How much do you need to earn to live in Mexico City? We calculate the gross monthly salary required to cover rent, food, transport, and utilities — accounting for Mexico's tax system.
You need at least $23,764/month gross to live in Mexico City on a budget.
For a comfortable lifestyle, aim for $38,639/month gross ($35,601 net after ~5% tax).
| Expense | Budget | Comfortable | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent (1BR) | $10,000 Cheapest neighborhood (Narvarte) | $21,750 Median neighborhood | $31,500 Premium neighborhood (Polanco) |
| Groceries | $5,000 | $6,000 | $7,500 |
| Transport | $1,150 | $1,150 | $1,150 |
| Utilities | $1,900 | $1,900 | $1,900 |
| Dining & Entertainment | $4,000 | $4,800 | $6,000 |
| Total Monthly Expenses | $22,050 | $35,600 | $48,050 |
$23,764/month gross
$38,639/month gross
$52,304/month gross
1-bedroom second-hand rents across 8 neighborhoods in Mexico City
Narvarte
20 min by metro
$10,000 - $13,000
Del Valle
25 min by metro
$12,000 - $16,000
Juarez
10 min by metro
$15,000 - $20,000
Polanco
20 min by metro
$28,000 - $35,000
Condesa
15 min by metro
$24,000 - $30,000
Roma Norte
12 min by metro
$22,000 - $28,000
See all 8 neighborhoods, detailed expense breakdowns, and savings projections.
Explore Mexico CityEnter your actual salary to see your take-home pay, affordable neighborhoods, and savings potential.
Open calculatorWe total monthly expenses (rent, groceries, transport, utilities, dining out) for each lifestyle tier, then reverse-calculate the gross salary needed to cover those expenses after Mexico's income tax and social contributions. Rent data comes from second-hand market listings (what expats actually pay). All figures are based on 2026 data from official government statistics. See our data sources for full attribution.
On a budget lifestyle, you need at least $23,764/month gross salary to cover basic expenses in Mexico City. For a comfortable lifestyle, aim for $38,639/month gross. These figures include rent, food, transport, utilities, and dining out, with taxes calculated for Mexico.
The average 1-bedroom rent across 8 neighborhoods in Mexico City is approximately $21,250/month. Rents range from $10,000 in Narvarte to $35,000 in Polanco.
Monthly groceries for a single person in Mexico City cost approximately $5,000. This covers basic home cooking. Dining out and premium food will add to this budget.
Tax rates in Mexico are progressive. At the budget salary level of $23,764/month, the effective tax rate is approximately 5%. At the comfortable level of $38,639/month, it rises to approximately 5%. This includes income tax and social contributions.