πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $2,896 in Williamsburg, VA versus $1,467 in Mexico City.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $4,154 in Williamsburg, VA versus $2,371 in Mexico City.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,412 in Williamsburg, VA versus $3,274 in Mexico City.
πLiving in Williamsburg, VA is roughly 97% more expensive than Mexico City, driven mainly by Eating Out.
πBoth cities are pricier than the global median: Williamsburg, VA116% above, Mexico City10% above.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Williamsburg, VA
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.75$19.75
$13.18MX$230
49.85%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$81.1$81.1
$53.9MX$941
50.52%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.37$13.37
$9.42MX$165
41.93%
Cappuccino
$5.44$5.44
$3.55MX$62.0
53.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.86$2.86
$1.62MX$28.25
76.54%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22$2.22
$1.11MX$19.46
100.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.95$5.95
$3.12MX$54.5
90.71%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.64$7.64
$4.63MX$80.9
65.01%
π Groceries & Markets
Williamsburg, VA
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.96$0.96
$1.70MX$29.71
-43.53%
White Bread(500g)
$3.21$3.21
$2.72MX$47.47
18.01%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.96$3.96
$1.91MX$33.39
107.33%
Eggs
$3.58$3.58
$2.54MX$44.29
40.94%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.30$13.30
$10.03MX$175
32.60%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.04$8.04
$8.09MX$141
-0.62%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.90$14.90
$11.62MX$203
28.23%
Apples(1kg)
$6.71$6.71
$2.97MX$51.8
125.93%
Banana(1kg)
$1.31$1.31
$1.81MX$31.55
-27.62%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.78$4.78
$2.01MX$35.16
137.81%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.41$3.41
$2.03MX$35.54
67.98%
Potato(1kg)
$3.57$3.57
$2.12MX$37.10
68.40%
Onion(1kg)
$2.78$2.78
$2.27MX$39.63
22.47%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.59$1.59
$1.40MX$24.45
13.57%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.80$1.80
$1.13MX$19.74
59.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.36$6.36
$4.27MX$74.6
48.95%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.36$10.36
$15.56MX$272
-33.42%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.67$2.67
$1.76MX$30.68
51.70%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.64$3.64
$3.60MX$62.8
1.11%
π Getting Around
Williamsburg, VA
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.97$1.97
$0.38MX$6.69
418.42%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$19.18MX$335
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.55$3.55
$1.38MX$24.03
157.25%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.42$2.42
$0.28MX$4.83
764.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.75$29.75
$5.45MX$95.1
445.87%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.83$0.83
$1.30MX$22.77
-36.15%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.1K$29.1K
$18.7KMX$326.4K
55.50%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6K$26.6K
$23.1KMX$404.0K
15.22%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Williamsburg, VA
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$188$188
$40.86MX$714
360.94%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$55.7$55.7
$26.81MX$468
107.65%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$67.1$67.1
$29.96MX$523
124.03%
π Sport & Entertainment
Williamsburg, VA
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$96.9$96.9
$52.0MX$908
86.20%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.06$25.06
$26.84MX$469
-6.63%
Cinema Ticket
$15.26$15.26
$6.30MX$110
142.22%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Williamsburg, VA
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,734$1,734
$436MX$7,617
297.60%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$24.2K$24.2K
$10.4KMX$181.9K
132.11%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Williamsburg, VA
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$37.29$37.29
$56.7MX$989
-34.17%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.52$35.52
$44.38MX$775
-19.96%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$95.5$95.5
$103MX$1,798
-7.22%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$153$153
$106MX$1,843
44.97%
π Accommodation & Living
Williamsburg, VA
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,383$2,383
$1,022MX$17.8K
133.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,548$1,548
$631MX$11.0K
145.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,615$2,615
$2,136MX$37.3K
22.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,570$2,570
$1,243MX$21.7K
106.78%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,148$2,148
$3,903MX$68.2K
-44.96%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,748$1,748
$2,064MX$36.1K
-15.34%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Williamsburg, VA
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,480$4,480
$1,115MX$19.5K
301.81%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.6
11.34
-41.80%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Williamsburg, VA: May 31, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,383 in Williamsburg, VA and $1,022 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
π°Williamsburg, VA pays 302% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
πDining out: $81.0 in Williamsburg, VA vs $54.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $360 vs $288 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
Williamsburg, VA vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Williamsburg, VA and Mexico City?
Williamsburg, VA and Mexico City differ by about 97% in total monthly costs ($2,896 vs $1,467 including rent). Mexico City is meaningfully more affordable β a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Williamsburg, VA or Mexico City?
Williamsburg, VA pays 302% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Williamsburg, VA and Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $2,383 in Williamsburg, VA versus $1,022 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 Williamsburg, VA and Mexico City?
Childcare runs $1,734 in Williamsburg, VA versus $436 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 β a meal for two runs $54.0 versus $81.0 in Williamsburg, VA. 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 $1,467 in Mexico City versus $2,896 in Williamsburg, VA, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Mexico City but tight or insufficient in Williamsburg, VA. The gap between the two cities makes Mexico City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Williamsburg, VA and Mexico City?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better β the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Where should expats move: Williamsburg, VA or Mexico City?
Expats usually find Mexico City gentler on the wallet β expenses run 97% less than in Williamsburg, VA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Williamsburg, VA vs other spots: cost of living compared