🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $729 in Bago versus $1,677 in Mexico City.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,112 in Bago versus $2,608 in Mexico City.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,496 in Bago versus $3,540 in Mexico City.
🌍Living in Bago costs roughly 57% less than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Bago is 47% below, Mexico City is 22% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bago
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.83₱240
$12.14MX$206
-68.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$16.69₱1,047
$53.9MX$916
-69.04%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$2.89₱181
$11.09MX$188
-73.94%
Cappuccino
$2.17₱136
$4.10MX$69.6
-47.07%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.61₱38.49
$1.68MX$28.57
-63.69%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.34₱21.35
$1.39MX$23.58
-75.54%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.11₱69.8
$3.33MX$56.6
-66.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91₱120
$5.88MX$99.9
-67.52%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bago
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.69₱106
$1.85MX$31.45
-8.65%
White Bread(500g)
$1.12₱70.0
$3.17MX$53.9
-64.67%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.97₱61.1
$2.07MX$35.18
-53.14%
Eggs
$1.86₱117
$2.93MX$49.74
-36.52%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.21₱327
$12.59MX$214
-58.62%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.20₱264
$10.11MX$172
-58.46%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.17₱450
$16.09MX$273
-55.44%
Apples(1kg)
$2.37₱149
$3.39MX$57.6
-30.09%
Banana(1kg)
$1.57₱98.2
$2.08MX$35.31
-24.52%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.40₱151
$2.12MX$36.02
13.21%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.18₱74.3
$2.41MX$41.01
-51.04%
Potato(1kg)
$2.13₱133
$2.13MX$36.17
-
Onion(1kg)
$2.03₱127
$2.01MX$34.07
1.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.84₱52.5
$1.55MX$26.25
-45.81%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56₱35.11
$1.36MX$23.19
-58.82%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.91₱182
$5.77MX$98.0
-49.57%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.18₱513
$17.74MX$301
-53.89%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.98₱61.6
$2.07MX$35.16
-52.66%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96₱123
$4.61MX$78.4
-57.48%
🚌 Getting Around
Bago
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.25₱15.53
$0.37MX$6.21
-32.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.25₱706
$21.18MX$360
-46.88%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.78₱49.15
$2.05MX$34.89
-61.95%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.25₱15.79
$0.58MX$9.80
-56.90%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.98₱124
$6.07MX$103
-67.38%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.12₱70.3
$1.55MX$26.38
-27.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.7K₱1.4M
$22.9KMX$388.6K
-5.17%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.3K₱1.2M
$27.2KMX$462.7K
-29.15%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bago
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$123₱7,696
$67.4MX$1,145
82.08%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.93₱936
$30.62MX$520
-51.24%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$25.13₱1,576
$37.24MX$633
-32.52%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bago
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$32.23₱2,021
$61.5MX$1,044
-47.56%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.70₱295
$27.12MX$461
-82.67%
Cinema Ticket
$5.11₱320
$7.11MX$121
-28.13%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bago
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$131₱8,242
$456MX$7,750
-71.19%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,056₱505.1K
$13.7KMX$232.6K
-41.17%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bago
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$32.69₱2,050
$74.2MX$1,260
-55.94%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.43₱1,218
$57.0MX$969
-65.92%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$71.6₱4,492
$115MX$1,961
-37.93%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$56.0₱3,513
$122MX$2,064
-53.89%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bago
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$269₱16.9K
$1,148MX$19.5K
-76.56%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$174₱10.9K
$709MX$12.1K
-75.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$503₱31.5K
$2,577MX$43.8K
-80.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$350₱22.0K
$1,295MX$22.0K
-72.94%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,640₱165.5K
$4,005MX$68.0K
-34.09%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,032₱64.7K
$2,130MX$36.2K
-51.53%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bago
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$1,082MX$18.4K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.75
11.3
-40.27%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Bago: September 7, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: September 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $269 in Bago and $1,148 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $17.00 in Bago vs $54.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $180 vs $345 per month, with Bago cheaper across the board.
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
Bago vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mexico City cheaper than Bago?
Bago is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 130% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,093 in Bago and $2,515 in Mexico City to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Bago and Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $269 in Bago versus $1,148 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $131 in Bago versus $456 in Mexico City. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Bago and in Mexico City?
Supermarket bills run roughly 91% higher in Mexico City. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Bago or in Mexico City?
At $729 in Bago versus $1,677 in Mexico City, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Bago but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Bago the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Bago or Mexico City more family-friendly?
For families, Bago is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Mexico City, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Bago gentler on the wallet – expenses run 130% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.