Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Summit, NJ and Mexico City

For one person, living is cheaper in Mexico City: $1,548 a month against $3,934 in Summit, NJ, rent and utilities included – about $28,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Summit, NJ
🇺🇸 United States
$3,934
/mo nomad
Mexico City
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,548
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Summit, NJ 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 Summit, NJ and in Mexico City actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,934 in Summit, NJ versus $1,548 in Mexico City.

  • Summit, NJ $3,934
  • Mexico City $1,548

Estimated couple costs with rent: $6,112 in Summit, NJ versus $2,436 in Mexico City.

  • Summit, NJ $6,112
  • Mexico City $2,436

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $8,290 in Summit, NJ versus $3,323 in Mexico City.

  • Summit, NJ $8,290
  • Mexico City $3,323

Living in Summit, NJ is roughly 154% 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: Summit, NJ 190% above, Mexico City 14% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Summit, NJ
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$24.51 $24.51
$11.02 MX$204
122.41%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$99.2 $99.2
$48.68 MX$900
103.78%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.89 $10.89
$10.90 MX$201
-0.09%
Cappuccino
$5.39 $5.39
$3.68 MX$68.1
46.47%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22 $2.22
$1.63 MX$30.18
36.20%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51 $1.51
$1.25 MX$23.07
20.80%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.15 $8.15
$3.25 MX$60.1
150.77%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.86 $7.86
$5.53 MX$102
42.13%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Summit, NJ
Mexico City
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.26 $1.26
$1.70 MX$31.50
-25.88%
White Bread (500g)
$4.30 $4.30
$3.02 MX$55.8
42.38%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.98 $5.98
$1.92 MX$35.53
211.46%
Eggs
$5.99 $5.99
$2.73 MX$50.5
119.41%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.21 $14.21
$11.77 MX$218
20.73%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.35 $10.35
$9.53 MX$176
8.60%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.32 $17.32
$14.41 MX$266
20.19%
Apples (1kg)
$6.06 $6.06
$3.02 MX$55.8
100.66%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.89 MX$35.01
-9.52%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.15 $4.15
$1.99 MX$36.70
108.54%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.28 $5.28
$2.19 MX$40.38
141.10%
Potato (1kg)
$2.99 $2.99
$1.92 MX$35.43
55.73%
Onion (1kg)
$3.70 $3.70
$1.87 MX$34.49
97.86%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.99 $2.99
$1.44 MX$26.62
107.64%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.95 $2.95
$1.27 MX$23.39
132.28%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.48 $11.48
$5.22 MX$96.4
119.92%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.82 $19.82
$16.17 MX$299
22.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.69 $1.69
$1.90 MX$35.03
-11.05%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.50 $5.50
$4.22 MX$78.0
30.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Summit, NJ
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.34 MX$6.30
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$19.65 MX$363
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.99 $2.99
$2.00 MX$36.90
49.50%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.09 $2.09
$0.52 MX$9.67
301.92%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$24.27 $24.27
$5.34 MX$98.7
354.49%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.06 $1.06
$1.52 MX$28.13
-30.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K $27.8K
$22.1K MX$408.0K
25.89%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3K $26.3K
$24.5K MX$452.9K
7.30%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Summit, NJ
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$215 $215
$61.1 MX$1,129
252.81%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$60.0 $60.0
$28.58 MX$528
110.04%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$49.97 $49.97
$34.47 MX$637
44.97%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Summit, NJ
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$81.2 $81.2
$56.4 MX$1,042
44.00%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$24.88 MX$460
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.85 $14.85
$6.66 MX$123
122.97%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Summit, NJ
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,966 $1,966
$427 MX$7,891
360.28%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.0K $16.0K
$11.6K MX$215.0K
37.83%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Summit, NJ
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$40.78 $40.78
$67.8 MX$1,253
-39.85%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$56.9 $56.9
$52.0 MX$960
9.41%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.0 $77.0
$106 MX$1,959
-27.43%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120 $120
$113 MX$2,080
6.58%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Summit, NJ
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,795 $2,795
$1,025 MX$18.9K
172.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,530 $2,530
$654 MX$12.1K
286.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$5,573 $5,573
$2,308 MX$42.7K
141.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$5,084 $5,084
$1,242 MX$22.9K
309.39%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$3,613 MX$66.8K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,936 MX$35.8K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Summit, NJ
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$964 MX$17.8K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.75
11.3
-40.27%

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

Last update for Summit, NJ: October 18, 2026

Last update for Mexico City: October 20, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Summit, NJ
$2.5K
Mexico City
$654 74.1% $1.9K
Groceries & Markets
Summit, NJ
$456
Mexico City
$318 30.3% $138
Eating Out
Summit, NJ
$365
Mexico City
$204 44.1% $161
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Summit, NJ
$325
Mexico City
$124 61.9% $201
Clothing & Footwear
Summit, NJ
$133
Mexico City
$152 14.9% $20
Sport & Entertainment
Summit, NJ
$111
Mexico City
$70 37.1% $41
Getting Around
Summit, NJ
$13 *
Mexico City
$26 90.6% $12

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,795 in Summit, NJ and $1,025 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $99.0 in Summit, NJ vs $49.00 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $456 vs $318 per month, with Mexico City cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Summit, NJ
🇲🇽 Mexico City
🕒 Local time
00:35 12:35 AM
22:35 10:35 PM
2 h behind Summit, NJ
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
11,161
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 22, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 22, 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
  • Summit, NJ Mexico City 3,340 km ≈ 4 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Summit, NJ
  • 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
Summit, NJ vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Summit, NJ and in Mexico City?
Summit, NJ and Mexico City differ by about 154% in total monthly costs ($3,934 vs $1,548 including rent). Mexico City is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Summit, NJ compared to Mexico City?
You'd need roughly $5,901 in Summit, NJ and $2,322 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.
How do apartment prices compare in Summit, NJ and in Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $2,795 in Summit, NJ versus $1,025 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Summit, NJ and Mexico City?
Childcare runs $1,966 in Summit, NJ versus $427 in Mexico City. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Mexico City – a meal for two runs $49.00 versus $99.0 in Summit, NJ. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,548 in Mexico City versus $3,934 in Summit, NJ, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Mexico City but tight or insufficient in Summit, NJ. The gap between the two cities makes Mexico City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Summit, NJ 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.
Is Summit, NJ or Mexico City safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Summit, 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.
Where should expats move: Summit, NJ or Mexico City?
Expats usually find Mexico City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 154% less than in Summit, NJ. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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