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 $830 per month in Cartago vs $1,484 in Mexico City, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,258 per month in Cartago vs $2,381 in Mexico City, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,686 per month in Cartago vs $3,278 in Mexico City, rent included.

Cartago is about 44% cheaper than Mexico City, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Cartago sits 38% below the global median, while Mexico City is 11% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.69 COP 13.3K

$12.98 MX$227

-71.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$28.64 COP 103.4K

$53.1 MX$929

-46.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.16 COP 25.9K

$9.72 MX$170

-26.34%

Cappuccino

$1.63 COP 5,867

$3.75 MX$65.6

-56.53%

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

$0.94 COP 3,398

$1.57 MX$27.46

-40.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.56 COP 2,026

$1.13 MX$19.76

-50.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.01 COP 3,663

$3.18 MX$55.7

-68.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.51 COP 9,070

$4.66 MX$81.6

-46.14%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.26 COP 4,549

$1.62 MX$28.37

-22.22%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 COP 5,457

$2.71 MX$47.36

-44.28%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.24 COP 4,481

$1.88 MX$32.89

-34.04%

Eggs

$2.58 COP 9,313

$2.51 MX$43.90

2.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.15 COP 15.0K

$10.08 MX$176

-58.83%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.50 COP 19.9K

$8.29 MX$145

-33.66%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.76 COP 28.0K

$11.94 MX$209

-35.01%

Apples (1kg)

$2.50 COP 9,022

$2.86 MX$50.1

-12.59%

Banana (1kg)

$0.97 COP 3,503

$1.75 MX$30.62

-44.57%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.15 COP 4,149

$2.08 MX$36.48

-44.71%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.25 COP 4,518

$1.97 MX$34.46

-36.55%

Potato (1kg)

$0.88 COP 3,162

$2.16 MX$37.79

-59.26%

Onion (1kg)

$1.11 COP 4,010

$2.18 MX$38.16

-49.08%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 COP 2,597

$1.39 MX$24.34

-48.20%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.68 COP 2,459

$1.12 MX$19.69

-39.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.84 COP 10.3K

$4.20 MX$73.5

-32.38%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.44 COP 41.3K

$14.25 MX$249

-19.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 COP 3,885

$1.76 MX$30.85

-38.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.92 COP 6,930

$3.68 MX$64.5

-47.83%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.73 COP 2,649

$0.39 MX$6.74

87.18%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.35 COP 109.6K

$18.66 MX$327

62.65%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.59 COP 5,736

$1.39 MX$24.26

14.39%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 COP 7,029

$0.30 MX$5.32

550.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.46 COP 34.2K

$5.42 MX$94.9

74.54%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 COP 3,422

$1.35 MX$23.63

-29.63%

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

$22.2K COP 80.2M

$18.9K MX$330.5K

17.71%

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

$29.9K COP 107.8M

$23.2K MX$405.2K

28.95%

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

$81.2 COP 293.0K

$40.82 MX$714

98.85%

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

$9.09 COP 32.8K

$27.50 MX$481

-66.95%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.36 COP 87.9K

$30.38 MX$532

-19.82%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.12 COP 83.5K

$53.4 MX$935

-56.73%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.30 MX$460

Cinema Ticket

$4.70 COP 17.0K

$6.27 MX$110

-25.04%

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

$222 COP 801.6K

$436 MX$7,632

-49.08%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,904 COP 21.3M

$10.5K MX$183.2K

-43.60%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.2 COP 228.0K

$56.8 MX$993

11.28%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.18 COP 159.5K

$44.79 MX$784

-1.36%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.6 COP 283.6K

$103 MX$1,799

-23.59%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$89.9 COP 324.7K

$108 MX$1,888

-16.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$288 COP 1.0M

$1,000 MX$17.5K

-71.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$236 COP 851.2K

$620 MX$10.9K

-62.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$524 COP 1.9M

$2,137 MX$37.4K

-75.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$430 COP 1.6M

$1,235 MX$21.6K

-65.16%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,776 COP 6.4M

$3,865 MX$67.6K

-54.04%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,493 COP 5.4M

$2,332 MX$40.8K

-35.99%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$327 COP 1.2M

$1,067 MX$18.7K

-69.32%

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: April 26, 2026

Last update for Mexico City: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $288 in Cartago versus $1,000 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 226% 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 $53.0 in Mexico City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $183 vs $286 – 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 79%, 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 $1,245 per month in Cartago and $2,225 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 $830 in Cartago and $1,484 in Mexico City. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 63% 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 $830, than in Mexico City at $1,484. 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.