🇦🇷 Buenos Aires vs 🇲🇽 Mexico City
Cost of Living Comparison (2026)
Buenos Aires is 25% cheaper than Mexico City
Quick answer
Comparing Buenos Aires, Argentina and Mexico City, Mexico: a moderate single-person monthly budget is approximately $1,240 in Buenos Aires versus $1,651 in Mexico City. Buenos Aires is roughly 25% cheaper overall. Central 1-bed rent: $752/mo (Buenos Aires) vs $1,001/mo (Mexico City). The totals use the single-person city-centre basket: canonical 1-bedroom city-centre rent plus modeled groceries, dining, transport, utilities/internet, healthcare, and leisure/personal spending.
Key facts
- Moderate budget: $1,240/mo in Buenos Aires single person — city-centre rent + modeled non-housing categories.
- Moderate budget: $1,651/mo in Mexico City single person — like-for-like city-centre basket.
- Central 1-bed rent $752/mo in Buenos Aires · $1,001/mo in Mexico City.
- Cheaper overall: Buenos Aires ~25% cheaper than Mexico City.
- Source World Bank ICP + national statistics + item-level price snapshots · CC BY 4.0.
Monthly Budget Comparison
| Lifestyle | 🇦🇷 Buenos Aires | 🇲🇽 Mexico City | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | $850/mo | $1,150/mo | +35% |
| Moderate | $1,240/mo | $1,651/mo | +33% |
| Comfortable | $1,850/mo | $2,500/mo | +35% |
The Moderate row equals the category table below: single-person city-centre basket: canonical 1-bedroom city-centre rent plus modeled groceries, dining, transport, utilities/internet, healthcare, and leisure/personal spending. Budget and Comfortable scale that same basket.
Cost Breakdown by Category
| Category | 🇦🇷 Buenos Aires | 🇲🇽 Mexico City | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (1-bed, center) | $752/mo | $1,001/mo | +33% |
| Groceries & Food | $150/mo | $200/mo | +33% |
| Dining Out | $75/mo | $100/mo | +33% |
| Transport | $75/mo | $100/mo | +33% |
| Utilities & Internet | $75/mo | $100/mo | +33% |
| Healthcare | $60/mo | $80/mo | +33% |
| Leisure & Personal | $53/mo | $70/mo | +32% |
Category sum = Moderate budget. Basis: single-person city-centre basket: canonical 1-bedroom city-centre rent plus modeled groceries, dining, transport, utilities/internet, healthcare, and leisure/personal spending.
Housing (1-bed, center)
Buenos Aires
$752
Mexico City
$1,001
Groceries & Food
Buenos Aires
$150
Mexico City
$200
Dining Out
Buenos Aires
$75
Mexico City
$100
Transport
Buenos Aires
$75
Mexico City
$100
Utilities & Internet
Buenos Aires
$75
Mexico City
$100
Healthcare
Buenos Aires
$60
Mexico City
$80
Leisure & Personal
Buenos Aires
$53
Mexico City
$70
Detailed Price Comparison
Sources: INDEC (Argentina), World Bank / INEGI (Mexico), World Bank. Updated Jan 2026.
Groceries
| Item | 🇦🇷 Buenos Aires | 🇲🇽 Mexico City | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loaf of bread (500g) | $1 | $2 | +100% |
| Milk (1 liter) | $1 | $1 | +33% |
| Eggs (12) | $2 | $2 | +6% |
| Chicken breast (1 kg) | $3 | $5 | +42% |
| Rice (1 kg) | $1 | $1 | +11% |
| Apples (1 kg) | $2 | $2 | +35% |
| Tomatoes (1 kg) | $1 | $2 | +15% |
Restaurants & Cafes
| Item | 🇦🇷 Buenos Aires | 🇲🇽 Mexico City | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Empanada (each) | $1 | $1 | -25% |
| Pizza slice | $1 | $4 | +273% |
| Fast food combo meal | $6 | $6 | +14% |
| Cappuccino | $2 | $3 | +32% |
| Beer (0.5L, restaurant) | $3 | $3 | +4% |
| Beer (0.5L, store) | $1 | $1 | +9% |
Housing
| Item | 🇦🇷 Buenos Aires | 🇲🇽 Mexico City | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-bedroom apartment, center (Palermo) | $752 | $1,001 | +33% |
| 1-bedroom apartment, outside | $320 | $450 | +41% |
| 3-bedroom apartment, center | $950 | $1,500 | +58% |
| 3-bedroom apartment, outside | $550 | $900 | +64% |
Transport
| Item | 🇦🇷 Buenos Aires | 🇲🇽 Mexico City | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly transit pass (SUBE) | $8 | $16 | +100% |
| Taxi start | $1 | $1 | +33% |
| Taxi per km | $0 | $1 | +83% |
| Gasoline (1 liter) | $1 | $1 | +25% |
Utilities & Internet
| Item | 🇦🇷 Buenos Aires | 🇲🇽 Mexico City | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electricity, water, garbage (85m²) | $35 | $55 | +57% |
| Internet (60+ Mbps) | $18 | $25 | +39% |
| Mobile plan (10GB+) | $6 | $15 | +150% |
Clothing
| Item | 🇦🇷 Buenos Aires | 🇲🇽 Mexico City | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pair of jeans (Levi's) | $50 | $52 | +4% |
| Running shoes (Nike/Adidas) | $75 | $30 | -60% |
Leisure & Fitness
| Item | 🇦🇷 Buenos Aires | 🇲🇽 Mexico City | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gym membership (monthly) | $22 | $30 | +36% |
| Cinema ticket | $4 | $4 | -9% |
Personal Care
| Item | 🇦🇷 Buenos Aires | 🇲🇽 Mexico City | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Haircut (men) | $6 | $6 | +5% |
Quick Facts
🇦🇷 Buenos Aires
- Monthly cost (moderate)
- $1,240
- 1-bed rent (center)
- $752/mo
- Cappuccino
- $2.20
- Inexpensive meal
- $5.00
- Monthly transit pass
- $12
- Internet speed
- 65 Mbps
- Safety index
- 48/100(concerns)
- Healthcare index
- 78/100
- Country
- Argentina
🇲🇽 Mexico City
- Monthly cost (moderate)
- $1,651
- 1-bed rent (center)
- $1,001/mo
- Cappuccino
- $2.80
- Inexpensive meal
- $5.00
- Monthly transit pass
- $18
- Internet speed
- 75 Mbps
- Safety index
- 48/100(concerns)
- Healthcare index
- 71/100
- Country
- Mexico
Explore more: Buenos Aires city guide | Mexico City city guide | Argentina | Mexico
Related Comparisons
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Buenos Aires or Mexico City cheaper to live in?
Buenos Aires is approximately 25% cheaper than Mexico City overall.
How much does it cost to live in Buenos Aires per month?
A moderate monthly budget for a single person in Buenos Aires is approximately $1,240 on the single-person city-centre basket: canonical 1-bedroom city-centre rent plus modeled groceries, dining, transport, utilities/internet, healthcare, and leisure/personal spending.
How much does it cost to live in Mexico City per month?
A moderate monthly budget for a single person in Mexico City is approximately $1,651 on the single-person city-centre basket: canonical 1-bedroom city-centre rent plus modeled groceries, dining, transport, utilities/internet, healthcare, and leisure/personal spending.
What is the rent difference between Buenos Aires and Mexico City?
A 1-bedroom apartment in the city center costs around $752/month in Buenos Aires and $1,001/month in Mexico City.