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Mexico City
#100 of 124
North America

Mexico City

Mexico

Salary & Cost of Living

View purchasing power ranking

How do salaries and expenses in Mexico City compare to San Francisco?

Purchasing Power Comparison

An engineer in Mexico City is 61% worse off vs in San Francisco

This shows how far a software engineer's salary goes in Mexico City compared to San Francisco, taking into account both salary differences and cost of living.

Median Salary
$40,868
-$232K (-85%) vs San Francisco
Based on 827 data points from levels.fyi
Net Salary
$28,317
-$144K (-84%) vs San Francisco
Tax Rate: 31%

Community Insights

New

Mexico City offers a high-energy, culturally rich lifestyle that attracts software engineers, particularly those working remotely for US companies due to the ideal time zone alignment and lower cost of living. While the city boasts incredible food, weather, and walkable districts, it comes with the trade-offs of a massive metropolis: pollution, traffic, and safety considerations. The local tech scene is growing, but a sharp divide exists between those earning local pesos and those earning foreign currency. Recent influxes of remote workers have sparked gentrification debates, making social awareness an important part of living here.

Resident Sentiment

The sentiment is deeply divided. Expat and digital nomad communities rave about the quality of life, citing the "eternal spring" weather and amazing social life. However, long-term foreign residents and locals express growing frustration with rising rents and gentrification, leading to some friction. While most transplants feel they made a great choice for their lifestyle, there is an increasing awareness of the ethical implications of moving there with a high foreign salary.

The Good

Living Environment

Weather•Safety•Pollution•Events

A quick look at climate, safety, pollution, and tech community compared to San Francisco.

Rankings

Comfortable Weather

Top 14%

#17

of 124 cities

85/100 weather score

Current value

Cost of Living

Top 31%

#39

of 124 cities

38/100

Current value (lower is better)

Community Events

Middle of the pack

#50

of 124 cities

6 events on luma

Current value

Housing Affordability

View affordability ranking

How affordable is housing for a software engineer in Mexico City compared to San Francisco?

Avg. Property Price
$2,828 / m²
72% cheaper than San Francisco
View detailed property prices on Numbeo

Salary Converter

Enter your annual gross salary (before taxes) to see what you would need to earn in Mexico City to maintain the same standard of living.

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Do you have kids?

Cost of Living
58% cheaper than San Francisco
View detailed cost breakdown on Numbeo

Top Paying Companies in Mexico City

Nubank logo
Nubank
Lyft logo
Lyft
Zillow logo
Zillow
  • Time zone alignment with the US (Central Time) makes it perfect for remote work with American companies.
  • A vibrant cultural and culinary scene, featuring everything from world-class street food (tacos) to high-end dining and museums.
  • Pleasant weather year-round with mild temperatures, cool nights, and plenty of sunshine.
  • A growing tech ecosystem with major hubs for companies like Google and Capital One, plus a thriving startup scene.
  • Walkable, leafy neighborhoods like Roma and Condesa that offer a high quality of life with cafes, parks, and coworking spaces.
  • Lower cost of living compared to US or European tech hubs, allowing for a luxurious lifestyle on a strong foreign currency salary.

The Bad

  • Air pollution is significant and can be noticeable, especially during warmer months or for those with respiratory issues.
  • Safety concerns vary by neighborhood; while expat bubbles are generally safe, petty crime and the need for vigilance are constant realities.
  • Gentrification tensions are rising, with local resentment towards digital nomads driving up housing prices and displacing residents.
  • Traffic congestion is notorious and public transit, while extensive, can be incredibly crowded during rush hours.
  • Lower local salaries mean that working for a local Mexican company often yields significantly less purchasing power than working remotely for a US firm.
  • Tap water is generally not potable, requiring reliance on bottled or filtered water.

The Verdict

You'll love it if...

Remote workers earning USD or EUR who want a luxury lifestyle for less while staying in a US-compatible time zone. It is also ideal for adventure-seeking developers who thrive in chaotic, vibrant cities and value access to world-class culture and food over pristine quiet. Senior engineers looking to lead teams in the growing LATAM tech hubs of major US corporations will also find opportunities.

Skip it if...

Engineers relying solely on local entry-level salaries, as the purchasing power is low compared to the cost of living in desirable areas. Individuals with respiratory health issues due to the pollution, or those who require strict order, silence, and high-safety environments (like Singapore or Zurich) will likely struggle with the city's noise, grit, and chaotic energy.

Updated 11/29/2025

Weather8.5/10-2% vs San Francisco
Safety33-15%
Pollution81+64%
Events6-88%
8.5/10TechCities weather score vs 8.7/10 in San Francisco

0–10 composite (higher is better) combining temperature comfort, sunshine hours, rainy-day count, and humid days. See methodology for weighting and data sources.

Weather snapshot

Average High
24°C(vs 19°C in San Francisco)
Average Low
11°C(vs 12°C in San Francisco)
Sunshine Hours
2,555h/yr-507h/yr(-17%)
Hottest Month High
26°C(vs 22°C in San Francisco)
Coldest Month Low
6°C(vs 8°C in San Francisco)
Rainy Days
118/yr+69/yr(+142%)

Community & Quality

Mexico City community pulse

Mexico City has 6 Luma events listed.

88% fewer events than San Francisco.

Home Affordability

Middle of the pack

#56

of 124 cities

≈8 yrs to buy 80m²

Current value

Tax Rate

Middle of the pack

#60

of 124 cities

31%

Current value (lower is better)

Net Income

Bottom 22%

#98

of 124 cities

$28,317/yr

Current value

Purchasing Power

Bottom 20%

#100

of 124 cities

Pollution Score

Bottom 8%

#115

of 124 cities

80.7/100

Current value (lower is better)

Safety Index

Bottom 8%

#115

of 124 cities

33.3/100

Current value

SWE Affordability
8.0 years
3.3 years longer than San Francisco
Muggy Days
0/yr(same as San Francisco)
Cloud Cover
59%(vs 34% in San Francisco)