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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $639 per month in Bacolod vs $1,646 in Mexico City, rent included.

A couple spends around $917 per month in Bacolod vs $2,613 in Mexico City, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,195 per month in Bacolod vs $3,580 in Mexico City, rent included.

Bacolod is about 61% cheaper than Mexico City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Bacolod sits 53% below the global median, while Mexico City is 20% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.43 ₱152

$12.11 MX$206

-79.93%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.99 ₱812

$52.2 MX$887

-75.13%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.89 ₱243

$10.90 MX$185

-64.31%

Cappuccino

$2.37 ₱148

$4.05 MX$68.8

-41.48%

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

$0.69 ₱43.41

$1.72 MX$29.13

-59.88%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ₱23.29

$1.38 MX$23.40

-73.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.39 ₱87.0

$3.47 MX$58.9

-59.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.81 ₱113

$5.81 MX$98.7

-68.85%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.60 ₱100

$1.85 MX$31.48

-13.51%

White Bread (500g)

$1.11 ₱69.4

$3.22 MX$54.7

-65.53%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.90 ₱56.0

$2.09 MX$35.42

-56.94%

Eggs

$1.60 ₱100

$2.91 MX$49.41

-45.02%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.70 ₱544

$12.49 MX$212

-30.34%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.61 ₱413

$10.11 MX$172

-34.62%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.89 MX$270

Apples (1kg)

$3.40 ₱212

$3.31 MX$56.3

2.72%

Banana (1kg)

$2.55 ₱159

$2.13 MX$36.12

19.72%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.19 MX$37.20

Tomato (1kg)

$0.53 ₱33.39

$2.45 MX$41.57

-78.37%

Potato (1kg)

$2.19 MX$37.18

Onion (1kg)

$1.99 ₱124

$1.90 MX$32.35

4.74%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.62 MX$27.44

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.03 ₱64.2

$1.35 MX$22.92

-23.70%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.77 ₱173

$5.43 MX$92.1

-48.99%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.59 MX$299

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.86 ₱54.1

$2.07 MX$35.12

-58.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.75 MX$80.6

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.17 ₱10.42

$0.34 MX$5.77

-50.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.58 MX$366

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.74 ₱46.15

$2.04 MX$34.65

-63.73%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.23 ₱14.36

$0.58 MX$9.82

-60.34%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.97 MX$101

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ₱76.3

$1.62 MX$27.44

-24.69%

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

$21.6K ₱1.4M

$22.8K MX$387.4K

-5.18%

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

$23.7K ₱1.5M

$26.7K MX$452.8K

-10.98%

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

$139 ₱8,698

$65.2 MX$1,108

113.21%

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

$8.10 ₱506

$29.87 MX$507

-72.88%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.83 ₱1,740

$36.55 MX$621

-23.86%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$15.84 ₱991

$61.0 MX$1,036

-74.03%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$2.43 ₱152

$26.70 MX$453

-90.90%

Cinema Ticket

$4.52 ₱282

$6.85 MX$116

-34.01%

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

$31.97 ₱1,999

$453 MX$7,700

-92.95%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.4K MX$227.1K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.9 ₱3,560

$75.0 MX$1,273

-24.05%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.3 MX$939

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$114 MX$1,929

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$123 MX$2,083

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$267 ₱16.7K

$1,134 MX$19.3K

-76.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$179 ₱11.2K

$712 MX$12.1K

-74.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$474 ₱29.6K

$2,571 MX$43.7K

-81.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$337 ₱21.1K

$1,311 MX$22.3K

-74.32%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,993 MX$67.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,095 MX$35.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$209 ₱13.0K

$1,047 MX$17.8K

-80.08%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.3

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

Last update for Bacolod: August 29, 2026

Last update for Mexico City: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $267 in Bacolod 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.

Salaries run about 402% 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 $13.00 in Bacolod versus $52.0 in Mexico City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $152 vs $345 – making Bacolod 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

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

Monthly costs with rent: $639 in Bacolod, $1,646 in Mexico City – roughly 157% apart. Mexico City costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $959 per month in Bacolod and $2,469 in Mexico City. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Bacolod, 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 $13.00 in Bacolod and $52.0 in Mexico City. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 127% 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 Bacolod, where all-in costs run around $639, than in Mexico City at $1,646. In Bacolod it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mexico City it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Bacolod has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $639 in Bacolod to $1,646 in Mexico City. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Bacolod. 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.