🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,231 in Cayo Coco versus $1,467 in Mexico City.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,675 in Cayo Coco versus $2,371 in Mexico City.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,119 in Cayo Coco versus $3,274 in Mexico City.
🙂Living in Cayo Coco costs roughly 16% less than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Cayo Coco is 8% below, Mexico City is 10% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cayo Coco
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.08CUP 122
$13.18MX$228
-61.46%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.98CUP 359
$53.9MX$932
-72.21%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.07CUP 170
$9.42MX$163
-24.95%
Cappuccino
$1.02CUP 24.46
$3.55MX$61.4
-71.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.04CUP 48.85
$1.62MX$27.98
25.93%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.98CUP 23.49
$1.11MX$19.27
-11.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.04CUP 49.02
$3.12MX$54.0
-34.62%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.98CUP 71.6
$4.63MX$80.1
-35.64%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cayo Coco
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$3.09CUP 74.1
$1.70MX$29.43
81.76%
White Bread(500g)
$0.98CUP 23.42
$2.72MX$47.02
-63.97%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.98CUP 47.56
$1.91MX$33.07
3.66%
Eggs
$3.63CUP 87.2
$2.54MX$43.86
42.91%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.97CUP 143
$10.03MX$174
-40.48%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.14CUP 123
$8.09MX$140
-36.46%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.97CUP 239
$11.62MX$201
-14.20%
Apples(1kg)
$4.90CUP 118
$2.97MX$51.3
64.98%
Banana(1kg)
$0.98CUP 23.53
$1.81MX$31.24
-45.86%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.02CUP 24.46
$2.01MX$34.82
-49.25%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.02CUP 24.51
$2.03MX$35.20
-49.75%
Potato(1kg)
$0.97CUP 23.30
$2.12MX$36.75
-54.25%
Onion(1kg)
$2.91CUP 69.9
$2.27MX$39.25
28.19%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.98CUP 23.40
$1.40MX$24.22
-30.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.01CUP 24.29
$1.13MX$19.55
-10.62%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.01CUP 72.4
$4.27MX$73.9
-29.51%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.92CUP 238
$15.56MX$269
-36.25%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.97CUP 47.30
$1.76MX$30.39
11.93%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.98CUP 47.62
$3.60MX$62.2
-45.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Cayo Coco
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.38MX$6.62
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.90CUP 478
$19.18MX$332
3.75%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.02CUP 24.42
$1.38MX$23.79
-26.09%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.01CUP 24.27
$0.28MX$4.78
260.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$19.96CUP 479
$5.45MX$94.2
266.24%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.99CUP 23.76
$1.30MX$22.55
-23.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$70.2KCUP 1.7M
$18.7KMX$323.2K
275.80%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$80.7KCUP 1.9M
$23.1KMX$400.1K
248.75%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cayo Coco
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.10CUP 962
$40.86MX$707
-1.86%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$39.74CUP 954
$26.81MX$464
48.23%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$219CUP 5,245
$29.96MX$518
629.41%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cayo Coco
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.32CUP 968
$52.0MX$900
-22.49%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.14CUP 243
$26.84MX$464
-62.22%
Cinema Ticket
$1.02CUP 24.46
$6.30MX$109
-83.81%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cayo Coco
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$89.5CUP 2,147
$436MX$7,544
-79.49%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.7KCUP 353.1K
$10.4KMX$180.2K
41.25%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cayo Coco
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$39.86CUP 957
$56.7MX$980
-29.64%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.57CUP 710
$44.38MX$768
-33.37%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$76.1CUP 1,825
$103MX$1,780
-26.10%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$80.1CUP 1,923
$106MX$1,825
-24.06%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cayo Coco
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$401CUP 9,623
$1,022MX$17.7K
-60.77%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$419CUP 10.1K
$631MX$10.9K
-33.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,050CUP 25.2K
$2,136MX$36.9K
-50.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$631CUP 15.1K
$1,243MX$21.5K
-49.27%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$305CUP 7,331
$3,903MX$67.5K
-92.17%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$350CUP 8,403
$2,064MX$35.7K
-83.04%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cayo Coco
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$20.05CUP 481
$1,115MX$19.3K
-98.20%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10
11.34
-11.82%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Cayo Coco: May 30, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $401 in Cayo Coco and $1,022 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 5461% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $15.00 in Cayo Coco vs $54.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $235 vs $288 per month, with Cayo Coco cheaper across the board.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated March 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Cayo Coco vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Cayo Coco or Mexico City?
Cayo Coco wins on cost – living expenses run 19% lower than in Mexico City. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Cayo Coco the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Cayo Coco or Mexico City?
On paper, Mexico City earns 5461% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Cayo Coco vs Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $401 in Cayo Coco versus $1,022 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Cayo Coco vs Mexico City?
A monthly transit pass in Cayo Coco runs roughly 4% less than in Mexico City. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Cayo Coco and Mexico City?
Childcare runs $89.5 in Cayo Coco versus $436 in Mexico City. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Cayo Coco or Mexico City?
At $1,231 in Cayo Coco versus $1,467 in Mexico City, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Cayo Coco but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Cayo Coco the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Cayo Coco or Mexico City?
Both work as nomad bases, but Cayo Coco delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,231 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Cayo Coco hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Cayo Coco gentler on the wallet – expenses run 19% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.