✦ Cost of living
Mexico City
Mexico City, Mexico
US = 100
In plain terms: Mexico City is about 36% cheaper than a typical US city. A one-bedroom in the centre runs around $800/month.
◆ Cost of living in Mexico City: what to know
Mexico City has become the headline destination for US remote workers, and the reason is arithmetic: a dollar income goes a very long way here. Rent in sought-after neighbourhoods like Roma and Condesa has risen fast with the influx, but it is still well below any major US city, and almost everything else — food, transport, services — is dramatically cheaper.
The caveats come with any megacity in a middle-income country: altitude, traffic, water logistics, and safety that varies sharply by neighbourhood (the popular expat areas are generally fine, but due diligence matters). Spanish helps enormously. For someone earning in dollars or euros, CDMX offers a genuine big-city lifestyle at a fraction of the cost; on a local salary the picture is very different.
▤ Category breakdown
Index vs the US average — the line marks 100. Lower is cheaper.
- Housing60−40%
- Food & groceries65−35%
- Transport50−50%
- Utilities80−20%
- Healthcare65−35%
- Goods & services70−30%
Is Mexico City expensive?
No — Mexico City indexes at 64 against a US average of 100, about 36% below it. Rent is the line that moves most, and a US or Western European salary stretches noticeably further here.
Of the 92 cities we track, Mexico City ranks #74 by overall cost — 18 of them are cheaper.
What a month in Mexico City costs
One person
$1,740/mo
A one-bedroom outside the centre, modest everyday spending.
Couple
$2,550/mo
A one-bedroom in the centre, two adults sharing the bills.
Family of four
$4,520/mo
A three-bedroom in the centre, two adults and two children.
| Monthly line | One person | Couple | Family of four |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent | $550 | $800 | $1,600 |
| Food & groceries | $300 | $440 | $730 |
| Transport | $300 | $440 | $740 |
| Utilities | $160 | $240 | $400 |
| Healthcare | $180 | $270 | $450 |
| Goods & services | $250 | $360 | $600 |
| Total per month | $1,740 | $2,550 | $4,520 |
Estimates, not quotes. Rent comes from this city's own figures; every other line is a US-average household basket (shaped by the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey) scaled by this city's category index. Your own total moves with the neighbourhood, your habits and whether you run a car. How we calculate these figures →
Good to know before you move to Mexico City
A vast, vibrant capital with a perfect spring-like climate — a top nomad pick, though air and traffic bite.
- Currency
- Mexican peso ($ MXN)
- Languages
- Spanish
- Time zone
- UTC-6
- Internet
- 80 Mbps
- English
- Rarely spoken
- Safety
- 40/100
- Climate
- ❄ 14°C · ☀ 17°C · 240 sunny days/yr
- Tap water
- Bottled recommended
- Power
- A/B · 127V
- Driving
- Right-hand side
- Popular areas
- Roma · Condesa · Polanco
About
“CDMX”
A vast, vibrant capital with a perfect spring-like climate — a top nomad pick, though air and traffic bite.
- Currency
- Mexican peso · MXN
- Languages
- Spanish
- Coordinates
- 19.43, -99.13
- Emergency
- 911
What things cost
Housing
Taxes
35%
Income tax
progressive
16%
VAT / sales
30%
Corporate
$700
Avg net salary
per month
Visas & residency
Temporary Resident visa via income/savings; popular with nomads.
✈ 180-day tourist entry for many passports.
Income or savings proof; up to 4 years.
Permanent residence after ~4 yrs. Citizenship after ~5 yrs.
Quality of life
Quality of life
56/100
Safety
40/100
Healthcare
68/100
Pollution
75/100
Internet
80 Mbps
Jan avg
+14 °C
Jul avg
+17 °C
Sunny days
240/yr
Walkability
68/100
Public transit
70/100
Family-friendly
60/100
Living there
- English spoken
- Low
- Expat community
- Large
- Coworking spaces
- 70
- Tap water
- Not recommended
- Private health insurance
- $80/mo
Popular areas
Relocation & documents
Where to look
Updated: · Sources: Cost/quality survey (placeholder) · Economy: World Bank Open Data (GDP per capita, life expectancy, inflation) · Minimum wage (EU + Türkiye): Eurostat earn_mw_cur, 2026-S2 · Taxes: national tax authority / OECD (headline figures)
Can you live in Mexico City without a car?
69/100
Car-free score
68/100
Walkability
70/100
Public transport
Mostly — at 69/100, Mexico City handles everyday trips on foot and by public transport, but a car still helps for weekend trips, bulk shopping and anything outside the built-up core.
Transport in Mexico City indexes at 50 against a US average of 100 — about 50% cheaper than a typical US city. That line covers fares, fuel and running a vehicle, so it is the one that moves most when you drop the car.
Mexico City ranks #57 of 87 cities we track for walkability. See the most walkable cities →
The car-free score is our own composite: 60% walkability, 40% public transport, both on a 0–100 scale. Like the rest of our quality-of-life figures, they are calibrated estimates, not official statistics.
Cost of living in Mexico City — in your currency
- 1-bed rent, city centre$800
- 1-bed rent, outside centre$550
- Inexpensive meal$5
- Monthly transit pass$20
- Utilities (monthly)$60
Converted from USD at approximate rates (2026-09).
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? Frequently asked questions
Is Mexico City, MX expensive to live in?
Mexico City, MX's cost-of-living index is 64 (US average = 100) — about 36% cheaper than a typical US city — and it ranks #74 of the 92 cities we track. On our estimates one person needs around $1,740 a month and a family of four around $4,520, rent included.
How much does it cost to live in Mexico City, MX?
Mexico City, MX's cost-of-living index is 64 (US average = 100) — about 36% cheaper than a typical US city. A one-bedroom apartment in the centre costs around $800 per month.
What are the average living costs in Mexico City, MX?
Living costs in Mexico City, MX are about 36% cheaper than the US average — its cost-of-living index is 64 (US = 100). Monthly living expenses scale with that, and housing is the biggest line: a one-bedroom in the centre runs around $800. See the category breakdown above for where the money goes.
What is the average rent in Mexico City, MX?
A one-bedroom in the city centre averages about $800 per month, and around $550 outside the centre.
What taxes would I pay in Mexico?
Mexico has a top income-tax rate of 35% and a VAT or sales tax of 16%. See the taxes section above for the full breakdown.
What is the weather like in Mexico City, MX?
Mexico City, MX averages around +14 °C in January and +17 °C in July, with roughly 240 sunny days a year.
Is Mexico City, MX safe?
Mexico City, MX scores 40 out of 100 on our safety index, where higher means safer.
Can you live in Mexico City, MX without a car?
Mexico City, MX scores 69/100 on our car-free score — 68/100 for walkability and 70/100 for public transport. The higher the score, the more of daily life you can cover on foot or by transit instead of paying to run a car.
❖ Compare Mexico City with…
★ Ranked in
Estimates use approximate cost-of-living indices (US average = 100) and are for general guidance only.