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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $839 per month in Cartago vs $1,472 in Mexico City, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,282 per month in Cartago vs $2,359 in Mexico City, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,725 per month in Cartago vs $3,245 in Mexico City, rent included.

Cartago is about 43% cheaper than Mexico City, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Cartago sits 37% below the global median, while Mexico City is 11% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.71 COP 11.7K

$13.14 MX$227

-71.77%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.46 COP 92.8K

$53.5 MX$926

-44.97%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.24 COP 22.8K

$9.33 MX$161

-22.40%

Cappuccino

$1.65 COP 5,179

$3.70 MX$64.0

-55.41%

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

$0.87 COP 2,753

$1.60 MX$27.76

-45.63%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.61 COP 1,913

$1.12 MX$19.34

-45.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.01 COP 3,193

$3.14 MX$54.3

-67.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 COP 7,774

$4.85 MX$83.9

-49.07%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.29 COP 4,052

$1.65 MX$28.61

-21.82%

White Bread (500g)

$1.54 COP 4,847

$2.71 MX$46.96

-43.17%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.21 COP 3,821

$1.91 MX$33.03

-36.65%

Eggs

$2.47 COP 7,786

$2.59 MX$44.81

-4.63%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.13 COP 13.0K

$9.81 MX$170

-57.90%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.58 COP 17.6K

$8.43 MX$146

-33.81%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.79 COP 24.5K

$11.93 MX$206

-34.70%

Apples (1kg)

$2.45 COP 7,726

$2.95 MX$51.1

-16.95%

Banana (1kg)

$0.97 COP 3,068

$1.74 MX$30.10

-44.25%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.16 COP 3,650

$2.04 MX$35.38

-43.14%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.27 COP 4,004

$2.06 MX$35.64

-38.35%

Potato (1kg)

$0.83 COP 2,598

$2.15 MX$37.20

-61.40%

Onion (1kg)

$1.05 COP 3,315

$2.26 MX$39.02

-53.54%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 COP 2,250

$1.39 MX$23.97

-48.92%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.68 COP 2,149

$1.12 MX$19.31

-39.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.84 COP 8,949

$4.22 MX$73.0

-32.70%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.78 COP 40.2K

$17.51 MX$303

-27.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.12 COP 3,522

$1.71 MX$29.58

-34.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.91 COP 6,018

$3.63 MX$62.8

-47.38%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.69 COP 2,167

$0.35 MX$6.10

97.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.38 COP 95.7K

$19.32 MX$334

57.25%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.59 COP 5,017

$1.38 MX$23.80

15.22%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.91 COP 6,011

$0.28 MX$4.77

582.14%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.72 COP 30.6K

$5.28 MX$91.3

84.09%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.93 COP 2,927

$1.36 MX$23.50

-31.62%

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

$21.7K COP 68.3M

$19.1K MX$330.5K

13.48%

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

$29.5K COP 93.0M

$23.6K MX$408.4K

25.08%

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

$81.3 COP 256.0K

$40.53 MX$701

100.59%

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

$8.61 COP 27.1K

$27.38 MX$474

-68.55%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.85 COP 78.3K

$30.38 MX$526

-18.20%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.75 COP 74.8K

$52.2 MX$903

-54.52%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.48 MX$458

Cinema Ticket

$4.75 COP 15.0K

$6.19 MX$107

-23.26%

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

$229 COP 721.5K

$425 MX$7,355

-46.09%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,018 COP 18.9M

$10.7K MX$185.7K

-43.94%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.6 COP 203.4K

$58.3 MX$1,009

10.80%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.43 COP 139.9K

$44.57 MX$771

-0.31%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.8 COP 245.0K

$103 MX$1,791

-24.80%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$89.4 COP 281.3K

$109 MX$1,881

-17.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$285 COP 896.6K

$1,014 MX$17.5K

-71.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$234 COP 736.3K

$623 MX$10.8K

-62.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$529 COP 1.7M

$2,119 MX$36.7K

-75.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$431 COP 1.4M

$1,223 MX$21.2K

-64.80%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,040 COP 6.4M

$3,792 MX$65.6K

-46.19%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,273 COP 4.0M

$2,110 MX$36.5K

-39.68%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$360 COP 1.1M

$1,052 MX$18.2K

-65.75%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.58

11.34

2.12%

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

Last update for Cartago: July 25, 2026

Last update for Mexico City: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $285 in Cartago versus $1,014 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 192% 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 $29.00 in Cartago versus $54.0 in Mexico City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $186 vs $293 – making Cartago 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

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

Yes – Mexico City is pricier by about 76%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,258 per month in Cartago and $2,208 in Mexico City. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Cartago, 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 $839 in Cartago and $1,472 in Mexico City. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 57% less in Cartago. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Cartago, where all-in costs run around $839, than in Mexico City at $1,472. In Cartago it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mexico City it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Cartago – 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 Cartago. 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.