Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Boroko and Mexico City

For one person, living is cheaper in Boroko: $868 a month against $1,608 in Mexico City, rent and utilities included – about $8,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

42

Cost of Living Index in Boroko
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Boroko Living Index
78

Cost of Living Index in Mexico City
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Mexico City Living Index

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Boroko

🇵🇬 Papua New Guinea

$868

/mo nomad

Mexico City

🇲🇽 Mexico

$1,608

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Boroko 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 Boroko and in Mexico City actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $868 per month in Boroko vs $1,608 in Mexico City, rent included.

Boroko $868
Mexico City $1,608

A couple spends around $1,259 per month in Boroko vs $2,549 in Mexico City, rent included.

Boroko $1,259
Mexico City $2,549

A family of three spends $1,649 per month in Boroko vs $3,490 in Mexico City, rent included.

Boroko $1,649
Mexico City $3,490

Boroko is about 46% cheaper than Mexico City, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Boroko sits 36% below the global median, while Mexico City is 18% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.29 PGK 31.67

$10.62 MX$198

-31.36%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.42 PGK 149

$48.35 MX$901

-28.81%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.35 PGK 23.26

$10.35 MX$193

-48.31%

Cappuccino

$2.48 PGK 10.76

$3.69 MX$68.8

-32.79%

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

$0.71 PGK 3.06

$1.67 MX$31.07

-57.49%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.64 PGK 2.78

$1.27 MX$23.59

-49.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.58 PGK 11.22

$3.19 MX$59.5

-19.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.42 PGK 14.85

$5.31 MX$98.9

-35.59%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.50 PGK 6.51

$1.72 MX$32.15

-12.79%

White Bread (500g)

$1.16 PGK 5.02

$3.04 MX$56.7

-61.84%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.16 PGK 5.03

$1.94 MX$36.19

-40.21%

Eggs

$3.55 PGK 15.40

$2.89 MX$53.8

22.84%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.98 PGK 21.65

$10.97 MX$205

-54.60%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.79 PGK 20.79

$9.25 MX$172

-48.22%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.61 PGK 28.72

$15.13 MX$282

-56.31%

Apples (1kg)

$3.85 PGK 16.70

$3.05 MX$56.8

26.23%

Banana (1kg)

$3.08 PGK 13.38

$1.94 MX$36.19

58.76%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.72 PGK 11.80

$2.03 MX$37.75

33.99%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.70 PGK 11.74

$2.31 MX$43.15

16.88%

Potato (1kg)

$2.82 PGK 12.24

$2.04 MX$37.94

38.24%

Onion (1kg)

$0.84 PGK 3.65

$1.80 MX$33.55

-53.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.12 PGK 4.86

$1.48 MX$27.58

-24.32%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.42 PGK 1.83

$1.27 MX$23.63

-66.93%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.42 PGK 23.53

$5.30 MX$98.9

2.26%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.95 PGK 21.52

$16.10 MX$300

-69.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.07 PGK 4.67

$1.98 MX$36.97

-45.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.49 PGK 6.48

$4.25 MX$79.3

-64.94%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.42 PGK 1.83

$0.31 MX$5.69

35.48%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.88 PGK 125

$19.73 MX$368

46.38%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.40 PGK 19.11

$1.84 MX$34.25

139.13%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 PGK 5.83

$0.53 MX$9.94

152.83%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.97 PGK 47.66

$5.30 MX$98.7

106.98%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.80 PGK 3.47

$1.51 MX$28.16

-47.02%

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

$35.7K PGK 155.0K

$21.8K MX$405.5K

64.07%

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

$17.6K PGK 76.4K

$24.0K MX$447.1K

-26.62%

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

$61.6 PGK 267

$63.0 MX$1,174

-2.21%

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

$20.71 PGK 90.0

$27.39 MX$511

-24.39%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$82.1 PGK 357

$35.67 MX$665

130.22%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.86 PGK 182

$58.9 MX$1,099

-28.98%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.29 PGK 62.1

$23.64 MX$441

-39.55%

Cinema Ticket

$6.47 PGK 28.09

$6.40 MX$119

1.09%

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

$333 PGK 1,445

$432 MX$8,045

-22.92%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,215 PGK 9,621

$11.4K MX$212.9K

-80.61%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$34.50 PGK 150

$68.2 MX$1,272

-49.43%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$12.91 PGK 56.1

$53.1 MX$990

-75.70%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$44.28 PGK 192

$108 MX$2,009

-58.92%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$26.31 PGK 114

$117 MX$2,186

-77.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,336 PGK 14.5K

$1,113 MX$20.8K

199.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$221 PGK 959

$710 MX$13.2K

-68.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,257 PGK 14.1K

$2,588 MX$48.2K

25.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$218 PGK 947

$1,406 MX$26.2K

-84.49%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,631 MX$67.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,135 MX$39.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$352 PGK 1,530

$946 MX$17.6K

-62.76%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.35

-3.08%

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

Last update for Boroko: October 25, 2026

Last update for Mexico City: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Boroko

$221 25.4%

Mexico City

$710 44.2% 222% $490

Groceries & Markets

Boroko

$204 23.5%

Mexico City

$320 19.9% 56.5% $115

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Boroko

$164 18.9%

Mexico City

$126 7.8% 23.3% $38

Eating Out

Boroko

$129 14.9%

Mexico City

$199 12.4% 53.6% $69

Sport & Entertainment

Boroko

$55 6.3%

Mexico City

$72 4.5% 30.9% $17

Clothing & Footwear

Boroko

$53 6.1%

Mexico City

$156 9.7% 194% $103

Getting Around

Boroko

$42 4.8%

Mexico City

$25 1.6% 38.9% $16

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $3,336 in Boroko versus $1,113 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 in Mexico City are about 2.7 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $34 in Boroko versus $48 in Mexico City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $204 vs $320 – making Boroko the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇵🇬 Boroko

🇲🇽 Mexico City

🕒 Local time

06:34 6:34 AM

14:34 2:34 PM

16 h behind Boroko

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

9,209,944 Capital

💱 Currency

Papua New Guinean Kina PGK K

Mexican Peso MXN $

📈 Exchange rate

1 PGK = 0.23 USD

1 PGK = 0.207 EUR

100 MXN = 5.36 USD

100 MXN = 4.82 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

MXN, USD, EUR to PGK – Papua New Guinean Kina Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇵🇬 Papua New Guinean Kina (K)

Papua New Guinean Kina exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 4.34 PGK (1 PGK = 0.23 USD). 1 EUR = 4.84 PGK (1 PGK = 0.207 EUR).

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 18.64 MXN (100 MXN = 5.36 USD). 1 EUR = 20.75 MXN (100 MXN = 4.82 EUR).

USD to PGK in detail →

On the map

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Between locations

Boroko Mexico City 12,830 km ≈ 17 h nonstop flight

From you

Boroko
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

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

Mexico City costs about 85% more than Boroko, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,302 per month in Boroko and $2,412 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: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,113 there versus $3,336 in Boroko.

Kindergarten costs $333 per month in Boroko and $432 in Mexico City. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 57% more in Mexico City, though the gap depends on what you buy.

$800 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $868 in Boroko and $1,608 in Mexico City. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Mexico City has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $868 in Boroko to $1,608 in Mexico City. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Boroko. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Mexico City makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.