Cost of Living · MX vs US
🇲🇽 Mexico City vs 🇺🇸 New York: what everyday life costs
Monthly essentials: $1,258 in Mexico vs $2,410 in United States — 91.52% more expensive.
Biggest differences
Much cheaper in United States
- ⛽ Petrol/gasoline, 1L: 23.38%
- 🍻 Imported beer, 330ml bottle: 23.46%
- 👖 Jeans (mid-range brand): 23.48%
Closest to Mexico prices
- 🏢 Rent: 3-bedroom, city center: +109.32%
- 🏡 Rent: 1-bedroom, outside center: +109.32%
- 🏙️ Rent: 1-bedroom, city center: +109.32%
The full basket (32 items)
| Item | Mexico | United States | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing | |||
| 🏙️ Rent: 1-bedroom, city center | $836 | $1,750 | +109.32% |
| 🏡 Rent: 1-bedroom, outside center | $669 | $1,400 | +109.32% |
| 🏢 Rent: 3-bedroom, city center | $1,529 | $3,200 | +109.32% |
| Food out | |||
| 🍜 Meal, inexpensive restaurant | $10.07 | $18.00 | +78.75% |
| 🍽️ Dinner for two, mid-range | $41.98 | $75.00 | +78.66% |
| 🍔 Fast-food combo meal | $6.49 | $11.00 | +69.49% |
| Groceries | |||
| 🥛 Milk, 1L | $0.72 | $1.10 | +52.78% |
| 🍞 Bread, fresh loaf 500g | $2.10 | $3.20 | +52.38% |
| 🥚 Eggs, dozen | $2.23 | $3.40 | +52.47% |
| 🍗 Chicken breast, 1kg | $6.56 | $10.00 | +52.44% |
| 🍚 White rice, 1kg | $2.62 | $4.00 | +52.67% |
| 🍎 Apples, 1kg | $3.15 | $4.80 | +52.38% |
| 🧀 Local cheese, 1kg | $7.87 | $12.00 | +52.48% |
| 💧 Water, 1.5L bottle | $1.31 | $2.00 | +52.67% |
| Drinks | |||
| 🍺 Domestic beer, pint (draught) | $3.36 | $6.00 | +78.57% |
| 🍻 Imported beer, 330ml bottle | $6.48 | $8.00 | +23.46% |
| ☕ Cappuccino | $2.80 | $5.00 | +78.57% |
| 🥤 Coke/Pepsi, 330ml | $1.51 | $2.30 | +52.32% |
| Transport | |||
| 🚇 Public transport, monthly pass | $38.35 | $65.00 | +69.49% |
| 🎫 Public transport, one-way | $1.62 | $2.75 | +69.75% |
| 🚕 Taxi start (normal tariff) | $2.24 | $4.00 | +78.57% |
| 🛣️ Taxi, per km | $1.01 | $1.80 | +78.22% |
| ⛽ Petrol/gasoline, 1L | $0.77 | $0.95 | +23.38% |
| Utilities & comms | |||
| 💡 Basic utilities, 85m² apartment | $118 | $200 | +69.49% |
| 🌐 Internet, 60Mbps+ unlimited | $41.30 | $70.00 | +69.49% |
| 📱 Mobile plan, 10GB+ data | $26.55 | $45.00 | +69.49% |
| Lifestyle | |||
| 🏋️ Gym membership, month | $27.98 | $50.00 | +78.7% |
| 🎬 Cinema seat | $7.84 | $14.00 | +78.57% |
| 💈 Men's haircut | $16.79 | $30.00 | +78.68% |
| 👖 Jeans (mid-range brand) | $44.54 | $55.00 | +23.48% |
| 👟 Running shoes (brand) | $72.88 | $90.00 | +23.49% |
| 💻 Coworking hot desk, month | $140 | $250 | +78.67% |
Estimated from World Bank — Consumption price levels with per-item elasticity — model figures, not quotes. Compare any pair in the interactive tool.
Related
Frequently asked questions
- How much more expensive is United States than Mexico?
- A single person's monthly essentials run about $2,410 in United States versus $1,258 in Mexico — 91.52% more. Rents differ the most; world-priced goods like petrol and electronics the least.
- What does a beer cost in United States?
- A domestic draught pint is roughly $6.00 in United States, versus about $3.36 in Mexico.
- How much is rent in United States compared to Mexico?
- A 1-bedroom city-center apartment is estimated at $1,750/month in United States versus $836/month in Mexico (+109.32%). Housing is the most locally-priced item in the basket.
- How are these prices estimated?
- Curated US baseline prices scaled by each country's purchasing-power price level with per-item elasticities (housing 1.4, services 1.1, groceries 0.8, world-priced goods 0.4) — model estimates for orientation, not quotes.