If you have read The Fun Side of the Wall: Baby Boomer Retirement in Mexico, or have been following this website and blog, then you already know that on average the cost of living in Mexico is 200% lower than in the United States. But what you may be curious about is how the cost of living varies among expat destinations all throughout Mexico. Below, I’ve combined the cost of living data from a number of popular expat destinations so that you can see how different parts of the country compare pricewise.
Here are some quick take-a-ways:
- Mexico City has one of the highest costs of living of any Mexican city or expat destination.
- Beach resorts such as Puerto Vallarta and Cabo San Lucas are more expensive than inland cities.
- Guadalajara, which is Mexico’s second largest city (and has some of the most advanced infrastructure and technology) has one of the lowest costs of living.
- The further you move from the U.S. border or the beach, the lower your cost of living.
To create these Mexico cost of living comparisons, we’ve used consumer provided data from Numbeo.com.
Numbeo ranks New York City as the U.S. city with the highest cost of living. Towards the bottom is El Paso, Texas, with one of the lowest costs of living. Somewhere in the middle is Denver, Colorado.
We’ve chosen to compare our Mexican cost of living data to Denver, Colorado, as Denver represents something closest to the average cost of living in a United States city.
The figures below are based on a comparable standard of living that would require $5,100.00 in Denver, Colorado ($61,200.00/year).
You would need around $1,894.81 in Cabo San Lucas to maintain the same standard of living that would require $5,100.00 in Denver, CO.
- Consumer Prices in Cabo San Lucas are about 56% lower than in Denver, CO
- Consumer Prices Including Rent in Cabo San Lucas are about 63% lower than in Denver, CO
- Rent Prices in Cabo San Lucas are about 74% lower than in Denver, CO
- Restaurant Prices in Cabo San Lucas are about 47% lower than in Denver, CO
- Groceries Prices in Cabo San Lucas are about 63% lower than in Denver, CO
You would need around $1,819.84 in Monterrey to maintain the same standard of life that you can have with $5,100.00 in Denver, CO.
- Consumer Prices in Monterrey are 55.35% lower than in Denver, CO
- Consumer Prices Including Rent in Monterrey are 64.32% lower than in Denver, CO
- Rent Prices in Monterrey are 78.14% lower than in Denver, CO
- Restaurant Prices in Monterrey are 61.75% lower than in Denver, CO
- Groceries Prices in Monterrey are 52.38% lower than in Denver, CO
You would need around $1,958.10 in Puerto Vallarta to maintain the same standard of life that you can have with $5,100.00 in Denver, CO.
- Consumer Prices in Puerto Vallarta are 57.00% lower than in Denver, CO
- Consumer Prices Including Rent in Puerto Vallarta are 61.61% lower than in Denver, CO
- Rent Prices in Puerto Vallarta are 68.70% lower than in Denver, CO
- Restaurant Prices in Puerto Vallarta are 65.67% lower than in Denver, CO
- Groceries Prices in Puerto Vallarta are 50.32% lower than in Denver, CO
You would need around $1,677.33 in Guadalajara to maintain the same standard of life that you can have with $5,100.00 in Denver, CO.
- Consumer Prices in Guadalajara are 58.91% lower than in Denver, CO
- Consumer Prices Including Rent in Guadalajara are 67.11% lower than in Denver, CO
- Rent Prices in Guadalajara are 79.76% lower than in Denver, CO
- Restaurant Prices in Guadalajara are 67.07% lower than in Denver, CO
- Groceries Prices in Guadalajara are 55.55% lower than in Denver, CO
You would need around $2,266.92 in San Miguel de Allende to maintain the same standard of living that you can have for $5,100.00 per month in Denver, CO.
- Consumer Prices in San Miguel de Allende are 55.50% lower than in Denver, CO
- Consumer Prices Including Rent in San Miguel de Allende are 56.41% lower than in Denver, CO
- Rent Prices in San Miguel de Allende are 57.70% lower than in Denver, CO
- Restaurant Prices in San Miguel de Allende are 59.87% lower than in Denver, CO
- Groceries Prices in San Miguel de Allende are 51.64% lower than in Denver, CO
You would need around $1,894.81 in Lake Chapala/Ajijic to maintain the same standard of living that would require $5,100.00 in Denver, CO.
- Rent Prices in Ajijic are 66.61% lower than in Denver, CO
- Restaurant Prices in Ajijic are 61.09% lower than in Denver, CO
- Groceries Prices in Ajijic are 62.21% lower than in Denver, CO
You would need around $2,123.38 in Mexico City to maintain the same standard of life that you can have with $5,100.00 in Denver, CO.
- Consumer Prices in Mexico City are 53.26% lower than in Denver, CO
- Consumer Prices Including Rent in Mexico City are 58.37% lower than in Denver, CO
- Rent Prices in Mexico City are 66.23% lower than in Denver, CO
- Restaurant Prices in Mexico City are 58.78% lower than in Denver, CO
- Groceries Prices in Mexico City are 52.94% lower than in Denver, CO
You would need around $1,613.15 in Merida to maintain the same standard of life that you can have with $5,100.00 in Denver, CO.
- Consumer Prices in Merida are 57.62% lower than in Denver, CO
- Consumer Prices Including Rent in Merida are 68.37% lower than in Denver, CO
- Rent Prices in Merida are 84.93% lower than in Denver, CO
- Restaurant Prices in Merida are 68.21% lower than in Denver, CO
- Groceries Prices in Merida are 52.53% lower than in Denver, CO
You would need around $1,806.84 in Tijuana to maintain the same standard of living that you can have with $5,100.00 in Denver, CO.
- Consumer Prices in Tijuana are 55.16% lower than in Denver, CO
- Consumer Prices Including Rent in Tijuana are 64.57% lower than in Denver, CO
- Rent Prices in Tijuana are 79.08% lower than in Denver, CO
- Restaurant Prices in Tijuana are 63.06% lower than in Denver, CO
- Groceries Prices in Tijuana are 53.11% lower than in Denver, CO
You would need around $1,578.08 in Mexicali to maintain the same standard of life that you can have with $5,100.00 in Denver, CO.
- Consumer Prices in Mexicali are 58.19% lower than in Denver, CO
- Consumer Prices Including Rent in Mexicali are 69.06% lower than in Denver, CO
- Rent Prices in Mexicali are 85.81% lower than in Denver, CO
- Restaurant Prices in Mexicali are 60.90% lower than in Denver, CO
- Groceries Prices in Mexicali are 59.65% lower than in Denver, CO
As you can see, just like the United States, the cost of living varies greatly depending on the area you live. Things that affect the cost of living include proximity to beaches, major airports, weather, infrastructure, and current commercial investment. The further from “tourist” areas you are willing to live, the better. And if you like big cities, the good news is that compared to the United States, urban living in Mexico is very affordable.
About the Author
Travis Scott Luther is the best selling author of The Fun Side of the Wall: Baby Boomer Retirement in Mexico. You can find the book on Amazon.com – just search “baby boomers in Mexico.” You can also learn more about Travis at www.TravisLuther.com.
Photo by Joseff Little on Unsplash