πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $2,818 in Prescott, AZ versus $1,484 in Mexico City.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $3,810 in Prescott, AZ versus $2,342 in Mexico City.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,802 in Prescott, AZ versus $3,199 in Mexico City.
πLiving in Prescott, AZ is roughly 90% more expensive than Mexico City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
πBoth cities are pricier than the global median: Prescott, AZ109% above, Mexico City10% above.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Prescott, AZ
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.18$17.18
$13.29MX$231
29.27%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.8$70.8
$53.8MX$933
31.76%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.84$11.84
$9.29MX$161
27.45%
Cappuccino
$4.56$4.56
$3.61MX$62.6
26.32%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.01$2.01
$1.56MX$27.03
28.85%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.77$1.77
$1.12MX$19.46
58.04%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.03$6.03
$3.13MX$54.3
92.65%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.14$7.14
$4.71MX$81.7
51.59%
π Groceries & Markets
Prescott, AZ
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.87$0.87
$1.70MX$29.54
-48.82%
White Bread(500g)
$3.26$3.26
$2.77MX$48.03
17.69%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$5.17$5.17
$1.96MX$34.05
163.78%
Eggs
$4.13$4.13
$2.60MX$45.21
58.85%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.06$11.06
$9.94MX$173
11.27%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.97$11.97
$8.10MX$141
47.78%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.86$14.86
$11.50MX$200
29.22%
Apples(1kg)
$5.01$5.01
$2.87MX$49.84
74.56%
Banana(1kg)
$1.34$1.34
$1.73MX$30.07
-22.54%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.87$3.87
$2.00MX$34.73
93.50%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.23$4.23
$2.04MX$35.38
107.35%
Potato(1kg)
$2.39$2.39
$2.08MX$36.14
14.90%
Onion(1kg)
$2.43$2.43
$2.20MX$38.12
10.45%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.93$1.93
$1.45MX$25.24
33.10%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.36$2.36
$1.07MX$18.63
120.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.18$9.18
$4.27MX$74.2
114.99%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.38$12.38
$14.32MX$249
-13.55%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.75$1.75
$1.76MX$30.62
-0.57%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.34$3.34
$3.70MX$64.2
-9.73%
π Getting Around
Prescott, AZ
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.98$1.98
$0.35MX$6.12
465.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$19.19MX$333
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.73$2.73
$1.34MX$23.18
103.73%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.40$1.40
$0.28MX$4.83
400.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$36.57$36.57
$5.33MX$92.6
586.12%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.89$0.89
$1.34MX$23.27
-33.58%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.3K$31.3K
$19.1KMX$332.0K
63.61%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.0K$26.0K
$23.9KMX$414.5K
8.73%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Prescott, AZ
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$209$209
$39.86MX$692
423.11%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$49.70$49.70
$26.78MX$465
85.59%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$78.5$78.5
$29.36MX$510
167.44%
π Sport & Entertainment
Prescott, AZ
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$49.09$49.09
$53.4MX$927
-8.12%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$26.09MX$453
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.98$12.98
$6.40MX$111
102.81%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Prescott, AZ
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$558$558
$440MX$7,647
26.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.6K$15.6K
$10.8KMX$186.6K
45.45%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Prescott, AZ
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.9$50.9
$57.6MX$1,000
-11.59%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.62$38.62
$45.02MX$781
-14.22%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$81.6$81.6
$104MX$1,801
-21.37%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$105$105
$108MX$1,874
-2.71%
π Accommodation & Living
Prescott, AZ
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,517$1,517
$1,013MX$17.6K
49.75%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,619$1,619
$630MX$10.9K
157.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,720$2,720
$2,162MX$37.5K
25.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,261$2,261
$1,222MX$21.2K
85.05%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,275$4,275
$3,793MX$65.8K
12.71%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,835$3,835
$2,332MX$40.5K
64.44%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Prescott, AZ
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,832$3,832
$1,075MX$18.7K
256.52%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.46
11.34
-43.03%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Prescott, AZ: April 12, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: April 11, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,517 in Prescott, AZ and $1,013 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
π°Prescott, AZ pays 257% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
πDining out: $71 in Prescott, AZ vs $54 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $374 vs $285 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
Prescott, AZ vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Prescott, AZ and Mexico City?
Prescott, AZ and Mexico City differ by about 90% in total monthly costs ($2,818 vs $1,484 including rent). Mexico City is meaningfully more affordable β a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Prescott, AZ or Mexico City?
Prescott, AZ pays 257% 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 Prescott, AZ and Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,517 in Prescott, AZ versus $1,013 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Prescott, AZ and Mexico City?
Childcare runs $558 in Prescott, AZ versus $440 in Mexico City. 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 β a meal for two runs $54.0 versus $71.0 in Prescott, AZ. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,484 in Mexico City versus $2,818 in Prescott, AZ, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Mexico City but tight or insufficient in Prescott, AZ. The gap between the two cities makes Mexico City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Prescott, AZ and Mexico City?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better β the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Where should expats move: Prescott, AZ or Mexico City?
Expats usually find Mexico City gentler on the wallet β expenses run 90% less than in Prescott, AZ. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Prescott, AZ vs other spots: cost of living compared