Compare countries · Mexico vs United States
Mexico vs United States
Mexico(North America)·
United States(North America)
Across 12 comparable indicators: Mexico leads on 5, United States on 7. Which trade-offs matter is yours to weigh; the rows below show where each country wins, with sources.
Quick answers
Is Mexico cheaper than United States?
Numbeo's 2026 cost-of-living index (NYC = 100) puts Mexico at 42.6 and United States at 68.8. Mexico is about 38% cheaper overall.
Which has the higher quality of life, Mexico or United States?
On the UN Human Development Index, Mexico scores 0.789 and United States scores 0.938. United States scores higher on this composite of income, health and education. Single indexes hide trade-offs; the full comparison above shows where each country wins.
What is life like in Mexico compared to United States?
GNI per capita runs $13,730 in Mexico against $88,810 in United States; people live 75.3 years on average against 78.9; Numbeo users rate healthcare 72 against 67. Those are national averages and they hide the thing you actually feel: capital-city costs run well ahead of the national figure in most countries, and rural provision of healthcare and internet often lags the number shown here. The table below splits it indicator by indicator.
Head to head
Cost of living index
Numbeo 2026 (NYC = 100)
Mexico
42.6
Around the global middle
United States
68.8
Worse than 90% of countries
Mexico: 38% cheaper overall.
Rent index
Numbeo 2026 (NYC = 100)
Mexico
17.8
Worse than 64% of countries
United States
40.7
Worse than 95% of countries
Mexico: 56% cheaper rents.
Perceived street safety
Numbeo Safety Index 2026
Mexico
47.1
Worse than 72% of countries
United States
50.8
Worse than 63% of countries
United States: higher perceived safety (50.8 vs 47.1).
Human Development Index
UNDP Human Development Report
Mexico
0.789
Better than 58% of countries
United States
0.938
Better than 91% of countries
United States: higher human development (0.938 vs 0.789).
GDP per person (PPP)
World Bank · 2025
Mexico
$25,868
Better than 57% of countries
United States
$90,027
Better than 95% of countries
United States: 248% higher income per person.
Life expectancy
World Bank · 2024
Mexico
75.3 yrs
Better than 55% of countries
United States
78.9 yrs
Better than 75% of countries
United States: 3.6 years longer on average.
Healthcare index
Numbeo Healthcare Index 2026
Mexico
72.3
Better than 78% of countries
United States
67.0
Better than 59% of countries
Mexico: better-rated healthcare (72.3 vs 67.0).
Fixed broadband speed
Ookla Speedtest Global Index
Mexico
94 Mbps
Around the global middle
United States
308 Mbps
Better than 96% of countries
United States: 228% faster fixed internet.
Press freedom
RSF World Press Freedom Index
Mexico
45/100
Worse than 68% of countries
United States
63/100
Better than 64% of countries
United States: freer press (63 vs 45 of 100).
Happiness
World Happiness Report (Cantril ladder 0–10)
Mexico
6.97
Better than 92% of countries
United States
6.82
Better than 85% of countries
Mexico: happier on the Cantril ladder (6.97 vs 6.82).
English proficiency
EF English Proficiency Index
Mexico
440
Worse than 85% of countries
United States
700
Better than 94% of countries
United States: stronger English proficiency (700 vs 440).
Climate pleasantness
Numbeo Climate Index 2026
Mexico
86.6
Better than 65% of countries
United States
75.8
Worse than 60% of countries
Mexico: more pleasant climate rating (86.6 vs 75.8).
Not comparable for this pair
- Peace — Global Peace Index: The Global Peace Index doesn't cover one of these countries.
Deciding between Mexico and United States for real?
Indexes can't weigh your budget, your timeline or your dealbreakers. The matcher asks, then answers with this same data.
Find your match →Full Mexico profile →
70+ indicators: economy, safety, governance, climate and visas.
Full United States profile →
70+ indicators: economy, safety, governance, climate and visas.