✦ Compare
Buenos Aires vs
Mexico City
Cost-of-living comparison and salary equivalence. Enter your current salary to see what you'd need to earn to live equally well.
To keep the same standard of living in Mexico City, MX, you'd need
$90,789 / year
Mexico City, MX is 21% more expensive overall
Category breakdown (Mexico City, MX vs Buenos Aires, AR)
- Housing+30%
- Food & groceries+18%
- Transport+25%
- Utilities+14%
- Healthcare+18%
- Goods & services+17%
Median 1-bed rent
$500 /mo
Buenos Aires, AR overview →
Median 1-bed rent
$800 /mo
Mexico City, MX overview →
▤ Full comparison
| Buenos Aires, AR | Mexico City, MX | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost of living | ||
| Overall cost index | 53 | 64 |
| Housing | 46 | 60 |
| Food | 55 | 65 |
| Transport | 40 | 50 |
| Utilities | 70 | 80 |
| Healthcare | 55 | 65 |
| Goods & services | 60 | 70 |
| Housing | ||
| Rent, 1-bed centre | $500/mo | $800/mo |
| Rent, 1-bed outside | $350/mo | $550/mo |
| Rent, 3-bed centre | $1,000/mo | $1,600/mo |
| Buy price / m² centre | $2,500 | $3,200 |
| Money & purchasing power | ||
| $1,000 goes as far as | $1,880 | $1,553 |
| Inexpensive meal | $8 | $5 |
| Monthly transit pass | $15 | $20 |
| Taxes | ||
| Income tax (top rate) | 35% | 35% |
| VAT / sales tax | 21% | 16% |
| Corporate tax | 35% | 30% |
| Economy & salaries | ||
| Avg net salary | $500/mo | $700/mo |
| Minimum wage | — | $420/mo |
| GDP per capita | $13,000 | $12,000 |
| Work & digital nomad | ||
| Digital-nomad visa | Yes | Yes |
| English proficiency | Low | Low |
| Coworking spaces | 45 | 70 |
| Time zone | UTC-3 | UTC-6 |
| Quality of life | ||
| Safety index | 42 | 40 |
| Healthcare index | 68 | 68 |
| Pollution index | 50 | 75 |
| Internet speed | 60 Mbps | 80 Mbps |
| Walkability | 80 | 68 |
| Public transport | 72 | 70 |
| Family-friendly | 62 | 60 |
| Tap water | Safe to drink | Use caution |
| Health insurance | $60/mo | $80/mo |
| Life expectancy | 77 yr | 75 yr |
| LGBTQ+ acceptance | High | Moderate |
| Climate | ||
| January avg | +25 °C | +14 °C |
| July avg | +11 °C | +17 °C |
| Sunny days / year | 180 | 240 |
| Rainfall / year | 1,150 mm | 850 mm |
| Connectivity | ||
| Flight to nearest hub | 3 h | 1 h |
Taxes & Economy & salaries: Argentina vs Mexico. Estimates use approximate cost-of-living indices (US average = 100) and are for general guidance only.
? Frequently asked questions
Is Buenos Aires cheaper than Mexico City?
Mexico City is about 21% more expensive than Buenos Aires overall — its cost-of-living index is 64 versus 53 for Buenos Aires.
How much do you need to earn in Mexico City to live like in Buenos Aires?
To keep the same standard of living, a $75,000 salary in Buenos Aires is worth about $90,789 in Mexico City. Enter your own figure in the calculator above.
Which has lower taxes, Buenos Aires or Mexico City?
Argentina has the lower top income-tax rate — 35% versus 35% in Mexico.
◷ More comparisons from Buenos Aires
Estimates use approximate cost-of-living indices (US average = 100) and are for general guidance only.