Mexico City has become one of the most popular destinations for remote workers, retirees, and anyone who's done the math on living somewhere with world-class food, culture, and weather at a fraction of US prices. But "cheap" is relative — and the gap between a tight budget and a comfortable one matters. We pulled real price data from our Mexico City cost of living database (thousands of submissions) to build an honest monthly budget.
Prices in USD. Based on data current as of early 2026.
The Bottom Line
A single person can live comfortably in Mexico City for $1,300 to $1,700 per month depending on neighborhood. That includes a private apartment, eating out regularly, a gym membership, and public transit. It's roughly 57% cheaper than New York City across the board — and the gap is even wider for rent and entertainment.
Here's how that breaks down, category by category, all based on real prices from our database.
Housing
The biggest line item. Source: MyLifeElsewhere
| Item | Mexico City | NYC |
|---|---|---|
| 1-Bedroom, downtown | $1,079 | $4,037 |
| 1-Bedroom, outside center | $677 | $2,497 |
| Utilities (electric, gas, water) | $37 | $152 |
| Internet (50+ Mbps) | $31 | $68 |
Neighborhoods like Roma, Condesa, and Polanco are where most expats land. A decent 1-bedroom in Roma Norte runs about $1,000–1,100. Move to colonias like Narvarte or Del Valle and you're looking at closer to $677. Utilities are almost negligible — Mexico City's mild climate means you rarely need heating or heavy AC.
Budget estimate: $745/month (outside center, with utilities + internet)
Food
Groceries + eating out. Where CDMX really shines.
Groceries
| Eggs (dozen) | $2.61 |
| Chicken breast (1 lb) | $8.39 |
| Milk (1 liter) | $1.73 |
| Bread (loaf) | $2.63 |
| Local cheese (1 lb) | $5.04 |
| Tomatoes (1 lb) | $2.00 |
| Bananas (1 lb) | $1.76 |
Eating Out
| Meal at inexpensive restaurant | $10.86 |
| Fast food combo | $8.82 |
| Cappuccino | $3.81 |
| Coca-Cola (bottle) | $1.73 |
| Water (bottle) | $1.30 |
Street tacos and fondas (small family-run restaurants) are the real story here — a proper lunch at a fonda is $4–6 and it'll be one of the best meals you've ever had. The $10.86 average for a sit-down meal reflects more mid-range spots. If you cook at home most days and eat out a dozen times a month, $370 is realistic.
Budget estimate: $370/month (mix of cooking + eating out)
Transportation
You probably don't need a car.
| Item | Mexico City | NYC |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly transit pass | $19.54 | $132.00 |
| Taxi ride (downtown) | $4.42 | — |
| Gasoline (1 liter) | $1.36 | — |
The Metro costs 5 pesos per ride (~$0.26). A monthly transit pass is under $20. Most people supplement with Uber or Didi for longer trips — a 20-minute ride across the city typically runs $3–5. Unless you're commuting to the suburbs, owning a car is more hassle than it's worth.
Budget estimate: $40/month (transit pass + occasional rideshare)
Entertainment & Lifestyle
Gym, coffee, going out.
| Item | Mexico City | NYC |
|---|---|---|
| Gym membership (monthly) | $58.44 | $150.04 |
| Movie ticket | $6.51 | — |
| Beer at a bar | $3.26 | — |
| Cappuccino | $3.81 | $5.71 |
Mexico City's coffee scene is genuinely excellent and about a third cheaper than NYC. Craft beer bars in Roma charge $3–5 per pint. Movie tickets at nice theaters (some with reclining leather seats) run about $6.50. Factor in a gym membership and some coffees and you're looking at around $150/month without being particularly frugal.
Budget estimate: $150/month
Total Monthly Budget
Comfortable (outside center)
| Rent (1BR, outside center) | $677 |
| Utilities + Internet | $68 |
| Food (groceries + eating out) | $370 |
| Transportation | $40 |
| Entertainment & lifestyle | $150 |
| Total | $1,305 |
Comfortable (downtown / Roma / Condesa)
| Rent (1BR, downtown) | $1,079 |
| Utilities + Internet | $68 |
| Food (groceries + eating out) | $370 |
| Transportation | $40 |
| Entertainment & lifestyle | $150 |
| Total | $1,707 |
These budgets don't include health insurance (~$50–150/month for private coverage in Mexico), flights home, or clothing. They assume a single person living alone. Couples sharing a 1-bedroom can cut the per-person cost significantly.
How It Compares
At a cost index of 42.6 (where NYC = 100), Mexico City is cheaper than most Latin American capitals that expats gravitate toward. Buenos Aires comes in at 45.7, though it fluctuates wildly with Argentina's currency situation. Bangkok is comparable at 41.1. Bogota is significantly cheaper at 29.6, but with trade-offs in infrastructure and variety.
Compared to US cities, the savings are dramatic. The same lifestyle that costs $1,300 in Mexico City would run you roughly $2,100 in Austin and over $3,000 in New York. Rent is where the gap is widest — housing in CDMX costs 73% less than NYC.
Explore the full price breakdown on our Mexico City cost of living page, or run a side-by-side comparison with your current city using our comparison tool.