πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,091 in Coquimbo versus $1,448 in Mexico City.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $1,645 in Coquimbo versus $2,354 in Mexico City.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,200 in Coquimbo versus $3,260 in Mexico City.
πLiving in Coquimbo costs roughly 25% less than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
πThe two cities straddle the global median: Coquimbo is 18% below, Mexico City is 9% above.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Coquimbo
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.45CLPΒ 7,485
$12.96MX$223
-34.80%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.77CLPΒ 38.8K
$52.3MX$900
-16.36%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.78CLPΒ 6,894
$9.69MX$167
-19.71%
Cappuccino
$2.80CLPΒ 2,478
$3.75MX$64.6
-25.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.37CLPΒ 1,213
$1.56MX$26.91
-12.18%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.03CLPΒ 908
$1.16MX$19.93
-11.21%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.25CLPΒ 2,881
$3.24MX$55.8
0.31%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.28CLPΒ 3,789
$4.90MX$84.3
-12.65%
π Groceries & Markets
Coquimbo
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.10CLPΒ 971
$1.70MX$29.29
-35.29%
White Bread(500g)
$1.53CLPΒ 1,353
$2.67MX$45.90
-42.70%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.86CLPΒ 1,646
$1.89MX$32.49
-1.59%
Eggs
$3.57CLPΒ 3,165
$2.52MX$43.37
41.67%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.50CLPΒ 9,297
$10.02MX$172
4.79%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.50CLPΒ 5,753
$8.53MX$147
-23.80%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.79CLPΒ 9,555
$11.94MX$205
-9.63%
Apples(1kg)
$1.81CLPΒ 1,599
$2.97MX$51.1
-39.06%
Banana(1kg)
$1.56CLPΒ 1,381
$1.79MX$30.88
-12.85%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.58CLPΒ 1,397
$2.00MX$34.40
-21.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.51CLPΒ 1,335
$1.96MX$33.74
-22.96%
Potato(1kg)
$1.23CLPΒ 1,093
$2.16MX$37.21
-43.06%
Onion(1kg)
$1.35CLPΒ 1,198
$2.27MX$39.04
-40.53%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.21CLPΒ 1,075
$1.40MX$24.14
-13.57%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.23CLPΒ 1,093
$1.11MX$19.18
10.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.51CLPΒ 4,883
$4.20MX$72.2
31.19%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.31CLPΒ 5,586
$16.54MX$285
-61.85%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.61CLPΒ 1,427
$1.68MX$28.94
-4.17%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.23CLPΒ 1,977
$3.59MX$61.8
-37.88%
π Getting Around
Coquimbo
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.58CLPΒ 517
$0.39MX$6.65
48.72%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$19.19MX$330
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.48CLPΒ 423
$1.38MX$23.77
-65.22%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$0.30MX$5.19
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$5.39MX$92.7
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.38CLPΒ 1,219
$1.29MX$22.13
6.98%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.4KCLPΒ 17.2M
$18.9KMX$325.1K
2.91%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.6KCLPΒ 19.1M
$23.8KMX$409.5K
-9.19%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Coquimbo
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$131CLPΒ 115.9K
$39.86MX$686
228.37%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.59CLPΒ 12.0K
$27.83MX$479
-51.17%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$21.93CLPΒ 19.4K
$29.77MX$512
-26.34%
π Sport & Entertainment
Coquimbo
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$38.23CLPΒ 33.9K
$52.0MX$894
-26.42%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.47CLPΒ 19.0K
$26.22MX$451
-18.12%
Cinema Ticket
$5.79CLPΒ 5,131
$6.27MX$108
-7.66%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Coquimbo
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$440CLPΒ 390.0K
$433MX$7,443
1.77%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$10.5KMX$181.3K
-
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Coquimbo
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.90CLPΒ 44.2K
$57.0MX$981
-12.46%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.78CLPΒ 27.3K
$45.33MX$780
-32.10%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$60.5CLPΒ 53.6K
$102MX$1,753
-40.59%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$81.7CLPΒ 72.4K
$109MX$1,867
-24.70%
π Accommodation & Living
Coquimbo
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$478CLPΒ 423.4K
$994MX$17.1K
-51.90%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$372CLPΒ 329.4K
$617MX$10.6K
-39.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$893CLPΒ 791.4K
$2,086MX$35.9K
-57.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$589CLPΒ 522.1K
$1,256MX$21.6K
-53.06%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,936MX$67.7K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,089MX$35.9K
-
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Coquimbo
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$680CLPΒ 602.5K
$1,131MX$19.5K
-39.89%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.18
11.34
-54.32%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Coquimbo: June 15, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: June 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $478 in Coquimbo and $994 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
π°Mexico City pays 66% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
πDining out: $44.00 in Coquimbo vs $52.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $228 vs $292 per month, with Coquimbo cheaper across the board.
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
Coquimbo vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Coquimbo and Mexico City?
Coquimbo and Mexico City differ by about 33% in total monthly costs ($1,091 vs $1,448 including rent). Coquimbo is meaningfully more affordable β a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Mexico City earns 66% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Coquimbo and Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $478 in Coquimbo versus $994 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Coquimbo and Mexico City?
Childcare runs $440 in Coquimbo versus $433 in Mexico City. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Coquimbo β a meal for two runs $44.00 versus $52.0 in Mexico City. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,091 in Coquimbo versus $1,448 in Mexico City, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Coquimbo but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Coquimbo the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Coquimbo and Mexico City?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better β the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Where should expats move: Coquimbo or Mexico City?
Expats usually find Coquimbo gentler on the wallet β expenses run 33% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.