Cost of Living Comparison Between Cuajimalpa and Mexico City Cost of Living Comparison Between Cuajimalpa and Mexico City

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,101 in Cuajimalpa versus $1,466 in Mexico City.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,769 in Cuajimalpa versus $2,325 in Mexico City.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,438 in Cuajimalpa versus $3,184 in Mexico City.

Living in Cuajimalpa costs roughly 25% less than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Cuajimalpa is 18% below, Mexico City is 9% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cuajimalpa
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.61 MX$184
$13.30 MX$231
-20.23%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$39.25 MX$680
$53.8 MX$932
-27.03%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.00 MX$139
$9.42 MX$163
-15.07%
Cappuccino
$3.21 MX$55.6
$3.59 MX$62.3
-10.58%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.27 MX$22.04
$1.62 MX$28.13
-21.60%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97 MX$16.72
$1.12 MX$19.49
-13.39%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.39 MX$41.50
$3.25 MX$56.3
-26.46%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.97 MX$68.7
$4.65 MX$80.6
-14.62%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cuajimalpa
Mexico City
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.50 MX$26.03
$1.64 MX$28.37
-8.54%
White Bread (500g)
$2.52 MX$43.65
$2.65 MX$46.00
-4.91%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.63 MX$28.26
$1.96 MX$33.99
-16.84%
Eggs
$2.32 MX$40.16
$2.54 MX$44.08
-8.66%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.93 MX$138
$9.97 MX$173
-20.46%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.85 MX$136
$8.39 MX$145
-6.44%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.38 MX$180
$11.83 MX$205
-12.26%
Apples (1kg)
$2.61 MX$45.25
$2.86 MX$49.62
-8.74%
Banana (1kg)
$1.45 MX$25.18
$1.73 MX$30.05
-16.18%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.80 MX$31.22
$1.99 MX$34.50
-9.55%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.60 MX$27.76
$2.05 MX$35.51
-21.95%
Potato (1kg)
$1.93 MX$33.53
$2.06 MX$35.64
-6.31%
Onion (1kg)
$2.02 MX$34.96
$2.28 MX$39.54
-11.40%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.25 MX$21.72
$1.45 MX$25.05
-13.79%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.02 MX$17.59
$1.09 MX$18.83
-6.42%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.06 MX$70.3
$4.27 MX$73.9
-4.92%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.82 MX$188
$14.67 MX$254
-26.24%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.57 MX$27.15
$1.76 MX$30.58
-10.80%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.77 MX$47.98
$3.57 MX$61.8
-22.41%
🚌 Getting Around
Cuajimalpa
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.65 MX$11.33
$0.38 MX$6.67
71.05%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$18.73 MX$325
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.65 MX$46.00
$1.39 MX$24.09
90.65%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.60 MX$27.72
$0.30 MX$5.26
433.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.50 MX$147
$5.41 MX$93.8
57.12%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.27 MX$21.98
$1.34 MX$23.22
-5.22%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.0K MX$364.0K
$18.9K MX$326.7K
11.42%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.3K MX$386.0K
$23.2K MX$402.0K
-4.00%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cuajimalpa
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$56.2 MX$974
$40.30 MX$698
39.43%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.32 MX$387
$27.15 MX$471
-17.79%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.00 MX$485
$29.46 MX$510
-4.96%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cuajimalpa
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$35.86 MX$621
$52.7 MX$914
-32.01%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.14 MX$280
$26.17 MX$454
-38.33%
Cinema Ticket
$4.70 MX$81.5
$6.18 MX$107
-23.95%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cuajimalpa
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$208 MX$3,600
$441 MX$7,637
-52.87%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,536 MX$61.3K
$10.7K MX$185.4K
-66.95%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cuajimalpa
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.9 MX$934
$57.2 MX$992
-5.87%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.27 MX$680
$45.04 MX$781
-12.81%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.3 MX$1,583
$103 MX$1,793
-11.75%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.7 MX$1,363
$109 MX$1,884
-27.66%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cuajimalpa
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$501 MX$8,688
$1,000 MX$17.3K
-49.86%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$389 MX$6,741
$632 MX$11.0K
-38.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$931 MX$16.1K
$2,141 MX$37.1K
-56.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$761 MX$13.2K
$1,253 MX$21.7K
-39.25%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,851 MX$32.1K
$3,745 MX$64.9K
-50.58%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,343 MX$23.3K
$2,381 MX$41.3K
-43.60%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cuajimalpa
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$1,079 MX$18.7K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.48
11.34
1.23%

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

Last update for Cuajimalpa: April 19, 2026

Last update for Mexico City: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $501 in Cuajimalpa and $1,000 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $39 in Cuajimalpa vs $54 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $249 vs $286 per month, with Cuajimalpa 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
Cuajimalpa vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mexico City cheaper than Cuajimalpa?
Cuajimalpa is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 33% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,651 in Cuajimalpa and $2,199 in Mexico City to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Cuajimalpa and Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $501 in Cuajimalpa versus $1,000 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $208 in Cuajimalpa versus $441 in Mexico City. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Cuajimalpa or Mexico City?
Dining out is cheaper in Cuajimalpa – a meal for two runs $39.00 versus $54.0 in Mexico City. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Cuajimalpa or Mexico City?
At $1,101 in Cuajimalpa versus $1,466 in Mexico City, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Cuajimalpa but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Cuajimalpa the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Cuajimalpa or Mexico City more family-friendly?
For families, Cuajimalpa is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Mexico City, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Cuajimalpa or Mexico City?
Safety-wise, Cuajimalpa and Mexico City are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Cuajimalpa gentler on the wallet – expenses run 33% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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