Cost of Living Comparison Between Salem, MA and Mexico City Cost of Living Comparison Between Salem, MA and Mexico City

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,473 in Salem, MA versus $1,484 in Mexico City.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,781 in Salem, MA versus $2,381 in Mexico City.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,090 in Salem, MA versus $3,278 in Mexico City.

Living in Salem, MA is roughly 134% more expensive than Mexico City, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Salem, MA 159% above, Mexico City 11% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.10 $25.10

$12.98 MX$226

93.37%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$98.2 $98.2

$53.1 MX$922

85.10%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.04 $11.04

$9.72 MX$169

13.58%

Cappuccino

$5.10 $5.10

$3.75 MX$65.2

36.00%

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

$2.44 $2.44

$1.57 MX$27.27

55.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.13 $2.13

$1.13 MX$19.62

88.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.12 $8.12

$3.18 MX$55.3

155.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.97 $6.97

$4.66 MX$81.0

49.57%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.22 $1.22

$1.62 MX$28.18

-24.69%

White Bread (500g)

$4.37 $4.37

$2.71 MX$47.04

61.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$8.72 $8.72

$1.88 MX$32.66

363.83%

Eggs

$4.42 $4.42

$2.51 MX$43.60

76.10%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.19 $14.19

$10.08 MX$175

40.77%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.25 $14.25

$8.29 MX$144

71.89%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.70 $8.70

$11.94 MX$208

-27.14%

Apples (1kg)

$4.53 $4.53

$2.86 MX$49.71

58.39%

Banana (1kg)

$1.33 $1.33

$1.75 MX$30.41

-24.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.35 $3.35

$2.08 MX$36.23

61.06%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.79 $4.79

$1.97 MX$34.23

143.15%

Potato (1kg)

$4.29 $4.29

$2.16 MX$37.53

98.61%

Onion (1kg)

$2.37 $2.37

$2.18 MX$37.89

8.72%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.54 $2.54

$1.39 MX$24.17

82.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.43 $3.43

$1.12 MX$19.55

206.25%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.53 $9.53

$4.20 MX$73.0

126.90%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.89 $12.89

$14.25 MX$248

-9.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 $1.76

$1.76 MX$30.64

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.90 $6.90

$3.68 MX$64.0

87.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.45 $2.45

$0.39 MX$6.70

528.21%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.6 $54.6

$18.66 MX$324

192.60%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.49 $3.49

$1.39 MX$24.09

151.08%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.58 $1.58

$0.30 MX$5.28

426.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.22 $29.22

$5.42 MX$94.2

439.11%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.07 $1.07

$1.35 MX$23.47

-20.74%

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

$29.8K $29.8K

$18.9K MX$328.2K

57.95%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$23.2K MX$402.4K

12.22%

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

$169 $169

$40.82 MX$710

314.38%

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

$91.3 $91.3

$27.50 MX$478

231.96%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$82.3 $82.3

$30.38 MX$528

171.00%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.44 $42.44

$53.4 MX$929

-20.57%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.30 MX$457

Cinema Ticket

$14.89 $14.89

$6.27 MX$109

137.48%

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

$1,299 $1,299

$436 MX$7,580

197.96%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.8K $23.8K

$10.5K MX$181.9K

127.24%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$71.4 $71.4

$56.8 MX$987

25.70%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$58.4 $58.4

$44.79 MX$778

30.39%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.9 $97.9

$103 MX$1,787

-4.82%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$98.6 $98.6

$108 MX$1,875

-8.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,360 $2,360

$1,000 MX$17.4K

136.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,944 $1,944

$620 MX$10.8K

213.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,832 $3,832

$2,137 MX$37.1K

79.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,855 $2,855

$1,235 MX$21.5K

131.20%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,731 $2,731

$3,865 MX$67.2K

-29.34%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,387 $2,387

$2,332 MX$40.5K

2.34%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$9,570 $9,570

$1,067 MX$18.5K

796.73%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.51

11.34

-42.59%

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

Last update for Salem, MA: April 28, 2026

Last update for Mexico City: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,360 in Salem, MA and $1,000 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Salem, MA pays 797% 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: $98 in Salem, MA vs $53 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $434 vs $286 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

Salem, MA vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Salem, MA and Mexico City differ by about 134% in total monthly costs ($3,473 vs $1,484 including rent). Mexico City is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Salem, MA pays 797% more on average, 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: $2,360 in Salem, MA versus $1,000 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 193% less than in Salem, MA. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $1,299 in Salem, MA versus $436 in Mexico City. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $1,484 in Mexico City versus $3,473 in Salem, MA, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Mexico City but tight or insufficient in Salem, MA. 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.

Safety-wise, Salem, MA 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.

Expats usually find Mexico City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 134% less than in Salem, MA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.