Cost of Living Comparison Between West Caldwell, NJ and Mexico City Cost of Living Comparison Between West Caldwell, NJ and Mexico City

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,446 in West Caldwell, NJ versus $1,481 in Mexico City.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,600 in West Caldwell, NJ versus $2,352 in Mexico City.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,753 in West Caldwell, NJ versus $3,222 in Mexico City.

Living in West Caldwell, NJ is roughly 65% more expensive than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: West Caldwell, NJ 83% above, Mexico City 11% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.07 $17.07

$13.16 MX$229

29.71%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.9 $74.9

$53.6 MX$932

39.72%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.86 $12.86

$9.55 MX$166

34.66%

Cappuccino

$5.05 $5.05

$3.72 MX$64.8

35.75%

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

$2.53 $2.53

$1.57 MX$27.28

61.15%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.24 $2.24

$1.16 MX$20.12

93.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.82 $5.82

$3.18 MX$55.4

83.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.13 $7.13

$4.63 MX$80.6

54.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.19 $1.19

$1.71 MX$29.67

-30.41%

White Bread (500g)

$6.21 $6.21

$2.62 MX$45.54

137.02%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$8.90 $8.90

$1.89 MX$32.87

370.90%

Eggs

$5.61 $5.61

$2.60 MX$45.17

115.77%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.84 $9.84

$9.91 MX$172

-0.71%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.33 $10.33

$8.22 MX$143

25.67%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.07 $18.07

$11.78 MX$205

53.40%

Apples (1kg)

$6.75 $6.75

$3.00 MX$52.1

125.00%

Banana (1kg)

$2.22 $2.22

$1.80 MX$31.32

23.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.49 $4.49

$2.07 MX$36.08

116.91%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.79 $4.79

$1.97 MX$34.23

143.15%

Potato (1kg)

$4.52 $4.52

$2.07 MX$36.05

118.36%

Onion (1kg)

$4.46 $4.46

$2.17 MX$37.84

105.53%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.45 $2.45

$1.40 MX$24.41

75.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.25 $2.25

$1.07 MX$18.70

110.28%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.77 $13.77

$4.12 MX$71.7

234.22%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.87 $14.87

$17.42 MX$303

-14.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.89 $1.89

$1.68 MX$29.16

12.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.52 $3.52

$3.65 MX$63.5

-3.56%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.96 $1.96

$0.38 MX$6.62

415.79%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.71 MX$326

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.02 $6.02

$1.33 MX$23.13

352.63%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.38 $1.38

$0.30 MX$5.27

360.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.06 $29.06

$5.51 MX$95.9

427.40%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.89 $0.89

$1.31 MX$22.72

-32.06%

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

$29.9K $29.9K

$19.2K MX$333.5K

55.89%

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

$25.4K $25.4K

$23.7K MX$413.3K

7.16%

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

$74.6 $74.6

$41.14 MX$716

81.28%

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

$44.33 $44.33

$27.74 MX$483

59.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$56.4 $56.4

$30.13 MX$524

87.26%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.80 $43.80

$53.7 MX$935

-18.50%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$25.98 MX$452

Cinema Ticket

$12.87 $12.87

$6.49 MX$113

98.31%

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

$1,416 $1,416

$437 MX$7,598

224.32%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.6K $23.6K

$10.5K MX$182.0K

125.93%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$37.15 $37.15

$58.3 MX$1,015

-36.31%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.45 $24.45

$45.86 MX$798

-46.69%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$75.2 $75.2

$101 MX$1,765

-25.86%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.0 $70.0

$107 MX$1,854

-34.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,596 $1,596

$1,005 MX$17.5K

58.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,369 $1,369

$634 MX$11.0K

116.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,591 $2,591

$2,148 MX$37.4K

20.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,201 $2,201

$1,247 MX$21.7K

76.54%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,759 $2,759

$3,859 MX$67.2K

-28.50%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,431 $2,431

$2,085 MX$36.3K

16.61%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,950 $2,950

$1,072 MX$18.7K

175.18%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.57

11.34

-42.06%

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

Last update for West Caldwell, NJ: July 20, 2026

Last update for Mexico City: July 22, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,596 in West Caldwell, NJ and $1,005 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

West Caldwell, NJ pays 175% 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: $75.0 in West Caldwell, NJ vs $54.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $462 vs $291 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

West Caldwell, NJ vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

West Caldwell, NJ and Mexico City differ by about 65% in total monthly costs ($2,446 vs $1,481 including rent). Mexico City is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 175% higher in West Caldwell, NJ, 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: $1,596 in West Caldwell, NJ versus $1,005 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,416 in West Caldwell, NJ versus $437 in Mexico City. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Mexico City – a meal for two runs $54.0 versus $75.0 in West Caldwell, NJ. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $1,481 in Mexico City versus $2,446 in West Caldwell, NJ, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Mexico City but tight or insufficient in West Caldwell, NJ. 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, West Caldwell, 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.

Expats usually find Mexico City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 65% less than in West Caldwell, NJ. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.