🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,226 in Cayo Coco versus $1,646 in Mexico City.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,675 in Cayo Coco versus $2,613 in Mexico City.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,124 in Cayo Coco versus $3,580 in Mexico City.
🌍Living in Cayo Coco costs roughly 26% less than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Cayo Coco is 11% below, Mexico City is 20% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cayo Coco
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.86CUP 117
$12.14MX$206
-59.97%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.97CUP 359
$53.9MX$913
-72.23%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.85CUP 164
$11.09MX$188
-38.23%
Cappuccino
$1.02CUP 24.51
$4.10MX$69.4
-75.12%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.02CUP 48.57
$1.68MX$28.49
20.24%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.98CUP 23.62
$1.39MX$23.52
-29.50%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.96CUP 47.01
$3.33MX$56.4
-41.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.94CUP 70.7
$5.88MX$99.6
-50.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cayo Coco
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.91CUP 69.9
$1.85MX$31.36
57.30%
White Bread(500g)
$1.02CUP 24.42
$3.17MX$53.7
-67.82%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.05CUP 49.09
$2.07MX$35.08
-0.97%
Eggs
$3.69CUP 88.6
$2.93MX$49.60
25.94%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.83CUP 140
$12.59MX$213
-53.69%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.13CUP 123
$10.11MX$171
-49.26%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.15CUP 243
$16.09MX$273
-36.92%
Apples(1kg)
$4.90CUP 118
$3.39MX$57.4
44.54%
Banana(1kg)
$1.03CUP 24.72
$2.08MX$35.21
-50.48%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.03CUP 24.61
$2.12MX$35.92
-51.42%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.98CUP 23.63
$2.41MX$40.89
-59.34%
Potato(1kg)
$0.98CUP 23.61
$2.13MX$36.07
-53.99%
Onion(1kg)
$3.03CUP 72.8
$2.01MX$33.97
50.75%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.98CUP 23.59
$1.55MX$26.18
-36.77%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.98CUP 23.57
$1.36MX$23.12
-27.94%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.08CUP 73.8
$5.77MX$97.7
-46.62%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.84CUP 236
$17.74MX$301
-44.53%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.03CUP 48.83
$2.07MX$35.07
-1.93%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96CUP 47.09
$4.61MX$78.2
-57.48%
🚌 Getting Around
Cayo Coco
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.37MX$6.20
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$20.29CUP 487
$21.18MX$359
-4.20%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.02CUP 24.51
$2.05MX$34.79
-50.24%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.01CUP 24.27
$0.58MX$9.77
74.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$20.34CUP 488
$6.07MX$103
235.09%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.98CUP 23.46
$1.55MX$26.30
-36.77%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$69.4KCUP 1.7M
$22.9KMX$387.5K
203.17%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$78.7KCUP 1.9M
$27.2KMX$461.4K
188.85%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cayo Coco
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.14CUP 963
$67.4MX$1,142
-40.45%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$39.72CUP 953
$30.62MX$519
29.72%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$219CUP 5,268
$37.24MX$631
489.39%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cayo Coco
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$39.25CUP 942
$61.5MX$1,041
-36.14%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.19CUP 245
$27.12MX$459
-62.43%
Cinema Ticket
$1.03CUP 24.66
$7.11MX$120
-85.51%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cayo Coco
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$91.3CUP 2,192
$456MX$7,728
-79.98%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.9KCUP 356.9K
$13.7KMX$232.0K
8.59%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cayo Coco
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$40.44CUP 970
$74.2MX$1,257
-45.49%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.62CUP 711
$57.0MX$966
-48.04%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$73.5CUP 1,765
$115MX$1,955
-36.30%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$80.2CUP 1,925
$122MX$2,059
-34.00%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cayo Coco
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$407CUP 9,762
$1,148MX$19.4K
-64.55%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$420CUP 10.1K
$709MX$12.0K
-40.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,049CUP 25.2K
$2,577MX$43.7K
-59.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$614CUP 14.7K
$1,295MX$21.9K
-52.56%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$304CUP 7,297
$4,005MX$67.9K
-92.41%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$345CUP 8,286
$2,130MX$36.1K
-83.79%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cayo Coco
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$20.09CUP 482
$1,082MX$18.3K
-98.14%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10
11.3
-11.50%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Cayo Coco: September 7, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: September 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $407 in Cayo Coco and $1,134 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 5182% 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 $52.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $235 vs $345 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 34% 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 in Mexico City?
On paper, salaries run 5182% lower in Mexico City. 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 compared to Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $407 in Cayo Coco versus $1,134 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 compared to Mexico City?
A monthly transit pass in Cayo Coco runs roughly 9% 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 in Mexico City?
Childcare runs $91.3 in Cayo Coco versus $453 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 in Mexico City?
At $1,226 in Cayo Coco versus $1,646 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 $1,226 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 34% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.