Cost of Living Comparison Between Arequipa and Mexico City Cost of Living Comparison Between Arequipa and Mexico City

🙂 Solo nomad: Arequipa is 45.5% cheaper than Mexico City without rent, and 55.8% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Arequipa is 44.7% cheaper than Mexico City without rent, and 54.4% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Arequipa
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.13 PEN 14.9
$13.38 MX$253
-69.13%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.5 PEN 99.3
$52.7 MX$997
-47.85%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.63 PEN 20.32
$9.31 MX$176
-39.53%
Cappuccino
$2.51 PEN 9.05
$3.61 MX$68.3
-30.47%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76 PEN 2.75
$1.64 MX$30.91
-53.66%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 PEN 1.34
$1.12 MX$21.14
-66.96%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.19 PEN 7.92
$3.26 MX$61.7
-32.82%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.92 PEN 21.38
$4.82 MX$91.1
22.82%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Arequipa
Mexico City
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.6 PEN 5.78
$1.65 MX$31.24
-3.03%
White Bread (500g)
$1.23 PEN 4.45
$2.74 MX$51.7
-55.11%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.22 PEN 4.4
$1.92 MX$36.28
-36.46%
Eggs
$2.09 PEN 7.54
$2.51 MX$47.53
-16.73%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.39 PEN 19.49
$9.89 MX$187
-45.50%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.42 PEN 19.58
$8.39 MX$159
-35.40%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.73 PEN 27.92
$11.95 MX$226
-35.31%
Apples (1kg)
$1.52 PEN 5.48
$2.87 MX$54.3
-47.04%
Banana (1kg)
$1.21 PEN 4.39
$1.74 MX$32.85
-30.46%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.22 PEN 4.41
$2 MX$37.81
-39.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.8 PEN 2.89
$2.07 MX$39.14
-61.35%
Potato (1kg)
$0.58 PEN 2.11
$2.05 MX$38.78
-71.71%
Onion (1kg)
$0.55 PEN 1.97
$2.18 MX$41.22
-74.77%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.47 PEN 1.71
$1.38 MX$26.16
-65.94%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.71 PEN 2.58
$1.11 MX$21.06
-36.04%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.02 PEN 18.15
$4.16 MX$78.6
20.67%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.1 PEN 18.43
$11.05 MX$209
-53.85%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.5 PEN 9.02
$1.75 MX$33.16
42.86%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24 PEN 8.11
$3.7 MX$70
-39.46%
🚌 Getting Around
Arequipa
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.27 PEN 0.97
$0.38 MX$7.25
-28.95%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$18.97 MX$359
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.14 PEN 7.73
$1.36 MX$25.72
57.35%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.06 PEN 7.45
$0.28 MX$5.25
635.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$12.93 PEN 46.71
$5.3 MX$100
143.96%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.55 PEN 5.61
$1.36 MX$25.63
13.97%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.2K PEN 69.5K
$18.8K MX$354.6K
2.49%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.9K PEN 89.8K
$23.4K MX$441.7K
6.40%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Arequipa
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$39.77 PEN 144
$39.97 MX$756
-0.50%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.54 PEN 38.09
$27.48 MX$519
-61.64%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.12 PEN 112
$30.22 MX$571
2.98%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Arequipa
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$21.83 PEN 78.9
$52.6 MX$994
-58.50%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.56 PEN 30.91
$26.84 MX$507
-68.11%
Cinema Ticket
$4.57 PEN 16.51
$6.32 MX$120
-27.69%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Arequipa
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$60.1 PEN 217
$437 MX$8,258
-86.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,375 PEN 23K
$10.6K MX$199.9K
-39.70%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Arequipa
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.87 PEN 133
$57.2 MX$1,082
-35.56%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$22.42 PEN 81
$45.14 MX$853
-50.33%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$62.2 PEN 225
$102 MX$1,928
-39.04%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$55.2 PEN 199
$109 MX$2,056
-49.25%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Arequipa
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$239 PEN 865
$1,000 MX$18.9K
-76.04%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$156 PEN 562
$622 MX$11.8K
-75.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$532 PEN 1,921
$2,160 MX$40.8K
-75.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$396 PEN 1,429
$1,235 MX$23.3K
-67.96%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,431 PEN 8,781
$3,566 MX$67.4K
-31.84%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,336 PEN 4,826
$2,480 MX$46.9K
-46.14%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Arequipa
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$637 PEN 2,301
$867 MX$16.4K
-26.58%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
15
11.34
32.28%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Arequipa: October 28, 2025

Last update for Mexico City: October 28, 2025

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