Cost of Living Comparison Between Waikiki, HI and Mexico City Cost of Living Comparison Between Waikiki, HI and Mexico City

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,040 in Waikiki, HI versus $1,660 in Mexico City.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,670 in Waikiki, HI versus $2,565 in Mexico City.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,301 in Waikiki, HI versus $3,470 in Mexico City.

Living in Waikiki, HI is roughly 83% more expensive than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Waikiki, HI 122% above, Mexico City 21% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.47 $25.47

$11.92 MX$205

113.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$141 $141

$51.6 MX$889

172.54%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.88 $14.88

$11.41 MX$197

30.41%

Cappuccino

$5.96 $5.96

$3.99 MX$68.8

49.37%

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

$4.85 $4.85

$1.66 MX$28.58

192.17%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.65 $3.65

$1.33 MX$22.85

174.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$10.01 $10.01

$3.47 MX$59.8

188.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.78 $10.78

$5.90 MX$102

82.71%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.99 $0.99

$1.88 MX$32.32

-47.34%

White Bread (500g)

$3.54 $3.54

$3.25 MX$56.1

8.92%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$10.05 $10.05

$2.16 MX$37.23

365.28%

Eggs

$8.53 $8.53

$2.90 MX$49.89

194.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.48 $12.48

$12.86 MX$221

-2.95%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$19.68 $19.68

$10.05 MX$173

95.82%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$21.75 $21.75

$15.86 MX$273

37.14%

Apples (1kg)

$8.09 $8.09

$3.29 MX$56.8

145.90%

Banana (1kg)

$1.58 $1.58

$2.01 MX$34.56

-21.39%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.91 $6.91

$2.20 MX$37.89

214.09%

Tomato (1kg)

$9.37 $9.37

$2.36 MX$40.58

297.03%

Potato (1kg)

$4.76 $4.76

$2.05 MX$35.39

132.20%

Onion (1kg)

$4.80 $4.80

$1.90 MX$32.76

152.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$5.04 $5.04

$1.61 MX$27.65

213.04%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.99 $2.99

$1.40 MX$24.06

113.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.69 $12.69

$5.46 MX$94.1

132.42%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.22 $18.22

$17.65 MX$304

3.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.72 $2.72

$2.06 MX$35.40

32.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.91 $5.91

$4.68 MX$80.7

26.28%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.95 $1.95

$0.34 MX$5.83

473.53%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$79.6 $79.6

$20.81 MX$358

282.65%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.45 $3.45

$2.10 MX$36.12

64.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.65 $2.65

$0.56 MX$9.63

373.21%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$44.65 $44.65

$5.81 MX$100

668.50%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.38 $1.38

$1.61 MX$27.66

-14.29%

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

$35.0K $35.0K

$22.8K MX$393.4K

53.26%

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

$27.3K $27.3K

$26.8K MX$460.8K

1.87%

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

$249 $249

$65.2 MX$1,123

282.36%

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

$69.0 $69.0

$30.09 MX$518

129.31%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.2 $63.2

$37.18 MX$640

70.09%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.16 $37.16

$59.8 MX$1,029

-37.82%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.55 MX$457

Cinema Ticket

$20.09 $20.09

$7.04 MX$121

185.37%

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

$2,161 $2,161

$465 MX$8,003

365.07%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$26.8K $26.8K

$13.3K MX$228.6K

102.21%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.5 $63.5

$75.9 MX$1,307

-16.29%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.25 $47.25

$56.0 MX$964

-15.55%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.2 $99.2

$112 MX$1,927

-11.31%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$132 $132

$121 MX$2,076

9.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,602 $1,602

$1,103 MX$19.0K

45.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,356 $1,356

$721 MX$12.4K

88.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,621 $2,621

$2,530 MX$43.6K

3.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,188 $2,188

$1,293 MX$22.3K

69.16%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,841 $2,841

$3,991 MX$68.7K

-28.81%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,552 $2,552

$2,090 MX$36.0K

22.15%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,037 MX$17.9K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.26

11.3

-44.60%

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

Last update for Waikiki, HI: September 12, 2026

Last update for Mexico City: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,602 in Waikiki, HI and $1,103 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $141 in Waikiki, HI vs $52.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $587 vs $345 per month, with Mexico City cheaper across the board.

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

Waikiki, HI vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Waikiki, HI and Mexico City differ by about 83% in total monthly costs ($3,040 vs $1,660 including rent). Mexico City is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $4,559 in Waikiki, HI and $2,489 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: $1,602 in Waikiki, HI versus $1,103 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 283% less than in Waikiki, HI. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $2,161 in Waikiki, HI versus $465 in Mexico City. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $1,660 in Mexico City versus $3,040 in Waikiki, HI, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Mexico City but tight or insufficient in Waikiki, HI. 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, Waikiki, HI 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 83% less than in Waikiki, HI. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.