Ecatepec vs Campinas
Single · Comfortable · $3,000/mo
Ecatepec is approximately 8% less expensive than Campinas based on cost of living including rent. This makes Ecatepec a more budget-friendly option for expats considering a move.
Ecatepec has a FIRE Score of 74/100, indicating its suitability for financial independence and early retirement. The city's safety index is 40, suggesting moderate safety levels.
Recommended profile: Ecatepec is ideal for GeoArbitragers and remote workers looking to maximize savings.
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Best in rowMexico
Ecatepec
Brazil
Campinas
Estimates from published local prices. N/A means no figure is published for that city.
About these cities
About Campinas
Campinas is a solid bet for expats who want big-city convenience without São Paulo prices, with a 1-bedroom outside the centre at $291/mo and a cost of living index of 37/100. The catch is the local economy: an average monthly net salary of $570/mo means most residents cannot afford the mid-range tier at $682/mo, so remote workers earning foreign income have a real edge here. The expat score of 84/100 and FIRE score of 86/100 reflect that advantage, though the safety index of 72/100 and air quality index of 55 keep it from being a paradise. Pick Cambuí, Barão Geraldo, or Sousas and you get a comfortable subtropical base at 670 m with 120 Mbps internet for $23/mo.
About Brazil
Retirees with fixed dollar income near the $2,000 VITEM XIV threshold get accessible cost of living (rent under $400) paired with genuine safety risk, a 35.5 safety index that outweigh the cheap rent math. Fine for someone prioritizing budget and expat community over personal security. Bad fit for anyone needing English-language ease, a fast PR pathway, or low-crime peace of mind.
Campinas costs roughly 16% less than Ecatepec. Ecatepec leads on digital nomad infrastructure. Use our tool below to personalize the estimate based on your income and lifestyle.
Ecatepec is approximately 8% less expensive than Campinas based on cost of living including rent. This makes Ecatepec a more budget-friendly option for expats considering a move.
Ecatepec has a FIRE Score of 74/100, indicating its suitability for financial independence and early retirement. The city's safety index is 40, suggesting moderate safety levels.
Recommended profile: Ecatepec is ideal for GeoArbitragers and remote workers looking to maximize savings.
About Ecatepec
Ecatepec is cheap for a reason, and the numbers make the trade-off plain: a 1-bedroom outside the center runs $300/mo while the local average net salary sits at just $558/mo, so this is a place priced for Mexican workers, not foreign remote earners. The catch is everything else, with a crime index of 60/100, a safety index of 40/100, an air quality index of 110, and an expat community described as very few. If you are chasing a FIRE score of 76/100 and can tolerate arid air, limited English, and a 2,250 m elevation, the math works; if you want retiree or digital nomad comfort, the scores of 53/100 and 54/100 tell you to look elsewhere.
About Mexico
Safety-sensitive retirees should pause: a 46.6 safety index and a significant safety index gap may signal real risk. But budget-conscious Americans willing to navigate that tradeoff get low rent (a one-bedroom city-center apartment averages $659.65\/mo), a large expat network, and an easy $3,738/mo income visa path to permanent residency.
$2,158/mo
Cost of Living (Without Rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness
City Details
About Campinas
Campinas is a solid bet for expats who want big-city convenience without São Paulo prices, with a 1-bedroom outside the centre at $291/mo and a cost of living index of 37/100. The catch is the local economy: an average monthly net salary of $570/mo means most residents cannot afford the mid-range tier at $682/mo, so remote workers earning foreign income have a real edge here. The expat score of 84/100 and FIRE score of 86/100 reflect that advantage, though the safety index of 72/100 and air quality index of 55 keep it from being a paradise. Pick Cambuí, Barão Geraldo, or Sousas and you get a comfortable subtropical base at 670 m with 120 Mbps internet for $23/mo.
About Brazil
Retirees with fixed dollar income near the $2,000 VITEM XIV threshold get accessible cost of living (rent under $400) paired with genuine safety risk, a 35.5 safety index that outweigh the cheap rent math. Fine for someone prioritizing budget and expat community over personal security. Bad fit for anyone needing English-language ease, a fast PR pathway, or low-crime peace of mind.
$2,268/mo
Cost of Living (Without Rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness
City Details
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| Metric | Ecatepec | Campinas |
|---|---|---|
| 1BR Apartment (Center) | $400 | $431.8 |
| 1BR Apartment (Outside) | $300 | $290.67 |
| 3BR Apartment (Center) | $850 | $961.6 |
| 3BR Apartment (Outside) | $600 | $679.11 |
| Safety Index | 40 | 72 |
| Internet Speed | 50Mbps | 120Mbps |
| Walkability Score | N/A | N/A |
Monthly cost by categoryOne person, computed from each city's own average prices
| Category | Ecatepec | Campinas |
|---|---|---|
| Total (rent included) | $838/mo | $732/mo |
| Excluding rent | $538/mo | $441/mo |
| Rent | $300/mo | $291/mo |
| Groceries | $204/mo | $123/mo |
| Dining out | $111/mo | $98.00/mo |
| Entertainment & lifestyle | $84.00/mo | $73.00/mo |
| Utilities & connectivity | $108/mo | $103/mo |
| Transport | $31.00/mo | $44.00/mo |
Usage-based estimates from this city's own average prices. A row marked N/A means that city is missing data, so no figure is shown instead of a stale one.
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