MigrantoCost of living in Mexico
Average monthly spending, by standard of living, by category, and against other countries
Monthly cost
MX$11,900
what a typical person spends
Spending by standard of living
MX$4,570richest 20%
MX$39,900
Mexico is really several countries when it comes to what life costs — local food and labour keep a lot of daily life affordable, while the big cities and tourist coasts charge what richer places charge. What stands out most is the distance between a comfortable life and a hand-to-mouth one, which here runs about as wide as anywhere.
Where people spend money in Mexico
Even with cheap local produce, food still claims the largest share of a typical month, simply because everyone has to eat. What's striking is how much getting around costs — sprawling cities and long commutes push transport ahead of the rent — while housing, real as it is, leaves you more room to choose.
Living-cost calculator
What it costs to live in Mexico
Tell us what you earn and spend today — we'll estimate what the same lifestyle would cost in Mexico and how much you could have left each month
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- How much could be left each month
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Cost of living in Mexico
MX$4,570/mo
vs MX$13,800 in your country
Take-home
MX$5,450
vs MX$20,700 in your country
Potential savings
MX$886
more than in your country
Standard of living
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How living costs in Mexico compare
Here's the twist: by world standards a life in Mexico costs more than you might guess, yet within Latin America it lands squarely in the middle. The country's size and its pull toward the US economy lift the headline price, even as plenty of the region sits higher — so it reads as average at home and dearer from abroad.
Data source: household consumption 2024 (World Bank), International Comparison Program 2021 (World Bank), category breakdown 2023 (United Nations Statistics Division), adjusted to 2026 using IMF GDP-per-capita growth
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Frequently asked questions
What is the cost of living in Mexico?
A typical person in Mexico spends about MX$11,900 a month — around MX$143,000 a year — on housing, groceries, transport and other everyday costs. It's a nationwide average across different regions, cities and types of housing.
What is the cost of living in Mexico in US dollars?
The cost of living in Mexico is about $690 a month, or roughly $8,280 a year per person.
How much money do you need to live comfortably in Mexico?
It all depends on your standard of living. A modest budget runs about MX$4,570 a month per person, a typical one around MX$11,900, and a comfortable life around MX$17,200. In big cities and for a family, costs are usually higher.
What do people spend the most on in Mexico?
The biggest expense is groceries, at about MX$3,030 a month (26% of spending). Then come transport (MX$2,430, 21%) and housing (MX$1,910, 16%).
Is the average salary in Mexico enough to live on?
Usually not quite. Average spending is about MX$11,900 a month, while the average take-home pay in Mexico is about MX$9,440. For more on incomes, see salaries in Mexico.
Is Mexico an expensive country to live in?
Somewhat. Mexico is more expensive than 65% of countries worldwide and ranks 12th of 33 in Latin America by cost of living.
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Living in Mexico
See the full country overview