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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,079 per month in Arica vs $1,467 in Mexico City, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,659 per month in Arica vs $2,371 in Mexico City, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,239 per month in Arica vs $3,274 in Mexico City, rent included.

Arica is about 26% cheaper than Mexico City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Arica sits 19% below the global median, while Mexico City is 10% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.42 CLP 7,477

$13.18 MX$228

-36.12%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.91 CLP 39.9K

$53.9 MX$932

-16.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.10 CLP 7,191

$9.42 MX$163

-14.01%

Cappuccino

$2.72 CLP 2,414

$3.55 MX$61.4

-23.38%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.30 CLP 1,150

$1.62 MX$27.98

-19.75%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.07 CLP 950

$1.11 MX$19.27

-3.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.19 CLP 2,832

$3.12 MX$54.0

2.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.06 CLP 3,605

$4.63 MX$80.1

-12.31%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.20 CLP 1,065

$1.70 MX$29.43

-29.41%

White Bread (500g)

$1.49 CLP 1,326

$2.72 MX$47.02

-45.22%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.86 CLP 1,654

$1.91 MX$33.07

-2.62%

Eggs

$3.50 CLP 3,103

$2.54 MX$43.86

37.80%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.37 CLP 9,201

$10.03 MX$174

3.39%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.55 CLP 5,811

$8.09 MX$140

-19.04%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.79 CLP 9,574

$11.62 MX$201

-7.14%

Apples (1kg)

$1.80 CLP 1,593

$2.97 MX$51.3

-39.39%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 CLP 1,390

$1.81 MX$31.24

-13.26%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.57 CLP 1,394

$2.01 MX$34.82

-21.89%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.50 CLP 1,331

$2.03 MX$35.20

-26.11%

Potato (1kg)

$1.29 CLP 1,143

$2.12 MX$36.75

-39.15%

Onion (1kg)

$1.40 CLP 1,246

$2.27 MX$39.25

-38.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.23 CLP 1,090

$1.40 MX$24.22

-12.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.17 CLP 1,036

$1.13 MX$19.55

3.54%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.55 CLP 4,923

$4.27 MX$73.9

29.98%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.27 CLP 4,681

$15.56 MX$269

-66.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.62 CLP 1,435

$1.76 MX$30.39

-7.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.30 CLP 2,043

$3.60 MX$62.2

-36.11%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.62 CLP 554

$0.38 MX$6.62

63.16%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.18 MX$332

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.50 CLP 447

$1.38 MX$23.79

-63.77%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.28 MX$4.78

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.45 MX$94.2

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.39 CLP 1,232

$1.30 MX$22.55

6.92%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$19.4K CLP 17.2M

$18.7K MX$323.2K

3.89%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$21.4K CLP 19.0M

$23.1K MX$400.1K

-7.62%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$132 CLP 117.3K

$40.86 MX$707

223.57%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$13.47 CLP 12.0K

$26.81 MX$464

-49.76%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.22 CLP 19.7K

$29.96 MX$518

-25.83%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.02 CLP 33.7K

$52.0 MX$900

-26.91%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.58 CLP 19.2K

$26.84 MX$464

-19.60%

Cinema Ticket

$5.56 CLP 4,934

$6.30 MX$109

-11.75%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$431 CLP 382.4K

$436 MX$7,544

-1.21%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.4K MX$180.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.70 CLP 44.1K

$56.7 MX$980

-12.27%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.13 CLP 26.7K

$44.38 MX$768

-32.11%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$56.2 CLP 49.9K

$103 MX$1,780

-45.42%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.8 CLP 71.7K

$106 MX$1,825

-23.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$485 CLP 430.4K

$1,022 MX$17.7K

-52.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$372 CLP 330.2K

$631 MX$10.9K

-41.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$895 CLP 794.1K

$2,136 MX$36.9K

-58.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$605 CLP 536.6K

$1,243 MX$21.5K

-51.35%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,903 MX$67.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,064 MX$35.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$571 CLP 507.1K

$1,115 MX$19.3K

-48.76%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.18

11.34

-54.32%

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

Last update for Arica: May 31, 2026

Last update for Mexico City: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $485 in Arica versus $1,022 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.

Salaries run about 95% higher in Mexico City, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Arica versus $54.0 in Mexico City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $226 vs $288 – making Arica the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Arica vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,079 in Arica, $1,467 in Mexico City – roughly 36% apart. Mexico City costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,619 per month in Arica and $2,201 in Mexico City. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Arica, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Arica and $54.0 in Mexico City. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 28% 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.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Arica, where all-in costs run around $1,079, than in Mexico City at $1,467. In Arica it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mexico City it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Mexico City has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,079 in Arica to $1,467 in Mexico City. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Arica. 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.