🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,221 in Cayo Coco versus $1,456 in Mexico City.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,683 in Cayo Coco versus $2,361 in Mexico City.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,145 in Cayo Coco versus $3,266 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 9% below, Mexico City is 9% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cayo Coco
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.11CUP 123
$13.07MX$229
-60.90%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$15.03CUP 361
$53.8MX$940
-72.04%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.84CUP 164
$9.68MX$169
-29.34%
Cappuccino
$0.98CUP 23.55
$3.74MX$65.4
-73.80%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06CUP 49.33
$1.62MX$28.25
27.16%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.99CUP 23.70
$1.16MX$20.31
-14.66%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.98CUP 47.53
$3.23MX$56.4
-38.70%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.98CUP 71.6
$4.74MX$82.9
-37.13%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cayo Coco
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$3.04CUP 72.9
$1.65MX$28.80
84.24%
White Bread(500g)
$0.97CUP 23.40
$2.75MX$48.15
-64.73%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.03CUP 48.68
$1.87MX$32.77
8.56%
Eggs
$3.66CUP 87.8
$2.50MX$43.72
46.40%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.11CUP 147
$10.20MX$178
-40.10%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.14CUP 123
$8.25MX$144
-37.70%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.05CUP 241
$11.82MX$207
-14.97%
Apples(1kg)
$5.12CUP 123
$3.01MX$52.6
70.10%
Banana(1kg)
$1.02CUP 24.57
$1.81MX$31.67
-43.65%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.98CUP 23.62
$2.00MX$34.96
-51.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.98CUP 23.54
$2.00MX$34.89
-51.00%
Potato(1kg)
$0.98CUP 23.42
$2.08MX$36.45
-52.88%
Onion(1kg)
$3.04CUP 72.9
$2.27MX$39.72
33.92%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.01CUP 24.35
$1.46MX$25.47
-30.82%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.98CUP 23.53
$1.08MX$18.82
-9.26%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.93CUP 70.4
$4.35MX$76.0
-32.64%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.87CUP 237
$16.99MX$297
-41.91%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.99CUP 47.70
$1.73MX$30.31
15.03%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.01CUP 48.34
$3.58MX$62.5
-43.85%
🚌 Getting Around
Cayo Coco
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.39MX$6.77
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$20.26CUP 486
$18.69MX$327
8.40%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.02CUP 24.45
$1.33MX$23.18
-23.31%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.98CUP 23.43
$0.28MX$4.89
250.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$20.31CUP 488
$5.25MX$91.8
286.86%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.02CUP 24.49
$1.34MX$23.37
-23.88%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$71.4KCUP 1.7M
$19.4KMX$339.4K
267.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$79.2KCUP 1.9M
$23.8KMX$416.7K
232.45%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cayo Coco
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$39.22CUP 941
$40.69MX$712
-3.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$40.69CUP 977
$26.87MX$470
51.43%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$217CUP 5,199
$30.51MX$534
609.96%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cayo Coco
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.13CUP 963
$52.8MX$923
-23.97%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.14CUP 243
$26.65MX$466
-61.95%
Cinema Ticket
$1.02CUP 24.51
$6.51MX$114
-84.33%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cayo Coco
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$89.4CUP 2,146
$428MX$7,485
-79.11%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.2KCUP 365.3K
$10.5KMX$183.6K
44.97%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cayo Coco
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$40.46CUP 971
$57.3MX$1,001
-29.33%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.31CUP 728
$45.50MX$796
-33.38%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$75.6CUP 1,813
$104MX$1,819
-27.38%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.5CUP 1,883
$108MX$1,885
-27.23%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cayo Coco
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$392CUP 9,419
$1,003MX$17.5K
-60.88%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$425CUP 10.2K
$623MX$10.9K
-31.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,032CUP 24.8K
$2,109MX$36.9K
-51.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$620CUP 14.9K
$1,218MX$21.3K
-49.13%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$298CUP 7,162
$3,885MX$67.9K
-92.32%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$355CUP 8,511
$2,033MX$35.5K
-82.55%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cayo Coco
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$19.91CUP 478
$1,038MX$18.1K
-98.08%
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: July 14, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $392 in Cayo Coco and $1,003 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 5112% 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 $236 vs $292 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 in Mexico City?
On paper, salaries run 5112% 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: $392 in Cayo Coco versus $1,003 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 8% 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 $89.4 in Cayo Coco versus $428 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 $1,221 in Cayo Coco versus $1,456 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 $1,221 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.