Cost of Living Comparison Between Waterloo, IA and Mexico City Cost of Living Comparison Between Waterloo, IA and Mexico City

😐 Solo nomad: Waterloo, IA is 24.3% more expensive than Mexico City without rent, and 28.4% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Waterloo, IA is 24.7% more expensive than Mexico City without rent, and 1.1% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Waterloo, IA
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.28 $18.28
$13.38 MX$253
36.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$66.4 $66.4
$52.7 MX$997
25.87%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.89 $9.89
$9.31 MX$176
6.23%
Cappuccino
$5.24 $5.24
$3.61 MX$68.3
45.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 $2.78
$1.64 MX$30.91
69.51%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.39 $2.39
$1.12 MX$21.14
113.39%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.13 $6.13
$3.26 MX$61.7
88.04%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.83 $6.83
$4.82 MX$91.1
41.70%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Waterloo, IA
Mexico City
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.01 $1.01
$1.65 MX$31.24
-38.79%
White Bread (500g)
$1.94 $1.94
$2.74 MX$51.7
-29.20%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.72 $1.72
$1.92 MX$36.28
-10.42%
Eggs
$2.86 $2.86
$2.51 MX$47.53
13.94%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.28 $9.28
$9.89 MX$187
-6.17%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.7 $6.7
$8.39 MX$159
-20.14%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.74 $12.74
$11.95 MX$226
6.61%
Apples (1kg)
$3.85 $3.85
$2.87 MX$54.3
34.15%
Banana (1kg)
$1.2 $1.2
$1.74 MX$32.85
-31.03%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.32 $3.32
$2 MX$37.81
66.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.46 $4.46
$2.07 MX$39.14
115.46%
Potato (1kg)
$1.12 $1.12
$2.05 MX$38.78
-45.37%
Onion (1kg)
$2.12 $2.12
$2.18 MX$41.22
-2.75%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.85 $1.85
$1.38 MX$26.16
34.06%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.53 $1.53
$1.11 MX$21.06
37.84%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.92 $7.92
$4.16 MX$78.6
90.38%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.01 $12.01
$11.05 MX$209
8.69%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.69 $1.69
$1.75 MX$33.16
-3.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.79 $1.79
$3.7 MX$70
-51.62%
🚌 Getting Around
Waterloo, IA
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.97 $1.97
$0.38 MX$7.25
418.42%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$18.97 MX$359
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.89 $4.89
$1.36 MX$25.72
259.56%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.43 $1.43
$0.28 MX$5.25
410.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.73 $29.73
$5.3 MX$100
460.94%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.77 $0.77
$1.36 MX$25.63
-43.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3K $35.3K
$18.8K MX$354.6K
88.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.9K $25.9K
$23.4K MX$441.7K
11.02%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Waterloo, IA
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$197 $197
$39.97 MX$756
391.69%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$48.84 $48.84
$27.48 MX$519
77.73%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$59.4 $59.4
$30.22 MX$571
96.53%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Waterloo, IA
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.83 $42.83
$52.6 MX$994
-18.57%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$26.84 MX$507
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.8 $13.8
$6.32 MX$120
118.35%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Waterloo, IA
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,454 $1,454
$437 MX$8,258
232.83%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$30.5K $30.5K
$10.6K MX$199.9K
188.09%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Waterloo, IA
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$38.76 $38.76
$57.2 MX$1,082
-32.26%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.15 $42.15
$45.14 MX$853
-6.62%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$58.6 $58.6
$102 MX$1,928
-42.51%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$129 $129
$109 MX$2,056
18.63%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Waterloo, IA
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$842 $842
$1,000 MX$18.9K
-15.80%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$747 $747
$622 MX$11.8K
20.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,974 $1,974
$2,160 MX$40.8K
-8.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$863 $863
$1,235 MX$23.3K
-30.16%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,457 $1,457
$3,566 MX$67.4K
-59.15%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,429 $1,429
$2,480 MX$46.9K
-42.36%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Waterloo, IA
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,529 $3,529
$867 MX$16.4K
306.81%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.43
11.34
-43.30%

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

Last update for Waterloo, IA: October 28, 2025

Last update for Mexico City: October 28, 2025

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