🙂A single person spends $1,231 per month in Acuna vs $1,646 in Mexico City, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,957 per month in Acuna vs $2,613 in Mexico City, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $2,684 per month in Acuna vs $3,580 in Mexico City, rent included.
🙂Acuna is about 25% cheaper than Mexico City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Acuna sits 10% below the global median, while Mexico City is 20% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Acuna
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.98MX$203
$12.11MX$206
-1.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.0MX$900
$52.2MX$887
1.44%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.63MX$164
$10.90MX$185
-11.65%
Cappuccino
$4.01MX$68.0
$4.05MX$68.8
-0.99%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.25MX$21.31
$1.72MX$29.13
-27.33%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.12MX$18.94
$1.38MX$23.40
-18.84%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.15MX$53.5
$3.47MX$58.9
-9.22%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.46MX$75.8
$5.81MX$98.7
-23.24%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Acuna
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.94MX$33.02
$1.85MX$31.48
4.86%
White Bread(500g)
$2.79MX$47.42
$3.22MX$54.7
-13.35%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.73MX$29.44
$2.09MX$35.42
-17.22%
Eggs
$2.66MX$45.23
$2.91MX$49.41
-8.59%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.50MX$144
$12.49MX$212
-31.95%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.92MX$134
$10.11MX$172
-21.66%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.58MX$197
$15.89MX$270
-27.12%
Apples(1kg)
$2.90MX$49.22
$3.31MX$56.3
-12.39%
Banana(1kg)
$1.72MX$29.22
$2.13MX$36.12
-19.25%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.16MX$36.63
$2.19MX$37.20
-1.37%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.84MX$31.31
$2.45MX$41.57
-24.90%
Potato(1kg)
$2.10MX$35.72
$2.19MX$37.18
-4.11%
Onion(1kg)
$1.69MX$28.77
$1.90MX$32.35
-11.05%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.34MX$22.70
$1.62MX$27.44
-17.28%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.26MX$21.45
$1.35MX$22.92
-6.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.37MX$74.3
$5.43MX$92.1
-19.52%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.47MX$178
$17.59MX$299
-40.48%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.22MX$37.72
$2.07MX$35.12
7.25%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10MX$52.6
$4.75MX$80.6
-34.74%
🚌 Getting Around
Acuna
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.77MX$13.10
$0.34MX$5.77
126.47%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$21.58MX$366
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.73MX$46.29
$2.04MX$34.65
33.82%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.09MX$35.57
$0.58MX$9.82
260.34%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$12.11MX$206
$5.97MX$101
102.85%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.43MX$24.34
$1.62MX$27.44
-11.73%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.9KMX$372.5K
$22.8KMX$387.4K
-3.84%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.4KMX$482.2K
$26.7KMX$452.8K
6.49%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Acuna
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$53.7MX$912
$65.2MX$1,108
-17.66%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$24.70MX$420
$29.87MX$507
-17.31%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.30MX$481
$36.55MX$621
-22.57%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Acuna
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$35.60MX$605
$61.0MX$1,036
-41.64%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.40MX$312
$26.70MX$453
-31.09%
Cinema Ticket
$4.93MX$83.7
$6.85MX$116
-28.03%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Acuna
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$229MX$3,888
$453MX$7,700
-49.51%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,387MX$91.5K
$13.4KMX$227.1K
-59.71%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Acuna
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$67.5MX$1,147
$75.0MX$1,273
-9.91%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.49MX$841
$55.3MX$939
-10.49%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$106MX$1,795
$114MX$1,929
-6.97%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$104MX$1,760
$123MX$2,083
-15.49%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Acuna
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$565MX$9,602
$1,134MX$19.3K
-50.12%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$477MX$8,098
$712MX$12.1K
-33.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,280MX$21.7K
$2,571MX$43.7K
-50.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$726MX$12.3K
$1,311MX$22.3K
-44.66%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,726MX$29.3K
$3,993MX$67.8K
-56.77%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,201MX$20.4K
$2,095MX$35.6K
-42.69%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Acuna
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$1,047MX$17.8K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.3
11.3
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Acuna: August 30, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: August 29, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $565 in Acuna versus $1,134 in Mexico City. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $53.0 in Acuna versus $52.0 in Mexico City. Groceries tell a different story – $276 in Acuna vs $345 in Mexico City – so Acuna wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Acuna vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mexico City cheaper than Acuna?
Yes – Mexico City is pricier by about 34%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,846 per month in Acuna and $2,469 in Mexico City. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Acuna, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Acuna or in Mexico City?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $53.0 in Acuna and $52.0 in Mexico City. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Acuna and in Mexico City?
Groceries cost about 25% more in Mexico City, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Acuna or in Mexico City?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Acuna, where all-in costs run around $1,231, than in Mexico City at $1,646. In Acuna it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mexico City it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Acuna or Mexico City more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Acuna – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Acuna or Mexico City?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Acuna. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Mexico City makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.