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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $107 per month in Barra vs $1,456 in Mexico City, rent included.

A couple spends around $185 per month in Barra vs $2,361 in Mexico City, rent included.

A family of three spends $262 per month in Barra vs $3,266 in Mexico City, rent included.

Barra is about 93% cheaper than Mexico City, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Barra sits 92% below the global median, while Mexico City is 9% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.07 MX$229

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.8 MX$940

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.68 MX$169

Cappuccino

$3.74 MX$65.4

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

$1.62 MX$28.25

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.16 MX$20.31

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.23 MX$56.4

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.74 MX$82.9

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 MX$28.80

White Bread (500g)

$0.95 GMD 70.7

$2.75 MX$48.15

-65.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.87 MX$32.77

Eggs

$2.61 GMD 194

$2.50 MX$43.72

4.40%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.20 MX$178

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.31 GMD 542

$8.25 MX$144

-11.39%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.82 MX$207

Apples (1kg)

$3.01 MX$52.6

Banana (1kg)

$2.11 GMD 156

$1.81 MX$31.67

16.57%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.92 GMD 216

$2.00 MX$34.96

46.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.11 GMD 156

$2.00 MX$34.89

5.50%

Potato (1kg)

$1.11 GMD 82.5

$2.08 MX$36.45

-46.63%

Onion (1kg)

$0.88 GMD 64.9

$2.27 MX$39.72

-61.23%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.46 MX$25.47

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 GMD 35.39

$1.08 MX$18.82

-55.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.35 MX$76.0

Wine (Bottle)

$16.99 MX$297

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.11 GMD 82.1

$1.73 MX$30.31

-35.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.58 MX$62.5

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.39 MX$6.77

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.69 MX$327

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.33 MX$23.18

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.28 MX$4.89

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.25 MX$91.8

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 MX$23.37

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

$19.4K MX$339.4K

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

$23.8K MX$416.7K

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

$40.69 MX$712

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

$26.87 MX$470

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.51 MX$534

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.8 MX$923

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.65 MX$466

Cinema Ticket

$6.51 MX$114

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

$428 MX$7,485

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.5K MX$183.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.3 MX$1,001

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.50 MX$796

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$104 MX$1,819

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 MX$1,885

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,003 MX$17.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$623 MX$10.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,109 MX$36.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,218 MX$21.3K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,885 MX$67.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,033 MX$35.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,038 MX$18.1K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.34

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

Last update for Barra: July 14, 2026

Last update for Mexico City: July 13, 2026

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

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

Yes – Mexico City is pricier by about 1259%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $161 per month in Barra and $2,185 in Mexico City. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $107 in Barra and $1,456 in Mexico City. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 171% 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 $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Barra, where all-in costs run around $107, than in Mexico City at $1,456. In Barra it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mexico City it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Barra – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Barra. 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.