Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Barranquilla and Mexico City

For one person, living is cheaper in Barranquilla: $1,473 a month against $1,567 in Mexico City, rent and utilities included – about $1,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Barranquilla
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,473
/mo nomad
Mexico City
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,567
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Barranquilla and in Mexico City

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Barranquilla and in Mexico City actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,473 per month in Barranquilla vs $1,567 in Mexico City, rent included.

  • Barranquilla $1,473
  • Mexico City $1,567

A couple spends around $2,280 per month in Barranquilla vs $2,450 in Mexico City, rent included.

  • Barranquilla $2,280
  • Mexico City $2,450

A family of three spends $3,087 per month in Barranquilla vs $3,333 in Mexico City, rent included.

  • Barranquilla $3,087
  • Mexico City $3,333

Barranquilla is about 6% cheaper than Mexico City, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Both Barranquilla and Mexico City sit above the global median – Barranquilla by 9%, Mexico City by 16%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barranquilla
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.26 COP 29.4K
$10.75 MX$199
-13.86%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.6 COP 198.5K
$50.3 MX$929
24.62%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$14.02 COP 44.5K
$11.10 MX$205
26.31%
Cappuccino
$2.73 COP 8,664
$3.68 MX$68.1
-25.82%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.33 COP 4,230
$1.65 MX$30.42
-19.39%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.27 COP 4,016
$1.30 MX$24.08
-2.31%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.19 COP 10.1K
$3.32 MX$61.3
-3.92%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.63 COP 24.2K
$5.54 MX$102
37.73%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barranquilla
Mexico City
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.91 COP 2,897
$1.77 MX$32.68
-48.59%
White Bread (500g)
$1.22 COP 3,866
$3.05 MX$56.4
-60.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.52 COP 4,823
$2.01 MX$37.20
-24.38%
Eggs
$2.16 COP 6,836
$2.77 MX$51.1
-22.02%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.11 COP 16.2K
$11.91 MX$220
-57.09%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$17.67 COP 56.0K
$9.33 MX$172
89.39%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.79 COP 21.5K
$15.02 MX$278
-54.79%
Apples (1kg)
$2.15 COP 6,823
$3.08 MX$56.8
-30.19%
Banana (1kg)
$0.96 COP 3,031
$1.95 MX$35.97
-50.77%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.65 COP 2,047
$2.03 MX$37.54
-67.98%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.83 COP 5,804
$2.21 MX$40.92
-17.19%
Potato (1kg)
$1.24 COP 3,931
$2.02 MX$37.41
-38.61%
Onion (1kg)
$0.96 COP 3,055
$1.82 MX$33.67
-47.25%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.23 COP 3,911
$1.52 MX$28.07
-19.08%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.96 COP 3,052
$1.28 MX$23.65
-25.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.15 COP 16.3K
$5.27 MX$97.4
-2.28%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.50 COP 39.6K
$16.12 MX$298
-22.46%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.53 COP 4,855
$1.95 MX$36.05
-21.54%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.76 COP 15.1K
$4.25 MX$78.6
12.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Barranquilla
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.18 COP 3,753
$0.31 MX$5.82
280.65%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$19.85 MX$367
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.42 COP 10.9K
$2.00 MX$36.93
71.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.07 COP 9,743
$0.53 MX$9.86
479.25%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$15.45 COP 49.0K
$5.62 MX$104
174.91%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.32 COP 4,178
$1.52 MX$28.07
-13.16%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.3K COP 70.8M
$21.0K MX$388.7K
6.22%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.3K COP 93.0M
$25.2K MX$465.3K
16.43%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barranquilla
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$149 COP 473.8K
$62.5 MX$1,155
139.16%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.84 COP 47.0K
$28.77 MX$532
-48.42%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.41 COP 102.8K
$34.45 MX$637
-5.92%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barranquilla
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$34.30 COP 108.8K
$57.1 MX$1,055
-39.93%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$24.81 MX$458
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.57 COP 14.5K
$6.67 MX$123
-31.48%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barranquilla
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$317 COP 1.0M
$431 MX$7,964
-26.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,749 COP 15.1M
$11.7K MX$216.9K
-59.55%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barranquilla
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$114 COP 362.0K
$70.8 MX$1,308
61.29%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.68 COP 151.2K
$51.8 MX$958
-8.01%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$189 COP 600.2K
$109 MX$2,011
73.92%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$252 COP 797.8K
$112 MX$2,076
124.03%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barranquilla
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$777 COP 2.5M
$1,051 MX$19.4K
-26.09%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$495 COP 1.6M
$665 MX$12.3K
-25.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$802 COP 2.5M
$2,346 MX$43.3K
-65.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$878 COP 2.8M
$1,227 MX$22.7K
-28.38%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,843 COP 5.8M
$3,554 MX$65.7K
-48.13%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$641 COP 2.0M
$1,977 MX$36.5K
-67.56%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barranquilla
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$506 COP 1.6M
$975 MX$18.0K
-48.06%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10
11.3
-11.50%

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

Last update for Barranquilla: October 11, 2026

Last update for Mexico City: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Barranquilla
$495
Mexico City
$665 34.4% $170
Clothing & Footwear
Barranquilla
$271
Mexico City
$155 43% $117
Groceries & Markets
Barranquilla
$253
Mexico City
$323 27.8% $70
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barranquilla
$197
Mexico City
$126 36.1% $71
Eating Out
Barranquilla
$191
Mexico City
$203 6.5% $12
Sport & Entertainment
Barranquilla
$43
Mexico City
$70 62.1% $27
Getting Around
Barranquilla
$24 *
Mexico City
$26 9.6% $2.3

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $777 in Barranquilla versus $1,051 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 93% 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 $63.0 in Barranquilla versus $50.0 in Mexico City. Groceries tell a different story – $253 in Barranquilla vs $323 in Mexico City – so Barranquilla wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇨🇴 Barranquilla
🇲🇽 Mexico City
🕒 Local time
16:58 4:58 PM
15:58 3:58 PM
1 h behind Barranquilla
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,327,209
9,209,944 Capital
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

MXN, USD, EUR to COP – Colombian Peso Converter

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 3,171 COP (10,000 COP = 3.15 USD). 1 EUR = 3,565 COP (10,000 COP = 2.81 EUR).

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 18.48 MXN (100 MXN = 5.41 USD). 1 EUR = 20.77 MXN (100 MXN = 4.81 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Barranquilla Mexico City 2,770 km ≈ 4 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Barranquilla
  • Mexico City

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Barranquilla vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Barranquilla or Mexico City?
Mexico City costs about 6% more than Barranquilla, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from clothing. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Barranquilla and in Mexico City?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,209 per month in Barranquilla and $2,351 in Mexico City. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Barranquilla or Mexico City?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Barranquilla, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Barranquilla compared to Mexico City?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,473 in Barranquilla and $1,567 in Mexico City. That's a gap of about 6%.
How do childcare costs compare in Barranquilla and in Mexico City?
Kindergarten costs $317 per month in Barranquilla and $431 in Mexico City. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Barranquilla or in Mexico City?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Barranquilla, where all-in costs run around $1,473, than in Mexico City at $1,567. In Barranquilla it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mexico City it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Barranquilla or Mexico City?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Barranquilla costs $1,473 versus $1,567 in Mexico City. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
Should I move to Barranquilla or to Mexico City?
If budget matters most, go with Barranquilla. 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.

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