Cost of Living Comparison Between Waco, TX and Mexico City Cost of Living Comparison Between Waco, TX and Mexico City

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,580 in Waco, TX versus $1,668 in Mexico City.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,310 in Waco, TX versus $2,613 in Mexico City.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,040 in Waco, TX versus $3,557 in Mexico City.

Living in Waco, TX is roughly 55% more expensive than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Waco, TX 91% above, Mexico City 24% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.94 $19.94

$12.03 MX$216

65.75%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$60.2 $60.2

$52.8 MX$949

13.88%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.18 $12.18

$11.69 MX$210

4.19%

Cappuccino

$5.66 $5.66

$3.87 MX$69.6

46.25%

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

$1.73 $1.73

$1.75 MX$31.45

-1.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.48 $1.48

$1.39 MX$25.06

6.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.34 $6.34

$3.36 MX$60.4

88.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.55 $5.55

$5.77 MX$104

-3.81%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.92 $0.92

$1.81 MX$32.45

-49.17%

White Bread (500g)

$3.28 $3.28

$3.08 MX$55.4

6.49%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.08 $2.08

$2.13 MX$38.27

-2.35%

Eggs

$3.25 $3.25

$2.98 MX$53.5

9.06%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.84 $12.84

$12.53 MX$225

2.47%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.86 $13.86

$10.24 MX$184

35.35%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.94 $11.94

$15.92 MX$286

-25.00%

Apples (1kg)

$3.73 $3.73

$3.39 MX$60.8

10.03%

Banana (1kg)

$1.13 $1.13

$2.11 MX$37.85

-46.45%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.84 $3.84

$2.13 MX$38.22

80.28%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.65 $3.65

$2.47 MX$44.33

47.77%

Potato (1kg)

$2.27 $2.27

$2.04 MX$36.62

11.27%

Onion (1kg)

$2.68 $2.68

$2.01 MX$36.18

33.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.76 $1.76

$1.59 MX$28.61

10.69%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.03 $1.03

$1.33 MX$23.89

-22.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.47 $9.47

$5.49 MX$98.6

72.50%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.55 $13.55

$17.52 MX$315

-22.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 $1.76

$2.01 MX$36.20

-12.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.48 $3.48

$4.74 MX$85.2

-26.58%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.54 $1.54

$0.34 MX$6.03

352.94%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$39.33 $39.33

$21.07 MX$379

86.66%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.78 $2.78

$2.05 MX$36.88

35.61%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.60 $1.60

$0.61 MX$10.93

162.30%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.49 $35.49

$5.70 MX$102

522.63%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.85 $0.85

$1.59 MX$28.56

-46.54%

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

$35.8K $35.8K

$22.9K MX$411.3K

56.28%

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

$27.7K $27.7K

$26.4K MX$473.9K

5.15%

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

$225 $225

$64.2 MX$1,154

250.56%

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

$57.9 $57.9

$29.42 MX$529

96.80%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.6 $67.6

$36.83 MX$662

83.46%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$27.95 $27.95

$58.7 MX$1,055

-52.41%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.54 MX$477

Cinema Ticket

$9.14 $9.14

$6.95 MX$125

31.51%

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

$833 $833

$463 MX$8,316

80.06%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.4K $21.4K

$13.4K MX$240.1K

59.99%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.43 $47.43

$75.4 MX$1,355

-37.12%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.18 $43.18

$54.2 MX$974

-20.35%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.6 $86.6

$111 MX$1,997

-22.09%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$94.7 $94.7

$122 MX$2,195

-22.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,223 $1,223

$1,133 MX$20.4K

7.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,314 $1,314

$698 MX$12.5K

88.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,575 $1,575

$2,442 MX$43.9K

-35.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,338 $1,338

$1,303 MX$23.4K

2.70%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,941 $1,941

$3,910 MX$70.2K

-50.35%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,924 $1,924

$2,069 MX$37.2K

-7.01%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,153 $3,153

$1,052 MX$18.9K

199.65%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.13

11.3

-45.75%

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

Last update for Waco, TX: September 22, 2026

Last update for Mexico City: September 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,223 in Waco, TX and $1,133 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Waco, TX pays 200% 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: $60.0 in Waco, TX vs $53.0 in Mexico City. Groceries flip the comparison at $340 vs $343, with Waco, TX 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

Waco, TX vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Waco, TX and Mexico City differ by about 55% in total monthly costs ($2,580 vs $1,668 including rent). Mexico City is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 200% higher in Waco, TX, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,223 in Waco, TX versus $1,133 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Mexico City runs roughly 87% less than in Waco, TX. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $833 in Waco, TX versus $463 in Mexico City. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $1,668 in Mexico City versus $2,580 in Waco, TX, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Mexico City but tight or insufficient in Waco, TX. 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.

Expats usually find Mexico City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 55% less than in Waco, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.