😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,433 in Springfield, IL versus $1,467 in Mexico City.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,857 in Springfield, IL versus $2,371 in Mexico City.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,281 in Springfield, IL versus $3,274 in Mexico City.
😐Living in Springfield, IL is roughly 66% more expensive than Mexico City, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Springfield, IL82% above, Mexico City10% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Springfield, IL
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.87$15.87
$13.18MX$228
20.41%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$49.66$49.66
$53.9MX$932
-7.87%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.21$11.21
$9.42MX$163
19.00%
Cappuccino
$4.61$4.61
$3.55MX$61.4
29.86%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.73$2.73
$1.62MX$27.98
68.52%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.52$1.52
$1.11MX$19.27
36.94%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.93$4.93
$3.12MX$54.0
58.01%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.59$4.59
$4.63MX$80.1
-0.86%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Springfield, IL
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.76$0.76
$1.70MX$29.43
-55.29%
White Bread(500g)
$3.07$3.07
$2.72MX$47.02
12.87%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$5.39$5.39
$1.91MX$33.07
182.20%
Eggs
$3.21$3.21
$2.54MX$43.86
26.38%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.92$8.92
$10.03MX$174
-11.07%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.65$10.65
$8.09MX$140
31.64%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.58$14.58
$11.62MX$201
25.47%
Apples(1kg)
$5.02$5.02
$2.97MX$51.3
69.02%
Banana(1kg)
$1.14$1.14
$1.81MX$31.24
-37.02%
Oranges(1kg)
$5.74$5.74
$2.01MX$34.82
185.57%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.25$3.25
$2.03MX$35.20
60.10%
Potato(1kg)
$1.99$1.99
$2.12MX$36.75
-6.13%
Onion(1kg)
$2.60$2.60
$2.27MX$39.25
14.54%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.83$1.83
$1.40MX$24.22
30.71%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.28$1.28
$1.13MX$19.55
13.27%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.27$9.27
$4.27MX$73.9
117.10%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.90$10.90
$15.56MX$269
-29.95%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.29$1.29
$1.76MX$30.39
-26.70%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.63$1.63
$3.60MX$62.2
-54.72%
🚌 Getting Around
Springfield, IL
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.98$1.98
$0.38MX$6.62
421.05%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$39.34$39.34
$19.18MX$332
105.11%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.03$2.03
$1.38MX$23.79
47.10%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.68$1.68
$0.28MX$4.78
500.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$34.12$34.12
$5.45MX$94.2
526.06%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.86$0.86
$1.30MX$22.55
-33.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.3K$33.3K
$18.7KMX$323.2K
77.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.7K$25.7K
$23.1KMX$400.1K
11.17%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Springfield, IL
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$195$195
$40.86MX$707
377.58%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.4$63.4
$26.81MX$464
136.48%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$73.1$73.1
$29.96MX$518
144.06%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Springfield, IL
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.67$42.67
$52.0MX$900
-17.97%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$26.84MX$464
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.46$12.46
$6.30MX$109
97.78%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Springfield, IL
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,799$1,799
$436MX$7,544
312.53%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$27.1K$27.1K
$10.4KMX$180.2K
159.73%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Springfield, IL
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.06$47.06
$56.7MX$980
-16.93%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.53$41.53
$44.38MX$768
-6.42%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$98.1$98.1
$103MX$1,780
-4.65%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$126$126
$106MX$1,825
19.59%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Springfield, IL
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$911$911
$1,022MX$17.7K
-10.83%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,181$1,181
$631MX$10.9K
87.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,087$2,087
$2,136MX$36.9K
-2.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,669$2,669
$1,243MX$21.5K
114.79%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,154$3,154
$3,903MX$67.5K
-19.18%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,168$1,168
$2,064MX$35.7K
-43.40%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Springfield, IL
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,878$3,878
$1,115MX$19.3K
247.79%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.47
11.34
-51.76%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Springfield, IL: May 30, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $911 in Springfield, IL and $1,022 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Springfield, IL pays 248% 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: $50.0 in Springfield, IL vs $54.0 in Mexico City. Groceries flip the comparison at $333 vs $288, 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
Springfield, IL vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Springfield, IL and Mexico City?
Springfield, IL and Mexico City differ by about 66% in total monthly costs ($2,433 vs $1,467 including rent). Mexico City is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Springfield, IL or Mexico City?
Springfield, IL pays 248% 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 Springfield, IL and Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $911 in Springfield, IL versus $1,022 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Springfield, IL and Mexico City?
A monthly transit pass in Mexico City runs roughly 105% less than in Springfield, IL. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Springfield, IL and Mexico City?
Childcare runs $1,799 in Springfield, IL versus $436 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 $1,467 in Mexico City versus $2,433 in Springfield, IL, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Mexico City but tight or insufficient in Springfield, IL. The gap between the two cities makes Mexico City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Springfield, IL 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: Springfield, IL or Mexico City?
Expats usually find Mexico City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 66% less than in Springfield, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Springfield, IL vs other spots: cost of living compared