Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Sioux City, IA and Mexico City

For one person, living is cheaper in Mexico City: $1,567 a month against $2,168 in Sioux City, IA, rent and utilities included – about $7,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Sioux City, IA
🇺🇸 United States
$2,168
/mo nomad
Mexico City
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,567
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Sioux City, IA and in Mexico City

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Sioux City, IA and in Mexico City actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,168 in Sioux City, IA versus $1,567 in Mexico City.

  • Sioux City, IA $2,168
  • Mexico City $1,567

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,305 in Sioux City, IA versus $2,450 in Mexico City.

  • Sioux City, IA $3,305
  • Mexico City $2,450

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,442 in Sioux City, IA versus $3,333 in Mexico City.

  • Sioux City, IA $4,442
  • Mexico City $3,333

Living in Sioux City, IA is roughly 38% more expensive than in Mexico City, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Sioux City, IA 61% above, Mexico City 16% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sioux City, IA
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.33 $20.33
$10.75 MX$199
89.12%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$56.0 $56.0
$50.3 MX$929
11.38%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.65 $10.65
$11.10 MX$205
-4.05%
Cappuccino
$6.14 $6.14
$3.68 MX$68.1
66.85%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.11 $2.11
$1.65 MX$30.42
27.88%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.77 $1.77
$1.30 MX$24.08
36.15%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.07 $5.07
$3.32 MX$61.3
52.71%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.61 $5.61
$5.54 MX$102
1.26%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sioux City, IA
Mexico City
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.87 $0.87
$1.77 MX$32.68
-50.85%
White Bread (500g)
$2.92 $2.92
$3.05 MX$56.4
-4.26%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.38 $3.38
$2.01 MX$37.20
68.16%
Eggs
$3.60 $3.60
$2.77 MX$51.1
29.96%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.92 $7.92
$11.91 MX$220
-33.50%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.58 $7.58
$9.33 MX$172
-18.76%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.77 $16.77
$15.02 MX$278
11.65%
Apples (1kg)
$4.74 $4.74
$3.08 MX$56.8
53.90%
Banana (1kg)
$1.52 $1.52
$1.95 MX$35.97
-22.05%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.02 $4.02
$2.03 MX$37.54
98.03%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.96 $3.96
$2.21 MX$40.92
79.19%
Potato (1kg)
$1.99 $1.99
$2.02 MX$37.41
-1.49%
Onion (1kg)
$4.87 $4.87
$1.82 MX$33.67
167.58%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.38 $2.38
$1.52 MX$28.07
56.58%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.13 $2.13
$1.28 MX$23.65
66.41%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.94 $8.94
$5.27 MX$97.4
69.64%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.12 $15.12
$16.12 MX$298
-6.20%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.70 $1.70
$1.95 MX$36.05
-12.82%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.08 $3.08
$4.25 MX$78.6
-27.53%
🚌 Getting Around
Sioux City, IA
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.77 $1.77
$0.31 MX$5.82
470.97%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$47.88 $47.88
$19.85 MX$367
141.21%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.97 $1.97
$2.00 MX$36.93
-1.50%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.20 $1.20
$0.53 MX$9.86
126.42%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$19.61 $19.61
$5.62 MX$104
248.93%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.91 $0.91
$1.52 MX$28.07
-40.13%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.4K $35.4K
$21.0K MX$388.7K
68.25%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.0K $25.0K
$25.2K MX$465.3K
-0.54%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sioux City, IA
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$167 $167
$62.5 MX$1,155
166.71%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$52.4 $52.4
$28.77 MX$532
82.03%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$69.0 $69.0
$34.45 MX$637
100.20%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sioux City, IA
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$98.8 $98.8
$57.1 MX$1,055
72.99%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.08 $20.08
$24.81 MX$458
-19.06%
Cinema Ticket
$15.05 $15.05
$6.67 MX$123
125.64%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sioux City, IA
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,098 $1,098
$431 MX$7,964
154.89%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.0K $12.0K
$11.7K MX$216.9K
2.00%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sioux City, IA
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.40 $43.40
$70.8 MX$1,308
-38.69%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$21.73 $21.73
$51.8 MX$958
-58.07%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.2 $77.2
$109 MX$2,011
-29.07%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.3 $89.3
$112 MX$2,076
-20.48%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sioux City, IA
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$923 $923
$1,051 MX$19.4K
-12.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$922 $922
$665 MX$12.3K
38.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,481 $1,481
$2,346 MX$43.3K
-36.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,743 $1,743
$1,227 MX$22.7K
42.13%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,546 $1,546
$3,554 MX$65.7K
-56.51%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,546 $1,546
$1,977 MX$36.5K
-21.79%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sioux City, IA
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,592 $3,592
$975 MX$18.0K
268.55%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.57
11.3
-41.86%

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

Last update for Sioux City, IA: October 10, 2026

Last update for Mexico City: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Sioux City, IA
$922
Mexico City
$665 27.8% $257
Groceries & Markets
Sioux City, IA
$342
Mexico City
$323 5.7% $19
Eating Out
Sioux City, IA
$320
Mexico City
$203 36.6% $117
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sioux City, IA
$288
Mexico City
$126 56.4% $162
Sport & Entertainment
Sioux City, IA
$129
Mexico City
$70 45.3% $58
Clothing & Footwear
Sioux City, IA
$104
Mexico City
$155 48.4% $50
Getting Around
Sioux City, IA
$63
Mexico City
$26 59.1% $37

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $923 in Sioux City, IA and $1,051 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Sioux City, IA pays 269% 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: $56.0 in Sioux City, IA vs $50.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $342 vs $323 per month, with Mexico City cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Sioux City, IA
🇲🇽 Mexico City
🕒 Local time
10:25 10:25 AM
09:25 9:25 AM
1 h behind Sioux City, IA
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
85,797
9,209,944 Capital
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

MXN, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 18.48 MXN (100 MXN = 5.41 USD). 1 EUR = 20.77 MXN (100 MXN = 4.81 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Sioux City, IA Mexico City 2,580 km ≈ 3 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Sioux City, IA
  • Mexico City

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Sioux City, IA vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Sioux City, IA and in Mexico City?
Sioux City, IA and Mexico City differ by about 38% in total monthly costs ($2,168 vs $1,567 including rent). Mexico City is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Sioux City, IA or Mexico City?
Average pay runs 269% higher in Sioux City, IA, 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 Sioux City, IA and in Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $923 in Sioux City, IA versus $1,051 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Sioux City, IA and in Mexico City?
A monthly transit pass in Mexico City runs roughly 141% less than in Sioux City, IA. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Sioux City, IA and Mexico City?
Childcare runs $1,098 in Sioux City, IA versus $431 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 $1,567 in Mexico City versus $2,168 in Sioux City, IA, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Mexico City but tight or insufficient in Sioux City, IA. The gap between the two cities makes Mexico City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Sioux City, IA 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.
Where should expats move: Sioux City, IA or Mexico City?
Expats usually find Mexico City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 38% less than in Sioux City, IA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Sioux City, IA vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?