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 $1,078 per month in Castro vs $1,467 in Mexico City, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,662 per month in Castro vs $2,371 in Mexico City, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,246 per month in Castro vs $3,274 in Mexico City, rent included.

Castro is about 27% cheaper than Mexico City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Castro sits 20% below the global median, while Mexico City is 10% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.44 CLP 7,487

$13.18 MX$228

-35.96%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.13 CLP 40.1K

$53.9 MX$932

-16.27%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.22 CLP 7,293

$9.42 MX$163

-12.74%

Cappuccino

$2.80 CLP 2,485

$3.55 MX$61.4

-21.13%

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

$1.36 CLP 1,211

$1.62 MX$27.98

-16.05%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.06 CLP 938

$1.11 MX$19.27

-4.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.32 CLP 2,942

$3.12 MX$54.0

6.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.19 CLP 3,719

$4.63 MX$80.1

-9.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 CLP 971

$1.70 MX$29.43

-35.88%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 CLP 1,343

$2.72 MX$47.02

-44.49%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 CLP 1,227

$1.91 MX$33.07

-27.75%

Eggs

$4.32 CLP 3,832

$2.54 MX$43.86

70.08%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.05 CLP 8,918

$10.03 MX$174

0.20%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.33 CLP 3,846

$8.09 MX$140

-46.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.78 CLP 7,791

$11.62 MX$201

-24.44%

Apples (1kg)

$1.48 CLP 1,316

$2.97 MX$51.3

-50.17%

Banana (1kg)

$2.43 CLP 2,157

$1.81 MX$31.24

34.25%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.59 CLP 1,408

$2.01 MX$34.82

-20.90%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.11 CLP 1,873

$2.03 MX$35.20

3.94%

Potato (1kg)

$1.20 CLP 1,064

$2.12 MX$36.75

-43.40%

Onion (1kg)

$1.42 CLP 1,258

$2.27 MX$39.25

-37.44%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.28 CLP 1,133

$1.40 MX$24.22

-8.57%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.23 CLP 1,094

$1.13 MX$19.55

8.85%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.37 CLP 4,764

$4.27 MX$73.9

25.76%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.45 CLP 7,497

$15.56 MX$269

-45.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.54 CLP 1,365

$1.76 MX$30.39

-12.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.23 CLP 1,979

$3.60 MX$62.2

-38.06%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.76 CLP 676

$0.38 MX$6.62

100.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.18 MX$332

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.48 CLP 422

$1.38 MX$23.79

-65.22%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.28 MX$4.78

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.45 MX$94.2

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.38 CLP 1,221

$1.30 MX$22.55

6.15%

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

$19.3K CLP 17.1M

$18.7K MX$323.2K

3.24%

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

$21.0K CLP 18.7M

$23.1K MX$400.1K

-9.10%

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

$131 CLP 116.4K

$40.86 MX$707

220.90%

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

$13.36 CLP 11.9K

$26.81 MX$464

-50.17%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.24 CLP 19.7K

$29.96 MX$518

-25.77%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.17 CLP 33.9K

$52.0 MX$900

-26.62%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.55 CLP 19.1K

$26.84 MX$464

-19.71%

Cinema Ticket

$5.77 CLP 5,121

$6.30 MX$109

-8.41%

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

$443 CLP 392.9K

$436 MX$7,544

1.52%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.4K MX$180.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.6 CLP 45.8K

$56.7 MX$980

-9.00%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.17 CLP 26.8K

$44.38 MX$768

-32.02%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$62.4 CLP 55.4K

$103 MX$1,780

-39.33%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$82.2 CLP 73.0K

$106 MX$1,825

-22.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$474 CLP 420.8K

$1,022 MX$17.7K

-53.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$366 CLP 324.7K

$631 MX$10.9K

-42.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$885 CLP 785.2K

$2,136 MX$36.9K

-58.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$630 CLP 559.0K

$1,243 MX$21.5K

-49.32%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,903 MX$67.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,064 MX$35.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$685 CLP 607.9K

$1,115 MX$19.3K

-38.57%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.18

11.34

-54.32%

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

Last update for Castro: June 1, 2026

Last update for Mexico City: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $474 in Castro versus $1,022 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 63% 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 $45.00 in Castro versus $54.0 in Mexico City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $221 vs $288 – 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 36% more than Castro, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,617 per month in Castro and $2,201 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 $1,078 in Castro and $1,467 in Mexico City. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $443 per month in Castro and $436 in Mexico City. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Castro, where all-in costs run around $1,078, than in Mexico City at $1,467. 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 $1,078 versus $1,467 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.