🇲🇽 Mexico City vs 🇦🇷 Buenos Aires
Cost of Living Comparison (2026)
Buenos Aires is 25% cheaper than Mexico City
Quick answer
Comparing Mexico City, Mexico and Buenos Aires, Argentina: a moderate single-person monthly budget is approximately $1,651 in Mexico City versus $1,240 in Buenos Aires. Buenos Aires is roughly 25% cheaper overall. Central 1-bed rent: $1,001/mo (Mexico City) vs $752/mo (Buenos Aires). 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: $1,651/mo in Mexico City single person — city-centre rent + modeled non-housing categories.
- Moderate budget: $1,240/mo in Buenos Aires single person — like-for-like city-centre basket.
- Central 1-bed rent $1,001/mo in Mexico City · $752/mo in Buenos Aires.
- 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 | 🇲🇽 Mexico City | 🇦🇷 Buenos Aires | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | $1,150/mo | $850/mo | -26% |
| Moderate | $1,651/mo | $1,240/mo | -25% |
| Comfortable | $2,500/mo | $1,850/mo | -26% |
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 | 🇲🇽 Mexico City | 🇦🇷 Buenos Aires | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (1-bed, center) | $1,001/mo | $752/mo | -25% |
| Groceries & Food | $200/mo | $150/mo | -25% |
| Dining Out | $100/mo | $75/mo | -25% |
| Transport | $100/mo | $75/mo | -25% |
| Utilities & Internet | $100/mo | $75/mo | -25% |
| Healthcare | $80/mo | $60/mo | -25% |
| Leisure & Personal | $70/mo | $53/mo | -24% |
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)
Mexico City
$1,001
Buenos Aires
$752
Groceries & Food
Mexico City
$200
Buenos Aires
$150
Dining Out
Mexico City
$100
Buenos Aires
$75
Transport
Mexico City
$100
Buenos Aires
$75
Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
$100
Buenos Aires
$75
Healthcare
Mexico City
$80
Buenos Aires
$60
Leisure & Personal
Mexico City
$70
Buenos Aires
$53
Detailed Price Comparison
Sources: INEGI (Mexico), World Bank / INDEC (Argentina), World Bank. Updated Jan 2026.
Groceries
| Item | 🇲🇽 Mexico City | 🇦🇷 Buenos Aires | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loaf of bread (500g) | $2 | $1 | -50% |
| Milk (1 liter) | $1 | $1 | -25% |
| Eggs (12) | $2 | $2 | -5% |
| Chicken breast (1 kg) | $5 | $3 | -30% |
| Rice (1 kg) | $1 | $1 | -10% |
| Apples (1 kg) | $2 | $2 | -26% |
| Tomatoes (1 kg) | $2 | $1 | -13% |
Restaurants & Cafes
| Item | 🇲🇽 Mexico City | 🇦🇷 Buenos Aires | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Street taco (single) | $1 | $1 | +33% |
| Comida corrida (set lunch) | $4 | $1 | -73% |
| Fast food combo meal | $6 | $6 | -13% |
| Cappuccino | $3 | $2 | -24% |
| Beer (0.5L, restaurant) | $3 | $3 | -3% |
| Beer (0.5L, store) | $1 | $1 | -8% |
Housing
| Item | 🇲🇽 Mexico City | 🇦🇷 Buenos Aires | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-bedroom apartment, center | $1,001 | $752 | -25% |
| 1-bedroom apartment, outside | $450 | $320 | -29% |
| 3-bedroom apartment, center | $1,500 | $950 | -37% |
| 3-bedroom apartment, outside | $900 | $550 | -39% |
Transport
| Item | 🇲🇽 Mexico City | 🇦🇷 Buenos Aires | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly transit pass (Metro) | $16 | $8 | -50% |
| Taxi start | $1 | $1 | -25% |
| Taxi per km | $1 | $0 | -45% |
| Gasoline (1 liter) | $1 | $1 | -20% |
Utilities & Internet
| Item | 🇲🇽 Mexico City | 🇦🇷 Buenos Aires | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electricity, water, garbage (85m²) | $55 | $35 | -36% |
| Internet (60+ Mbps) | $25 | $18 | -28% |
| Mobile plan (10GB+) | $15 | $6 | -60% |
Clothing
| Item | 🇲🇽 Mexico City | 🇦🇷 Buenos Aires | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pair of jeans (Levi's) | $52 | $50 | -4% |
| Summer dress (Zara/H&M) | $30 | $75 | +150% |
Leisure & Fitness
| Item | 🇲🇽 Mexico City | 🇦🇷 Buenos Aires | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gym membership (monthly) | $30 | $22 | -27% |
| Cinema ticket | $4 | $4 | +10% |
Personal Care
| Item | 🇲🇽 Mexico City | 🇦🇷 Buenos Aires | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Haircut (men) | $6 | $6 | -5% |
Quick Facts
🇲🇽 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
🇦🇷 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
Explore more: Mexico City city guide | Buenos Aires city guide | Mexico | Argentina
Related Comparisons
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mexico City or Buenos Aires cheaper to live in?
Buenos Aires is approximately 25% cheaper than Mexico City overall.
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.
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.
What is the rent difference between Mexico City and Buenos Aires?
A 1-bedroom apartment in the city center costs around $1,001/month in Mexico City and $752/month in Buenos Aires.