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Mexico vs United States

United States is {pct} {word} than Mexico. Compare cost of living, taxes, salaries and visas — and the salary you’d need in United States to match Mexico.

Mexico vs United States at a glance — United States is 78% more expensive than Mexico overall. Average net salary: $4,300/mo vs $700/mo. Top income tax: 37% vs 35%.

MexicoUnited States
Cost of living
Cost of living index59105
Taxes
Income tax (top rate)35%37%
VAT / sales tax16%0%
Social security (employee)—7.7%
Corporate tax30%21%
Capital gains—20%
Economy & salaries
Avg net salary$700/mo$4,300/mo
Minimum wage$420/mo$1,257/mo✓
GDP per capita$13,889✓$90,027✓
Inflation (annual)3.8%✓—
Life expectancy75 yr✓79 yr✓
Quality of life
LGBTQ+ acceptanceModerateHigh
Digital-nomad visaYesNo

✓ = official statistics (US DOL (federal), World Bank 2025, World Bank 2024). Unmarked figures are CostTrek estimates. How we calculate these figures →

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? Frequently asked questions

Is Mexico cheaper than United States?

United States is about 78% more expensive than Mexico overall — its cost-of-living index is 105 versus 59 for Mexico.

How much do you need to earn in United States to live like in Mexico?

To keep the same standard of living, a $75,000 salary in Mexico is worth about $133,346 in United States. Enter your own figure in the calculator above.

Which has lower taxes, Mexico or United States?

Mexico has the lower top income-tax rate — 35% versus 37% in United States.