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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,838 in Barrigada versus $1,646 in Mexico City.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,634 in Barrigada versus $2,613 in Mexico City.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,431 in Barrigada versus $3,580 in Mexico City.

Living in Barrigada is roughly 72% more expensive than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Barrigada 107% above, Mexico City 20% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.11 MX$206

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$101 $101

$52.2 MX$887

92.53%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.90 MX$185

Cappuccino

$4.05 MX$68.9

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

$1.72 MX$29.15

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.38 MX$23.41

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.47 MX$58.9

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.81 MX$98.8

Milk (1 liter)

$1.85 MX$31.50

White Bread (500g)

$3.22 MX$54.8

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.09 MX$35.44

Eggs

$2.91 MX$49.44

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.49 MX$212

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.11 MX$172

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.89 MX$270

Apples (1kg)

$3.31 MX$56.3

Banana (1kg)

$2.13 MX$36.14

Oranges (1kg)

$2.19 MX$37.22

Tomato (1kg)

$2.45 MX$41.59

Potato (1kg)

$2.19 MX$37.20

Onion (1kg)

$1.90 MX$32.37

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.62 MX$27.45

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.35 MX$22.94

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.87 $6.87

$5.43 MX$92.2

26.52%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.59 MX$299

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.07 MX$35.14

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.75 MX$80.7

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.34 MX$5.78

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.58 MX$367

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.04 MX$34.67

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 MX$9.82

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.97 MX$101

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.62 MX$27.46

-12.35%

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

$22.8K MX$387.6K

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

$26.7K MX$453.1K

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

$406 $406

$65.2 MX$1,109

521.90%

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

$102 $102

$29.87 MX$508

240.78%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$79.7 $79.7

$36.55 MX$621

118.00%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.0 MX$1,037

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.70 MX$454

Cinema Ticket

$6.85 MX$116

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

$718 $718

$453 MX$7,705

58.39%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.4K MX$227.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$75.0 MX$1,274

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.3 MX$940

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$114 MX$1,931

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$123 MX$2,084

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,455 $2,455

$1,134 MX$19.3K

116.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,207 $2,207

$712 MX$12.1K

209.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,341 $3,341

$2,571 MX$43.7K

29.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,209 $3,209

$1,311 MX$22.3K

144.74%

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)

$4,729 $4,729

$1,047 MX$17.8K

351.75%

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 Barrigada: August 29, 2026

Last update for Mexico City: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,455 in Barrigada and $1,134 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Barrigada pays 352% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out at a mid-range restaurant: $101 in Barrigada vs $52.0 in Mexico City for two.

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

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

Mexico City is cheaper overall, especially in Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 72% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 352% higher in Barrigada, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,455 in Barrigada versus $1,134 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Mexico City – a meal for two runs $52.0 versus $101 in Barrigada. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Childcare runs $718 in Barrigada versus $453 in Mexico City. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $1,646 in Mexico City versus $2,838 in Barrigada, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Mexico City but tight or insufficient in Barrigada. The gap between the two cities makes Mexico City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Mexico City is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Barrigada, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Barrigada and Mexico City are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Mexico City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 72% less than in Barrigada. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.