$257 $257

$40.53 MX$703

534.69%

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

$74.9 $74.9

$27.38 MX$475

173.59%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$83.0 $83.0

$30.38 MX$527

173.21%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.38 $34.38

$52.2 MX$906

-34.16%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.39 $14.39

$26.48 MX$459

-45.66%

Cinema Ticket

$11.90 $11.90

$6.19 MX$107

92.25%

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

$1,142 $1,142

$425 MX$7,372

168.73%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.6K $16.6K

$10.7K MX$186.2K

54.66%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.0 $56.0

$58.3 MX$1,011

-3.89%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.55 $41.55

$44.57 MX$773

-6.78%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$93.5 $93.5

$103 MX$1,795

-9.65%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$117 $117

$109 MX$1,886

7.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,653 $1,653

$1,014 MX$17.6K

63.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,385 $1,385

$623 MX$10.8K

122.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,618 $2,618

$2,119 MX$36.8K

23.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,298 $2,298

$1,223 MX$21.2K

87.84%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,629 $4,629

$3,792 MX$65.8K

22.07%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,111 $3,111

$2,110 MX$36.6K

47.44%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,452 $4,452

$1,052 MX$18.2K

323.13%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.46

11.34

-43.03%

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

Last update for Phoenix, AZ: July 28, 2026

Last update for Mexico City: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,653 in Phoenix, AZ and $1,014 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Phoenix, AZ pays 323% 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: $80.0 in Phoenix, AZ vs $54.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $394 vs $293 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

Phoenix, AZ vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Phoenix, AZ and Mexico City differ by about 92% in total monthly costs ($2,831 vs $1,472 including rent). Mexico City is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 323% higher in Phoenix, AZ, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,653 in Phoenix, AZ versus $1,014 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Mexico City runs roughly 223% less than in Phoenix, AZ. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $1,142 in Phoenix, AZ versus $425 in Mexico City. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $1,472 in Mexico City versus $2,831 in Phoenix, AZ, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Mexico City but tight or insufficient in Phoenix, AZ. 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.

Expats usually find Mexico City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 92% less than in Phoenix, AZ. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.