Cost of Living Comparison Between Santa Monica, CA and Mexico City Cost of Living Comparison Between Santa Monica, CA and Mexico City

😐 Solo nomad: Santa Monica, CA is 65.2% more expensive than Mexico City without rent, and 209.1% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Santa Monica, CA is 54% more expensive than Mexico City without rent, and 200.3% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Santa Monica, CA
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.29 $25.29
$13.38 MX$253
89.01%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$99.5 $99.5
$52.7 MX$997
88.68%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.3 $12.3
$9.31 MX$176
32.12%
Cappuccino
$5.68 $5.68
$3.61 MX$68.3
57.34%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88 $2.88
$1.64 MX$30.91
75.61%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.3 $2.3
$1.12 MX$21.14
105.36%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.59 $8.59
$3.26 MX$61.7
163.50%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$9.32 $9.32
$4.82 MX$91.1
93.36%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Santa Monica, CA
Mexico City
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.18 $1.18
$1.65 MX$31.24
-28.48%
White Bread (500g)
$4.45 $4.45
$2.74 MX$51.7
62.41%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.49 $4.49
$1.92 MX$36.28
133.85%
Eggs
$7.19 $7.19
$2.51 MX$47.53
186.45%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.47 $12.47
$9.89 MX$187
26.09%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.7 $13.7
$8.39 MX$159
63.29%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.46 $14.46
$11.95 MX$226
21.00%
Apples (1kg)
$5.37 $5.37
$2.87 MX$54.3
87.11%
Banana (1kg)
$1.95 $1.95
$1.74 MX$32.85
12.07%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.97 $3.97
$2 MX$37.81
98.50%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.73 $5.73
$2.07 MX$39.14
176.81%
Potato (1kg)
$2.98 $2.98
$2.05 MX$38.78
45.37%
Onion (1kg)
$2.45 $2.45
$2.18 MX$41.22
12.39%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.82 $1.82
$1.38 MX$26.16
31.88%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.12 $2.12
$1.11 MX$21.06
90.99%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.83 $10.83
$4.16 MX$78.6
160.34%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.28 $15.28
$11.05 MX$209
38.28%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.53 $2.53
$1.75 MX$33.16
44.57%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.34 $5.34
$3.7 MX$70
44.32%
🚌 Getting Around
Santa Monica, CA
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.08 $2.08
$0.38 MX$7.25
447.37%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$81.5 $81.5
$18.97 MX$359
329.84%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.15 $3.15
$1.36 MX$25.72
131.62%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.71 $1.71
$0.28 MX$5.25
510.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.08 $29.08
$5.3 MX$100
448.68%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.24 $1.24
$1.36 MX$25.63
-8.82%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.8K $23.8K
$18.8K MX$354.6K
27.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.5K $25.5K
$23.4K MX$441.7K
9.10%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Santa Monica, CA
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$190 $190
$39.97 MX$756
374.46%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$58.4 $58.4
$27.48 MX$519
112.66%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$67 $67
$30.22 MX$571
121.84%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Santa Monica, CA
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$122 $122
$52.6 MX$994
132.51%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$44.73 $44.73
$26.84 MX$507
66.65%
Cinema Ticket
$18.03 $18.03
$6.32 MX$120
185.28%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Santa Monica, CA
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,791 $1,791
$437 MX$8,258
309.92%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.7K $14.7K
$10.6K MX$199.9K
39.44%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Santa Monica, CA
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.8 $62.8
$57.2 MX$1,082
9.72%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.08 $34.08
$45.14 MX$853
-24.50%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 $102
$102 MX$1,928
-0.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$153 $153
$109 MX$2,056
40.47%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Santa Monica, CA
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,279 $3,279
$1,000 MX$18.9K
228.06%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,892 $2,892
$622 MX$11.8K
364.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$6,850 $6,850
$2,160 MX$40.8K
217.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$5,897 $5,897
$1,235 MX$23.3K
377.50%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$10.8K $10.8K
$3,566 MX$67.4K
202.74%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$8,171 $8,171
$2,480 MX$46.9K
229.49%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Santa Monica, CA
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$7,229 $7,229
$867 MX$16.4K
733.39%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.49
11.34
-42.77%

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

Last update for Santa Monica, CA: October 27, 2025

Last update for Mexico City: October 28, 2025

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