Mexico City vs Split
Cost of living and FIRE date, side by side, for a typical US remote worker.
Weighing Mexico City against Split as your next base? Here's how they stack up on the levers that actually move your retirement date, cost of living and FI acceleration, plus livability, visa and tax-residency risk flags.
| Metric | Mexico City | Split | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly cost | $1,500/mo | $1,600/mo | Mexico City |
| Years saved | 9.1 yrs | 8.7 yrs | Mexico City |
| Burn reduction | 25% | 20% | Mexico City |
| Tax risk | Low | Low | — |
| Visa | Easy | Easy | — |
| Safety | 2 | 4 | Split |
| Internet | 45 Mbps | 70 Mbps | Split |
The verdict
- Mexico City is about 6% cheaper per month ($1,500/mo vs $1,600/mo).
- Mexico City pulls financial independence forward by about 0.4 more years.
- On cost-of-living arbitrage alone, Mexico City gets you to FIRE sooner.
Run your own numbers
The figures above run one fixed reference profile. Enter your income, spending and savings to see your personal FI Score and the cities that get you to your date fastest.