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

🙂 Solo nomad: Cartagena is 14.7% cheaper than Mexico City without rent, and 25.4% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Cartagena is 22.5% cheaper than Mexico City without rent, and 33.3% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cartagena
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.96 COP 24.8K
$13.38 MX$253
-55.46%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.85 COP 195.3K
$52.7 MX$997
-11.15%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.9 COP 41.3K
$9.31 MX$176
6.34%
Cappuccino
$1.65 COP 6,894
$3.61 MX$68.3
-54.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.8 COP 3,333
$1.64 MX$30.91
-51.22%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.71 COP 2,946
$1.12 MX$21.14
-36.61%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.3 COP 5,428
$3.26 MX$61.7
-60.12%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88 COP 12K
$4.82 MX$91.1
-40.25%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cartagena
Mexico City
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.2 COP 4,999
$1.65 MX$31.24
-27.27%
White Bread (500g)
$1.83 COP 7,626
$2.74 MX$51.7
-33.21%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.32 COP 5,518
$1.92 MX$36.28
-31.25%
Eggs
$2.11 COP 8,808
$2.51 MX$47.53
-15.94%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.12 COP 29.7K
$9.89 MX$187
-28.01%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.13 COP 25.6K
$8.39 MX$159
-26.94%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.78 COP 32.4K
$11.95 MX$226
-34.90%
Apples (1kg)
$3.26 COP 13.6K
$2.87 MX$54.3
13.59%
Banana (1kg)
$1.93 COP 8,044
$1.74 MX$32.85
10.92%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.47 COP 6,118
$2 MX$37.81
-26.50%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.59 COP 6,620
$2.07 MX$39.14
-23.19%
Potato (1kg)
$1.56 COP 6,485
$2.05 MX$38.78
-23.90%
Onion (1kg)
$1.07 COP 4,470
$2.18 MX$41.22
-50.92%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.05 COP 4,389
$1.38 MX$26.16
-23.91%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.64 COP 2,665
$1.11 MX$21.06
-42.34%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.27 COP 9,446
$4.16 MX$78.6
-45.43%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.76 COP 99.1K
$11.05 MX$209
115.02%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.97 COP 4,055
$1.75 MX$33.16
-44.57%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.98 COP 4,090
$3.7 MX$70
-73.51%
🚌 Getting Around
Cartagena
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.06 COP 4,412
$0.38 MX$7.25
178.95%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$28.09 COP 117.1K
$18.97 MX$359
48.08%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.49 COP 10.4K
$1.36 MX$25.72
83.09%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.44 COP 10.2K
$0.28 MX$5.25
771.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.97 COP 20.7K
$5.3 MX$100
-6.23%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.97 COP 4,064
$1.36 MX$25.63
-28.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.5K COP 89.7M
$18.8K MX$354.6K
14.71%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.9K COP 99.6M
$23.4K MX$441.7K
2.27%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cartagena
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$141 COP 586.1K
$39.97 MX$756
251.71%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.92 COP 45.5K
$27.48 MX$519
-60.26%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.73 COP 103.1K
$30.22 MX$571
-18.17%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cartagena
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$35.51 COP 148K
$52.6 MX$994
-32.49%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.69 COP 36.2K
$26.84 MX$507
-67.62%
Cinema Ticket
$2.94 COP 12.3K
$6.32 MX$120
-53.48%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cartagena
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$143 COP 594.7K
$437 MX$8,258
-67.35%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,872 COP 24.5M
$10.6K MX$199.9K
-44.45%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cartagena
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.11 COP 204.8K
$57.2 MX$1,082
-14.17%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.16 COP 163.3K
$45.14 MX$853
-13.25%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$125 COP 521.4K
$102 MX$1,928
22.63%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114 COP 474.6K
$109 MX$2,056
4.69%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cartagena
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$724 COP 3M
$1,000 MX$18.9K
-27.52%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$335 COP 1.4M
$622 MX$11.8K
-46.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,312 COP 5.5M
$2,160 MX$40.8K
-39.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$477 COP 2M
$1,235 MX$23.3K
-61.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,840 COP 11.8M
$3,566 MX$67.4K
-20.35%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,905 COP 12.1M
$2,480 MX$46.9K
17.13%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cartagena
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$577 COP 2.4M
$867 MX$16.4K
-33.53%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
15
11.34
32.28%

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

Last update for Cartagena: October 28, 2025

Last update for Mexico City: October 28, 2025

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