πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $2,869 in Wilmington, DE versus $1,448 in Mexico City.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $4,019 in Wilmington, DE versus $2,354 in Mexico City.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,169 in Wilmington, DE versus $3,260 in Mexico City.
πLiving in Wilmington, DE is roughly 98% more expensive than Mexico City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
πBoth cities are pricier than the global median: Wilmington, DE115% above, Mexico City9% above.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Wilmington, DE
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.32$17.32
$12.96MX$223
33.64%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$84.4$84.4
$52.3MX$900
61.19%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.18$11.18
$9.69MX$167
15.38%
Cappuccino
$3.81$3.81
$3.75MX$64.6
1.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.56$2.56
$1.56MX$26.91
64.10%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.36$1.36
$1.16MX$19.93
17.24%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.37$4.37
$3.24MX$55.8
34.88%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.80$6.80
$4.90MX$84.3
38.78%
π Groceries & Markets
Wilmington, DE
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.15$1.15
$1.70MX$29.29
-32.35%
White Bread(500g)
$3.46$3.46
$2.67MX$45.90
29.59%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$5.36$5.36
$1.89MX$32.49
183.60%
Eggs
$3.07$3.07
$2.52MX$43.37
21.83%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.14$15.14
$10.02MX$172
51.10%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.33$12.33
$8.53MX$147
44.55%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.38$16.38
$11.94MX$205
37.19%
Apples(1kg)
$6.06$6.06
$2.97MX$51.1
104.04%
Banana(1kg)
$1.71$1.71
$1.79MX$30.88
-4.47%
Oranges(1kg)
$5.13$5.13
$2.00MX$34.40
156.50%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.06$4.06
$1.96MX$33.74
107.14%
Potato(1kg)
$3.53$3.53
$2.16MX$37.21
63.43%
Onion(1kg)
$3.16$3.16
$2.27MX$39.04
39.21%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.47$2.47
$1.40MX$24.14
76.43%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.52$1.52
$1.11MX$19.18
36.94%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.93$9.93
$4.20MX$72.2
136.43%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.03$13.03
$16.54MX$285
-21.22%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.63$2.63
$1.68MX$28.94
56.55%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.72$4.72
$3.59MX$61.8
31.48%
π Getting Around
Wilmington, DE
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.61$1.61
$0.39MX$6.65
312.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$59.8$59.8
$19.19MX$330
211.36%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.89$3.89
$1.38MX$23.77
181.88%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.36$1.36
$0.30MX$5.19
353.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$30.46$30.46
$5.39MX$92.7
465.12%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.78$0.78
$1.29MX$22.13
-39.53%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.7K$29.7K
$18.9KMX$325.1K
57.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K$26.2K
$23.8KMX$409.5K
9.92%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Wilmington, DE
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$210$210
$39.86MX$686
425.59%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$55.1$55.1
$27.83MX$479
97.99%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$68.4$68.4
$29.77MX$512
129.66%
π Sport & Entertainment
Wilmington, DE
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$33.21$33.21
$52.0MX$894
-36.09%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.23$15.23
$26.22MX$451
-41.91%
Cinema Ticket
$12.03$12.03
$6.27MX$108
91.87%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Wilmington, DE
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,591$1,591
$433MX$7,443
267.75%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$40.8K$40.8K
$10.5KMX$181.3K
286.98%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Wilmington, DE
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.82$36.82
$57.0MX$981
-35.40%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.84$46.84
$45.33MX$780
3.33%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$82.5$82.5
$102MX$1,753
-18.99%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$91.6$91.6
$109MX$1,867
-15.57%
π Accommodation & Living
Wilmington, DE
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,919$1,919
$994MX$17.1K
93.08%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,637$1,637
$617MX$10.6K
165.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,170$3,170
$2,086MX$35.9K
51.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,234$2,234
$1,256MX$21.6K
77.89%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,853$2,853
$3,936MX$67.7K
-27.50%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,411$2,411
$2,089MX$35.9K
15.44%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Wilmington, DE
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,745$3,745
$1,131MX$19.5K
231.00%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.45
11.34
-43.12%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Wilmington, DE: June 14, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: June 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,919 in Wilmington, DE and $994 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
π°Wilmington, DE pays 231% 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: $84.0 in Wilmington, DE vs $52.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $411 vs $292 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
Wilmington, DE vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Wilmington, DE and Mexico City?
Wilmington, DE and Mexico City differ by about 98% in total monthly costs ($2,869 vs $1,448 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: Wilmington, DE or Mexico City?
Wilmington, DE pays 231% 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 Wilmington, DE and Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,919 in Wilmington, DE versus $994 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Wilmington, DE and Mexico City?
A monthly transit pass in Mexico City runs roughly 211% less than in Wilmington, DE. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Wilmington, DE and Mexico City?
Childcare runs $1,591 in Wilmington, DE versus $433 in Mexico City. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,448 in Mexico City versus $2,869 in Wilmington, DE, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Mexico City but tight or insufficient in Wilmington, DE. The gap between the two cities makes Mexico City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Wilmington, DE 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: Wilmington, DE or Mexico City?
Expats usually find Mexico City gentler on the wallet β expenses run 98% less than in Wilmington, DE. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Wilmington, DE vs other spots: cost of living compared