🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,172 in Aguada versus $1,646 in Mexico City.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,225 in Aguada versus $2,613 in Mexico City.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,277 in Aguada versus $3,580 in Mexico City.
🌍Living in Aguada costs roughly 29% less than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Aguada is 15% below, Mexico City is 20% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Aguada
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.03$11.03
$12.11MX$206
-8.92%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
-
$52.2MX$887
-
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.12$12.12
$10.90MX$185
11.19%
Cappuccino
$1.94$1.94
$4.05MX$68.8
-52.10%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.98$1.98
$1.72MX$29.13
15.12%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.02$1.02
$1.38MX$23.40
-26.09%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.52$1.52
$3.47MX$58.9
-56.20%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.05$3.05
$5.81MX$98.7
-47.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Aguada
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.77$1.77
$1.85MX$31.48
-4.32%
White Bread(500g)
$2.52$2.52
$3.22MX$54.7
-21.74%
Rice(white)(1kg)
-
$2.09MX$35.42
-
Eggs
$4.39$4.39
$2.91MX$49.41
50.86%
Local Cheese(1kg)
-
$12.49MX$212
-
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
-
$10.11MX$172
-
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
-
$15.89MX$270
-
Apples(1kg)
-
$3.31MX$56.3
-
Banana(1kg)
-
$2.13MX$36.12
-
Oranges(1kg)
-
$2.19MX$37.20
-
Tomato(1kg)
-
$2.45MX$41.57
-
Potato(1kg)
-
$2.19MX$37.18
-
Onion(1kg)
-
$1.90MX$32.35
-
Lettuce(1 head)
-
$1.62MX$27.44
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.35MX$22.92
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
-
$5.43MX$92.1
-
Wine(Bottle)
-
$17.59MX$299
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$2.07MX$35.12
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$4.75MX$80.6
-
🚌 Getting Around
Aguada
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.34MX$5.77
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$21.58MX$366
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
-
$2.04MX$34.65
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$0.58MX$9.82
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$5.97MX$101
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.84$0.84
$1.62MX$27.44
-48.15%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$22.8KMX$387.4K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$26.7KMX$452.8K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Aguada
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$260$260
$65.2MX$1,108
297.85%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$59.2$59.2
$29.87MX$507
98.33%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
-
$36.55MX$621
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Aguada
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$54.5$54.5
$61.0MX$1,036
-10.67%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$26.70MX$453
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.16$6.16
$6.85MX$116
-10.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Aguada
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$509$509
$453MX$7,700
12.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$13.4KMX$227.1K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Aguada
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.58$35.58
$75.0MX$1,273
-52.54%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.44$40.44
$55.3MX$939
-26.86%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$81.3$81.3
$114MX$1,929
-28.47%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$98.6$98.6
$123MX$2,083
-19.59%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Aguada
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$497$497
$1,134MX$19.3K
-56.15%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$452$452
$712MX$12.1K
-36.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$2,571MX$43.7K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,311MX$22.3K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,993MX$67.8K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,095MX$35.6K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Aguada
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,214$2,214
$1,047MX$17.8K
111.52%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
0
11.3
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Aguada: September 1, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: August 29, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $497 in Aguada and $1,134 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Aguada pays 112% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
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
Aguada vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Aguada and in Mexico City?
Aguada and Mexico City differ by about 40% in total monthly costs ($1,172 vs $1,646 including rent). Aguada is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Aguada or Mexico City?
Average pay runs 112% higher in Aguada, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Aguada and in Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $497 in Aguada versus $1,134 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Aguada and Mexico City?
Childcare runs $509 in Aguada versus $453 in Mexico City. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more expensive overall: Aguada or Mexico City?
All in, you'll spend $1,172 per month in Aguada versus $1,646 in Mexico City – a 40% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,172 in Aguada versus $1,646 in Mexico City, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Aguada but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Aguada the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Aguada and Mexico City?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Aguada or Mexico City safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Aguada and Mexico City are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Aguada or Mexico City?
Expats usually find Aguada gentler on the wallet – expenses run 40% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.