Cost of Living Comparison Between Belfast, ME and Mexico City Cost of Living Comparison Between Belfast, ME and Mexico City

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,560 per month in Belfast, ME vs $1,481 in Mexico City, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,754 per month in Belfast, ME vs $2,352 in Mexico City, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,948 per month in Belfast, ME vs $3,222 in Mexico City, rent included.

Belfast, ME costs about 73% more than Mexico City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Belfast, ME and Mexico City sit above the global median – Belfast, ME by 92%, Mexico City by 11%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.07 $19.07

$13.16 MX$229

44.91%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.3 $75.3

$53.6 MX$932

40.54%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.88 $10.88

$9.55 MX$166

13.93%

Cappuccino

$5.08 $5.08

$3.72 MX$64.8

36.56%

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

$2.61 $2.61

$1.57 MX$27.28

66.24%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.96 $1.96

$1.16 MX$20.12

68.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.97 $5.97

$3.18 MX$55.4

87.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.96 $6.96

$4.63 MX$80.6

50.32%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.00 $1.00

$1.71 MX$29.67

-41.52%

White Bread (500g)

$3.43 $3.43

$2.62 MX$45.54

30.92%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.39 $4.39

$1.89 MX$32.87

132.28%

Eggs

$4.14 $4.14

$2.60 MX$45.17

59.23%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.09 $12.09

$9.91 MX$172

22.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.44 $11.44

$8.22 MX$143

39.17%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.37 $15.37

$11.78 MX$205

30.48%

Apples (1kg)

$4.96 $4.96

$3.00 MX$52.1

65.33%

Banana (1kg)

$1.58 $1.58

$1.80 MX$31.32

-12.22%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.19 $4.19

$2.07 MX$36.08

102.42%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.67 $4.67

$1.97 MX$34.23

137.06%

Potato (1kg)

$2.78 $2.78

$2.07 MX$36.05

34.30%

Onion (1kg)

$2.92 $2.92

$2.17 MX$37.84

34.56%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.11 $2.11

$1.40 MX$24.41

50.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.12 $2.12

$1.07 MX$18.70

98.13%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.67 $9.67

$4.12 MX$71.7

134.71%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.84 $14.84

$17.42 MX$303

-14.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 $1.77

$1.68 MX$29.16

5.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.42 $3.42

$3.65 MX$63.5

-6.30%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.96 $1.96

$0.38 MX$6.62

415.79%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.71 MX$326

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.51 $3.51

$1.33 MX$23.13

163.91%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.59 $1.59

$0.30 MX$5.27

430.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.57 $29.57

$5.51 MX$95.9

436.66%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.83 $0.83

$1.31 MX$22.72

-36.64%

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

$30.0K $30.0K

$19.2K MX$333.5K

56.57%

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

$25.5K $25.5K

$23.7K MX$413.3K

7.54%

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

$191 $191

$41.14 MX$716

363.15%

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

$53.0 $53.0

$27.74 MX$483

90.92%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.3 $67.3

$30.13 MX$524

123.27%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.89 $42.89

$53.7 MX$935

-20.19%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$25.98 MX$452

Cinema Ticket

$13.27 $13.27

$6.49 MX$113

104.47%

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

$1,303 $1,303

$437 MX$7,598

198.49%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.2K $23.2K

$10.5K MX$182.0K

121.66%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.1 $52.1

$58.3 MX$1,015

-10.75%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.62 $39.62

$45.86 MX$798

-13.61%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.7 $86.7

$101 MX$1,765

-14.49%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$111 $111

$107 MX$1,854

4.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,621 $1,621

$1,005 MX$17.5K

61.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,329 $1,329

$634 MX$11.0K

109.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,655 $2,655

$2,148 MX$37.4K

23.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,250 $2,250

$1,247 MX$21.7K

80.41%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,710 $2,710

$3,859 MX$67.2K

-29.78%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,408 $2,408

$2,085 MX$36.3K

15.50%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,072 MX$18.7K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.51

11.34

-42.59%

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

Last update for Belfast, ME: July 21, 2026

Last update for Mexico City: July 22, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,621 in Belfast, ME versus $1,005 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $75.0 in Belfast, ME versus $54.0 in Mexico City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $386 vs $291 – making Mexico City 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

Belfast, ME vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Belfast, ME is pricier by about 73%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,840 per month in Belfast, ME and $2,222 in Mexico City. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Mexico City, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,560 in Belfast, ME and $1,481 in Mexico City. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $1,303 per month in Belfast, ME and $437 in Mexico City. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Mexico City, where all-in costs run around $1,481, than in Belfast, ME at $2,560. In Mexico City it covers expenses comfortably, while in Belfast, ME it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Mexico City – 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 Mexico City. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Belfast, ME makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.