🙂A single person spends $803 per month in Buenaventura vs $1,447 in Mexico City, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,225 per month in Buenaventura vs $2,310 in Mexico City, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,648 per month in Buenaventura vs $3,174 in Mexico City, rent included.
🙂Buenaventura is about 45% cheaper than Mexico City, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Buenaventura sits 40% below the global median, while Mexico City is 8% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Buenaventura
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.98COP 14.2K
$12.98MX$227
-69.34%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.67COP 84.4K
$52.6MX$918
-55.01%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.47COP 26.6K
$9.43MX$165
-20.78%
Cappuccino
$1.50COP 5,349
$3.57MX$62.3
-57.98%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.86COP 3,067
$1.61MX$28.02
-46.58%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.62COP 2,201
$1.15MX$20.14
-46.09%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.21COP 4,312
$3.15MX$55.0
-61.59%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24COP 7,978
$4.86MX$84.8
-53.91%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Buenaventura
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.07COP 3,814
$1.70MX$29.66
-37.06%
White Bread(500g)
$1.25COP 4,450
$2.64MX$45.99
-52.65%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.14COP 4,082
$1.90MX$33.22
-40.00%
Eggs
$2.16COP 7,693
$2.54MX$44.35
-14.96%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.33COP 15.4K
$10.08MX$176
-57.04%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.27COP 18.8K
$8.29MX$145
-36.43%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.55COP 26.9K
$11.57MX$202
-34.75%
Apples(1kg)
$2.51COP 8,934
$3.03MX$52.8
-17.16%
Banana(1kg)
$1.11COP 3,947
$1.71MX$29.85
-35.09%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.30COP 4,625
$2.05MX$35.76
-36.59%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.87COP 3,091
$2.06MX$35.95
-57.77%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13COP 4,029
$2.06MX$36.03
-45.15%
Onion(1kg)
$1.12COP 3,999
$2.17MX$37.87
-48.39%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.88COP 3,130
$1.40MX$24.49
-37.14%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.70COP 2,497
$1.12MX$19.58
-37.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.30COP 8,195
$4.29MX$74.9
-46.39%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.24COP 36.5K
$15.41MX$269
-33.55%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.14COP 4,055
$1.67MX$29.23
-31.74%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.71COP 6,102
$3.69MX$64.3
-53.66%
🚌 Getting Around
Buenaventura
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.73COP 2,609
$0.38MX$6.66
92.11%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$30.19COP 107.7K
$19.06MX$333
58.39%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.42COP 5,081
$1.38MX$24.10
2.90%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.72COP 6,121
$0.28MX$4.82
514.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.97COP 21.3K
$5.42MX$94.5
10.15%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.00COP 3,583
$1.28MX$22.35
-21.88%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.7KCOP 63.0M
$19.0KMX$331.3K
-6.91%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.6KCOP 91.3M
$23.5KMX$409.5K
9.15%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Buenaventura
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.1COP 296.2K
$41.02MX$716
102.49%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.91COP 31.8K
$26.92MX$470
-66.90%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.83COP 81.4K
$29.69MX$518
-23.11%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Buenaventura
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$23.22COP 82.8K
$52.3MX$913
-55.63%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$26.23MX$458
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.01COP 14.3K
$6.18MX$108
-35.11%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Buenaventura
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$235COP 836.4K
$427MX$7,454
-45.09%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,923COP 21.1M
$10.7KMX$186.7K
-44.63%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Buenaventura
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.6COP 208.9K
$56.8MX$992
3.08%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.76COP 116.8K
$44.83MX$782
-26.92%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$84.2COP 300.2K
$105MX$1,824
-19.49%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$73.4COP 261.8K
$106MX$1,849
-30.71%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Buenaventura
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$282COP 1.0M
$995MX$17.4K
-71.69%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$238COP 850.3K
$621MX$10.8K
-61.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$520COP 1.9M
$2,126MX$37.1K
-75.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$425COP 1.5M
$1,254MX$21.9K
-66.12%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,606COP 5.7M
$3,903MX$68.1K
-58.85%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,236COP 4.4M
$2,096MX$36.6K
-41.01%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Buenaventura
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$553COP 2.0M
$1,107MX$19.3K
-50.01%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.18
11.34
16.23%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Buenaventura: June 7, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $282 in Buenaventura versus $995 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 100% 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 $24.00 in Buenaventura versus $53.0 in Mexico City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $174 vs $288 – making Buenaventura 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
Buenaventura vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Buenaventura and Mexico City compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $803 in Buenaventura, $1,447 in Mexico City – roughly 80% apart. Mexico City costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Buenaventura compared to Mexico City?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,204 per month in Buenaventura and $2,171 in Mexico City. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Buenaventura and Mexico City?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Buenaventura, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 65% 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.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $24.00 in Buenaventura and $53.0 in Mexico City. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Buenaventura, where all-in costs run around $803, than in Mexico City at $1,447. In Buenaventura it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mexico City it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Buenaventura and Mexico City?
It depends on your priorities. Mexico City has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $803 in Buenaventura to $1,447 in Mexico City. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How do I decide between Buenaventura and Mexico City?
If budget matters most, go with Buenaventura. 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.
Buenaventura vs other spots: cost of living compared