Cost of Living Comparison Between Somerset, NJ and Mexico City Cost of Living Comparison Between Somerset, NJ and Mexico City

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $4,069 in Somerset, NJ versus $1,646 in Mexico City.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,464 in Somerset, NJ versus $2,613 in Mexico City.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,858 in Somerset, NJ versus $3,580 in Mexico City.

Living in Somerset, NJ is roughly 147% more expensive than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Somerset, NJ 196% above, Mexico City 20% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.73 $17.73

$12.11 MX$206

46.41%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$39.63 $39.63

$52.2 MX$887

-24.12%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.90 $7.90

$10.90 MX$185

-27.52%

Cappuccino

$5.07 $5.07

$4.05 MX$68.8

25.19%

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

$1.96 $1.96

$1.72 MX$29.13

13.95%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.53 $1.53

$1.38 MX$23.40

10.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.23 $8.23

$3.47 MX$58.9

137.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.03 $7.03

$5.81 MX$98.7

21.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.32 $1.32

$1.85 MX$31.48

-28.65%

White Bread (500g)

$4.39 $4.39

$3.22 MX$54.7

36.34%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.96 $5.96

$2.09 MX$35.42

185.17%

Eggs

$2.04 $2.04

$2.91 MX$49.41

-29.90%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.15 $13.15

$12.49 MX$212

5.28%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.35 $10.35

$10.11 MX$172

2.37%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.51 $19.51

$15.89 MX$270

22.78%

Apples (1kg)

$6.22 $6.22

$3.31 MX$56.3

87.92%

Banana (1kg)

$2.87 $2.87

$2.13 MX$36.12

34.74%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.19 $4.19

$2.19 MX$37.20

91.32%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.18 $5.18

$2.45 MX$41.57

111.43%

Potato (1kg)

$3.01 $3.01

$2.19 MX$37.18

37.44%

Onion (1kg)

$3.51 $3.51

$1.90 MX$32.35

84.74%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.47 $2.47

$1.62 MX$27.44

52.47%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.06 $3.06

$1.35 MX$22.92

126.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$17.34 $17.34

$5.43 MX$92.1

219.34%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.15 $15.15

$17.59 MX$299

-13.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 $1.77

$2.07 MX$35.12

-14.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.56 $3.56

$4.75 MX$80.6

-25.05%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.06 $2.06

$0.34 MX$5.77

505.88%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.58 MX$366

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.07 $3.07

$2.04 MX$34.65

50.49%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.20 $2.20

$0.58 MX$9.82

279.31%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$41.94 $41.94

$5.97 MX$101

602.51%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.01 $1.01

$1.62 MX$27.44

-37.65%

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

$35.1K $35.1K

$22.8K MX$387.4K

53.86%

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

$25.1K $25.1K

$26.7K MX$452.8K

-6.03%

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

$227 $227

$65.2 MX$1,108

247.96%

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

$51.7 $51.7

$29.87 MX$507

73.15%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$50.6 $50.6

$36.55 MX$621

38.39%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.59 $41.59

$61.0 MX$1,036

-31.82%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.70 MX$453

Cinema Ticket

$20.28 $20.28

$6.85 MX$116

196.06%

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

$1,783 $1,783

$453 MX$7,700

293.35%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.8K $15.8K

$13.4K MX$227.1K

18.28%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.8 $77.8

$75.0 MX$1,273

3.72%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.07 $40.07

$55.3 MX$939

-27.53%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$127 $127

$114 MX$1,929

11.77%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$167 $167

$123 MX$2,083

36.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,612 $1,612

$1,134 MX$19.3K

42.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,603 $2,603

$712 MX$12.1K

265.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,464 $2,464

$2,571 MX$43.7K

-4.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,096 $2,096

$1,311 MX$22.3K

59.87%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,765 $2,765

$3,993 MX$67.8K

-30.75%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,379 $2,379

$2,095 MX$35.6K

13.54%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,047 MX$17.8K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.3

11.3

-44.25%

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

Last update for Somerset, NJ: September 1, 2026

Last update for Mexico City: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,612 in Somerset, NJ and $1,134 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $40.00 in Somerset, NJ vs $52.0 in Mexico City. Groceries flip the comparison at $439 vs $345, with Mexico City cheaper for home cooking.

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

Somerset, NJ vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Somerset, NJ and Mexico City differ by about 147% in total monthly costs ($4,069 vs $1,646 including rent). Mexico City is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $6,104 in Somerset, NJ and $2,469 in Mexico City to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,612 in Somerset, NJ versus $1,134 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,783 in Somerset, NJ versus $453 in Mexico City. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Mexico City – a meal for two runs $52.0 versus $40.00 in Somerset, NJ. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $1,646 in Mexico City versus $4,069 in Somerset, NJ, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Mexico City but tight or insufficient in Somerset, NJ. 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, Somerset, NJ 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 147% less than in Somerset, NJ. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.