United States vs Mexico
Single · Comfortable · $3,000/mo
Mexico is approximately 57% less expensive than United States based on cost of living including rent. This makes Mexico a more budget-friendly option for expats considering a move.
Mexico has a FIRE Score of 80/100, indicating its suitability for financial independence and early retirement. The country's safety index is 47.3, suggesting moderate safety levels.
Recommended profile: Mexico is ideal for GeoArbitragers and remote workers looking to maximize savings.
Side by side
Best in rowWashington, D.C.
United States
Mexico City
Mexico
Country-level averages. N/A or Not enough data means no figure is published for that country. * Women's inclusion scores are unverified.
About these countries
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.
Mexico costs roughly 57% less than United States, though United States has significantly faster internet infrastructure, making it one of the more financially compelling destinations for United States expats. Use our tool below to personalize the estimate based on your income and lifestyle.
Mexico is approximately 57% less expensive than United States based on cost of living including rent. This makes Mexico a more budget-friendly option for expats considering a move.
Mexico has a FIRE Score of 80/100, indicating its suitability for financial independence and early retirement. The country's safety index is 47.3, suggesting moderate safety levels.
Recommended profile: Mexico is ideal for GeoArbitragers and remote workers looking to maximize savings.
United States
Washington, D.C.
About United States
Best for families seeking high English proficiency and excellent air travel access, with no retiree or digital nomad visa available. Internet speed of 390.28 Mbps and a large expat community support remote work, but the cost of living index is 100 (global baseline). Key trade-off: no retirement or digital nomad visa, and a complex pathway to residency or citizenship limits long-term stays.
$155/mo
Not sure which United States visa you qualify for?
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Living Costs (excl. rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness Scores
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.
$1,638/mo
Not sure which Mexico visa you qualify for?
Answer 11 questions and get a personalized match in under 2 minutes.
Living Costs (excl. rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness Scores
Battle of Lifestyles
Scroll to compare
| Metric | United States | Mexico |
|---|---|---|
| Travel Advisory | N/A | Level 2: Increased Caution |
| Quality of Life Index | 184.7 +60.7 | 124 |
| Healthcare Index | 66.9 | 72.3 +5.4 |
| Safety Index | 50.8 +3.5 | 47.3 |
| Cost of Living Index | 69.7 | 44.4 +25.3 |
| Living Costs (Single, excl. rent) | $1,176 | $701.9 +474.1 |
| Living Costs (Family, excl. rent) | $4,239 | $2,604.9 +1,634.1 |
| 1BR Apartment (Center) | $1,668.61 | $659.65 +1,008.96 |
| 1BR Apartment (Outside) | $1,355.41 | $430.55 +924.86 |
| 3BR Apartment (Center) | $2,688.4 | $1,227.82 +1,460.58 |
| 3BR Apartment (Outside) | $2,228.12 | $816.48 +1,411.64 |
| Avg Internet Speed | 314.35 Mbps +194.5 | 119.81 Mbps |
Rights & Inclusion
Published indices. Legal protection and public attitudes are kept separate, and neither is folded into a single score.
Same-sex relations
Not criminalized
United States
Same-sex relations
Not criminalized
Mexico
LGBTQ+ legal protection score
Attitudes
Scores run from 0 to 100. Women's inclusion scores come from the Georgetown WPS Index and are currently unverified. Sources: Equaldex, ILGA-Europe Rainbow Map, Spartacus Gay Travel Index and Georgetown's Women, Peace and Security Index. See the full inclusion ranking.
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Income thresholds, fees, processing time and residency paths for United States and Mexico, side by side.
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