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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $931 per month in Castro vs $1,677 in Mexico City, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,474 per month in Castro vs $2,608 in Mexico City, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,016 per month in Castro vs $3,540 in Mexico City, rent included.

Castro is about 44% cheaper than Mexico City, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Castro sits 33% below the global median, while Mexico City is 22% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.30 CLP 7,815

$12.14 MX$206

-31.63%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.78 CLP 45.0K

$53.9 MX$914

-11.35%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.02 CLP 5,662

$11.09 MX$188

-45.72%

Cappuccino

$1.63 CLP 1,531

$4.10 MX$69.5

-60.24%

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

$1.31 CLP 1,232

$1.68 MX$28.53

-22.02%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.10 CLP 1,031

$1.39 MX$23.55

-20.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.43 CLP 5,106

$3.33 MX$56.5

63.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.38 CLP 6,941

$5.88 MX$99.7

25.51%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 CLP 1,022

$1.85 MX$31.41

-41.08%

White Bread (500g)

$3.86 CLP 3,628

$3.17 MX$53.8

21.77%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.31 CLP 1,230

$2.07 MX$35.13

-36.71%

Eggs

$4.25 CLP 3,997

$2.93 MX$49.67

45.05%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.03 CLP 9,443

$12.59 MX$214

-20.33%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.32 CLP 4,070

$10.11 MX$172

-57.27%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.54 CLP 8,035

$16.09 MX$273

-46.92%

Apples (1kg)

$1.47 CLP 1,380

$3.39 MX$57.5

-56.64%

Banana (1kg)

$2.31 CLP 2,171

$2.08 MX$35.26

11.06%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 CLP 1,538

$2.12 MX$35.97

-23.11%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.09 CLP 1,965

$2.41 MX$40.95

-13.28%

Potato (1kg)

$1.22 CLP 1,145

$2.13 MX$36.11

-42.72%

Onion (1kg)

$2.01 MX$34.02

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.57 CLP 1,480

$1.55 MX$26.21

1.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.64 CLP 1,540

$1.36 MX$23.15

20.59%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.96 CLP 3,729

$5.77 MX$97.8

-31.37%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.86 CLP 7,401

$17.74 MX$301

-55.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.06 CLP 997

$2.07 MX$35.11

-48.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.26 CLP 3,069

$4.61 MX$78.3

-29.28%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.74 CLP 700

$0.37 MX$6.21

100.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.18 MX$359

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.05 MX$34.84

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 MX$9.79

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.07 MX$103

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.40 CLP 1,321

$1.55 MX$26.34

-9.68%

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

$15.8K CLP 14.9M

$22.9K MX$388.1K

-30.79%

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

$19.4K CLP 18.3M

$27.2K MX$462.0K

-28.67%

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

$137 CLP 129.0K

$67.4 MX$1,144

103.35%

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

$30.62 MX$520

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.49 CLP 29.6K

$37.24 MX$632

-15.44%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.5 MX$1,043

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.12 MX$460

Cinema Ticket

$7.11 MX$121

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

$456 MX$7,739

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.7K MX$232.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$74.2 MX$1,259

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$57.0 MX$967

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.2 CLP 80.2K

$115 MX$1,958

-26.16%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 MX$2,061

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$376 CLP 353.8K

$1,148 MX$19.5K

-67.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$301 CLP 282.9K

$709 MX$12.0K

-57.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,054 CLP 991.6K

$2,577 MX$43.7K

-59.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$619 CLP 582.8K

$1,295 MX$22.0K

-52.18%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,005 MX$67.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,130 MX$36.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$643 CLP 605.1K

$1,082 MX$18.4K

-40.59%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.3

-38.05%

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

Last update for Castro: September 6, 2026

Last update for Mexico City: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $376 in Castro versus $1,148 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 68% 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 $48.00 in Castro versus $54.0 in Mexico City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $244 vs $345 – making Castro 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

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

Mexico City costs about 80% more than Castro, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,396 per month in Castro and $2,515 in Mexico City. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Castro, 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 $931 in Castro and $1,677 in Mexico City. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 41% 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.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Castro, where all-in costs run around $931, than in Mexico City at $1,677. In Castro it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mexico City it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Castro costs $931 versus $1,677 in Mexico City. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

If budget matters most, go with Castro. 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.