Last update: Oct 2026 Mexico ⭐ Capital 9.2M

Cost of Living in Mexico City

For one person, living costs in Mexico City are estimated at $1,608 a month, including rent and utilities – 26% above the national average. Rent and utilities take about half of the total.

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Mexico City

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Mexico City actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Living costs for one person come to about $1,608 monthly including rent, or $834 excluding housing.

$1,608 /mo

Estimated monthly costs for a couple: $2,549 with rent, or $1,428 without housing.

$2,549 /mo

Monthly costs for a family of three come to about $3,490 including rent, or $2,021 for daily expenses alone.

$3,490 /mo

Mexico City sits 18–23% above the global median across household types. Within North America, costs are 20% below average – relatively affordable for the region.

Currency
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🍽 Eating Out
Cost
Range
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.62 MX$199
$5.85 MX$110
$26.58 MX$499
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.35 MX$908
$32.23 MX$605
$86.0 MX$1,614
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.35 MX$194
$7.93 MX$149
$13.23 MX$248
Cappuccino
$3.69 MX$69.3
$2.37 MX$44.59
$4.76 MX$89.4
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.67 MX$31.29
$1.11 MX$20.86
$2.77 MX$52.0
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.27 MX$23.76
$0.83 MX$15.65
$2.11 MX$39.60
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.19 MX$59.9
$1.97 MX$36.93
$5.86 MX$110
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.31 MX$99.6
$3.76 MX$70.6
$7.96 MX$149
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cost
Range
Milk (1 liter)
$1.72 MX$32.38
$1.28 MX$24.01
$2.13 MX$40.01
White Bread (500g)
$3.04 MX$57.1
$1.74 MX$32.61
$4.63 MX$86.9
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.94 MX$36.44
$1.06 MX$19.88
$2.37 MX$44.54
Eggs
$2.89 MX$54.2
$1.33 MX$25.01
$4.38 MX$82.3
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.97 MX$206
$5.28 MX$99.2
$18.48 MX$347
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.25 MX$174
$4.18 MX$78.5
$13.07 MX$245
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.13 MX$284
$9.73 MX$183
$21.61 MX$406
Apples (1kg)
$3.05 MX$57.2
$1.85 MX$34.67
$4.21 MX$79.1
Banana (1kg)
$1.94 MX$36.45
$1.49 MX$27.94
$2.65 MX$49.77
Oranges (1kg)
$2.03 MX$38.02
$1.31 MX$24.53
$3.27 MX$61.4
Tomato (1kg)
$2.31 MX$43.46
$1.11 MX$20.77
$3.31 MX$62.1
Potato (1kg)
$2.04 MX$38.21
$1.10 MX$20.63
$3.29 MX$61.7
Onion (1kg)
$1.80 MX$33.79
$1.32 MX$24.79
$2.10 MX$39.48
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.48 MX$27.77
$0.90 MX$16.92
$2.11 MX$39.55
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.27 MX$23.80
$0.90 MX$16.97
$1.59 MX$29.89
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.30 MX$99.6
$4.81 MX$90.2
$6.55 MX$123
Wine (Bottle)
$16.10 MX$302
$8.05 MX$151
$26.85 MX$504
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.98 MX$37.23
$1.07 MX$20.11
$2.67 MX$50.1
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.25 MX$79.8
$2.35 MX$44.11
$6.27 MX$118
🚌 Getting Around
Cost
Range
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.31 MX$5.73
$0.26 MX$4.83
$0.51 MX$9.67
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$19.73 MX$371
$14.30 MX$268
$49.34 MX$926
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.84 MX$34.50
$1.31 MX$24.64
$3.14 MX$59.0
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.53 MX$10.02
$0.29 MX$5.50
$0.85 MX$15.91
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.30 MX$99.4
$4.09 MX$76.8
$10.48 MX$197
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.51 MX$28.36
$1.33 MX$24.89
$1.57 MX$29.52
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.8K MX$408.4K
$21.0K MX$395.1K
$24.4K MX$458.4K
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.0K MX$450.3K
$22.7K MX$426.2K
$27.5K MX$516.0K
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cost
Range
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$63.0 MX$1,182
$32.95 MX$619
$107 MX$2,003
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.39 MX$514
$10.85 MX$204
$43.44 MX$816
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$35.67 MX$670
$24.65 MX$463
$98.6 MX$1,851
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cost
Range
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$58.9 MX$1,107
$22.45 MX$422
$135 MX$2,529
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.64 MX$444
$15.89 MX$298
$37.07 MX$696
Cinema Ticket
$6.40 MX$120
$4.80 MX$90.2
$9.61 MX$180
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cost
Range
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$432 MX$8,103
$269 MX$5,043
$537 MX$10.1K
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.4K MX$214.5K
$7,216 MX$135.5K
$20.0K MX$375.5K
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cost
Range
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$68.2 MX$1,281
$42.45 MX$797
$95.5 MX$1,793
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$53.1 MX$997
$26.57 MX$499
$79.7 MX$1,496
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$108 MX$2,023
$75.7 MX$1,421
$162 MX$3,045
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$117 MX$2,202
$65.5 MX$1,229
$191 MX$3,584
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cost
Range
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,113 MX$20.9K
$796 MX$14.9K
$1,666 MX$31.3K
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$710 MX$13.3K
$479 MX$8,990
$1,266 MX$23.8K
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,588 MX$48.6K
$1,624 MX$30.5K
$3,628 MX$68.1K
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,406 MX$26.4K
$794 MX$14.9K
$2,690 MX$50.5K
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,631 MX$68.2K
$3,243 MX$60.9K
$4,547 MX$85.4K
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,135 MX$40.1K
$1,305 MX$24.5K
$2,949 MX$55.4K
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cost
Range
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$946 MX$17.8K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.35
10
12

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

Last update: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Mexico City $1,608
Accommodation & Living
$710
Groceries & Markets
$320
Eating Out
$199
Clothing & Footwear
$156
Monthly Utilities & Internet
$126
Sport & Entertainment
$72
Getting Around
$25

Cost Breakdown

Average take-home pay sits at $946, while typical expenses reach $1,608. The gap means tight budgeting for locals, though expats with foreign income can live comfortably.

Expect to spend about $320 monthly on groceries. Dining out at a mid-range restaurant costs roughly $48 for two – well below the North American average of $78.

Public transport is priced at around $19.73 per month – among the cheapest in North America (average $54).

Cost Highlights

Taxi is cheaper than 99% of cities in North America

Public transport monthly pass is cheaper than 98% of cities in North America

Gasoline is more expensive than 93% of cities in North America

Good to know
🕒 Local time
06:50 6:50 AM
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
9,209,944 Capital
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to MXN – Mexican Peso Converter

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 31, 2026: 1 USD = 18.77 MXN (100 MXN = 5.33 USD). 1 EUR = 20.96 MXN (100 MXN = 4.77 EUR).

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Mexico City Median Internet Speeds (Updated April 2026)

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Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
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Cost of Living in Mexico City - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mexico City a good value for travelers, expats, and digital nomads compared with other major cities?
Mexico City generally offers a compelling mix of value and variety. You can secure comfortable long-term housing in several neighborhoods, from walkable cores like Roma and Condesa to quieter pockets beyond the center. The food scene ranges from affordable street eats to diverse international cuisine, while markets help you stretch a budget without sacrificing flavor. Public transit and ride-hailing cover the city well, and coworking spaces keep you productive. The city scales with your lifestyle, from budget-friendly days to more flexible, upscale experiences. Cost of Living in Mexico City, Mexico remains accessible for many long stays. Tip: Start with a short-term lease in a core neighborhood to compare daily rhythms.
What does daily life look like for housing, food, transport, and errands in Mexico City?
Daily life blends affordability with big city variety. Housing options range from shared apartments to longer-term rentals in Roma, Condesa, or San Ángel; search with terms like month-to-month leases and building amenities to compare value quickly. Food options span bustling mercados, casual taquerías, and international eateries, so you can cook at home or eat out without breaking the budget. Public transit covers most neighborhoods, with ride-hailing handy for late nights; bikes and scooters support quick, cheap trips. Errands from groceries to pharmacies are typically convenient near residential blocks. Mexico City, Mexico living cost varies by neighborhood but stays manageable with planning. Tip: scout a few corridors for daily commutes before choosing a base.
How can you assess quality of life, budget effectively, and find the neighborhood that fits your lifestyle and seasonality?
Quality of life in Mexico City blends culture, convenience, and opportunity, so you can tailor budgeting around your rhythms. A practical framework is to divide essentials into housing, food, transport, and activities, then adjust as seasons shift. The wet season draws crowds to markets and galleries, while dry spells are generally more comfortable for outdoor work. Neighborhood fit matters: Roma and Condesa are walkable and social, while Polanco leans upscale and calmer. Save by cooking at home, using local markets, and choosing flexible coworking days. When planning, check internet reliability and safety routines in your chosen block. Tip: set a monthly walkable radius to minimize commutes and maximize exploration.
Is the cost of living in Mexico City reasonable?
At around $1,608 monthly all-in, Mexico City offers decent value. It’s not the cheapest and not the priciest – a good fit for people who want city convenience without capital-level costs.
What are the monthly living expenses in Mexico City as of 2026?
As of 2026, monthly living costs in Mexico City come to around $1,608 including rent, or roughly $834 excluding it. Numbers shift a bit by season and neighborhood, but this range works well as a planning baseline.
Does the average salary in Mexico City cover rent and expenses?
An average salary of $946 doesn’t cover the $1,608 monthly cost of living in Mexico City for one person renting alone. Locals make it work with shared housing, a second income, or living with family – there’s little room for surprises at this income level.
What does a one-bedroom apartment cost in Mexico City per month?
Where you live in Mexico City makes all the difference. Central one-bedrooms cost about $1,113; commute-friendly outer districts come in around $710. Overall, the market runs from $710 to $1,113 depending on size, location, and apartment condition.
Is public transport affordable in Mexico City?
A monthly transit pass in Mexico City runs about $19.73. If public transport covers your daily commute and errands, it’s a far cheaper option than running a car.
What should I budget for groceries in Mexico City?
At about $320 monthly, food costs in Mexico City sit in moderate territory, close to what one person spends on groceries in a typical city worldwide.
Does $3,000 cover living expenses in Mexico City?
$3,000 stretches far in Mexico City – all-in monthly costs average only $1,608. The surplus means you can build savings, travel a bit, and live above the local average without much effort.
What are the pros and cons of living in Mexico City?
Mexico City offers genuinely appealing day-to-day living. Residents value fast internet, vibrant nightlife, remote work facilities, and at around $1,608 per month, it’s accessible to a broad range of incomes. Most people find the cost-to-quality balance sustainable long-term.
What does it take to save money in Mexico City?
Monthly expenses in Mexico City run around $1,608, so putting money aside takes more than $2,412 in income. Keeping housing costs low and avoiding lifestyle creep are the keys to building a decent savings rate here.
Can budget travelers get by in Mexico City?
Budget travel in Mexico City works but takes effort. Hostels, street food, and local restaurants keep daily costs reasonable. All-in monthly expenses run about $1,608 for residents – backpackers can do less with some planning.

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