Cost of Living in Mexico: Rent, Housing & Income

This page covers the country of Mexico, not the U.S. state of New Mexico, which often shows up in the same searches. The figures are national averages built from many cities, so Mexico City, the beach towns of the Caribbean and Pacific coasts, and smaller colonial cities all sit inside one number. Prices in each of those places can sit well above or below it.

The data comes from Livingcost, which compiles crowd-sourced price reports and converts them to US dollars. These are estimates that keep changing, and because the peso moves against the dollar, the converted amounts shift with it. Treat every figure as a starting point and confirm it against current local listings.

The World Bank's price level ratio for Mexico was 53.7 in 2025, with the U.S. at 100. At market exchange rates, the same basket of goods and services cost about 54% of its U.S. price.

GDP per capita, adjusted for purchasing power, was 25,868 international dollars in 2025 (U.S.: 90,027 international dollars in 2025). Consumer prices rose 3.8% in 2025 (U.S.: 2.9% in 2024).

Livingcost puts a single person's monthly spending at $1,075/mo with rent and $592/mo without it. The average salary after tax is listed at $873/mo. That salary is a local figure, so it says more about what residents earn than about what a newcomer with remote income would spend.

A one bedroom apartment in a city centre is listed at $603/mo, and a cheaper one bedroom at $369/mo. Larger places follow the same pattern: a three bedroom in the centre is listed at $1,158/mo, against $712/mo for a cheaper one.

The spread between the two columns is wide because "city centre" in Mexico often means a neighborhood that foreign visitors and remote workers have already discovered. Streets a few stops away on the metro or bus, with the same shops and fewer tourists, tend to be priced much closer to the cheap column. Many landlords also quote furnished units at a premium and expect a deposit plus the first month, so ask what the quoted price includes.

Finding a place to rent

Short stays are easy to book online, and many people begin with a month in a furnished apartment before committing to a lease. Local rental groups, property agents and building signs all turn up longer leases at lower prices than the tourist platforms. Walk the neighborhood at night and on a weekday before you sign, because noise and water pressure are hard to judge from photos.

Basic utilities for one person are listed at $45.80/mo, an internet plan at $28.70/mo, and a monthly local transport ticket at $33.70/mo. Those lines are small next to rent. Air conditioning in hot regions can raise the electricity bill, and so can any heavy daily use of a power-hungry appliance.

Transport costs depend on where you live. A monthly ticket suits someone who rides the metro or buses daily. If you plan to drive, fuel, insurance and parking are not part of this estimate.

A lunch menu is listed at $11 each. A liter of milk is listed at $1.66 each and a dozen eggs at $2.72 each. Set menus at local restaurants, markets and street stalls make eating out part of everyday life, and many residents mix cooking at home with inexpensive meals out. Imported brands and restaurants aimed at visitors cost more than the figures here suggest.

For a family of four, Livingcost lists $2,561/mo including rent and $1,761/mo without it. Those totals assume typical spending, so private school fees, childcare and a car can move them a lot. Families who rent a larger home also feel the gap between the centre and the cheaper columns more than a single renter does.

Compare the rent lines first, then the monthly bills, and then decide how much of your plan is eating out. Because the national figure averages cities, check your own target city rather than relying on one number. Mexico City, the resort areas and the northern industrial cities each have their own price level.

Livingcost's totals cover everyday spending. Several items sit outside them:

• Health insurance and out-of-pocket medical care
• Visa or residency fees and any legal help
• Flights home and travel within the country
• Private school tuition
• Taxes, which depend on your status and income

Immigration, tax and healthcare rules depend on your nationality and situation. Check Mexico's official immigration site and talk to a licensed advisor before you plan around them.