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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $170 per month in Derna vs $1,467 in Mexico City, rent included.

A couple spends around $337 per month in Derna vs $2,371 in Mexico City, rent included.

A family of three spends $504 per month in Derna vs $3,274 in Mexico City, rent included.

Derna is about 88% cheaper than Mexico City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Derna sits 87% below the global median, while Mexico City is 10% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.72 LYD 29.99

$13.18 MX$228

-64.19%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$9.35 LYD 59.4

$53.9 MX$932

-82.65%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.71 LYD 23.53

$9.42 MX$163

-60.62%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.53 LYD 3.38

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.75 LYD 4.79

Cappuccino

$0.57 LYD 3.62

$3.55 MX$61.4

-83.94%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.39 LYD 2.46

$1.62 MX$27.98

-75.93%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.11 MX$19.27

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.12 MX$54.0

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.63 MX$80.1

Milk (1 liter)

$0.70 LYD 4.44

$1.70 MX$29.43

-58.82%

White Bread (500g)

$2.72 MX$47.02

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.91 MX$33.07

Eggs

$0.76 LYD 4.84

$2.54 MX$43.86

-70.08%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.03 MX$174

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.09 MX$140

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.62 MX$201

Apples (1kg)

$2.97 MX$51.3

Banana (1kg)

$0.96 LYD 6.10

$1.81 MX$31.24

-46.96%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.01 MX$34.82

Tomato (1kg)

$2.03 MX$35.20

Potato (1kg)

$2.12 MX$36.75

Onion (1kg)

$2.27 MX$39.25

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.40 MX$24.22

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.13 MX$19.55

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.27 MX$73.9

Wine (Bottle)

$15.56 MX$269

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 MX$30.39

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.60 MX$62.2

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.38 MX$6.62

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.18 MX$332

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.93 LYD 5.91

$1.38 MX$23.79

-32.61%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.28 MX$4.78

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.45 MX$94.2

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.30 MX$22.55

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$18.7K MX$323.2K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$23.1K MX$400.1K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$40.86 MX$707

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$26.81 MX$464

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.38 LYD 104

$29.96 MX$518

-45.33%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.0 MX$900

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.84 MX$464

Cinema Ticket

$6.30 MX$109

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$436 MX$7,544

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.4K MX$180.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$37.23 LYD 236

$56.7 MX$980

-34.28%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.51 LYD 295

$44.38 MX$768

4.80%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$45.65 LYD 290

$103 MX$1,780

-55.65%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.78 LYD 291

$106 MX$1,825

-56.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,022 MX$17.7K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$631 MX$10.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$183 LYD 1,159

$2,136 MX$36.9K

-91.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$109 LYD 694

$1,243 MX$21.5K

-91.21%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$200 LYD 1,271

$3,903 MX$67.5K

-94.87%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$79.3 LYD 504

$2,064 MX$35.7K

-96.16%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$173 LYD 1,099

$1,115 MX$19.3K

-84.48%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.34

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

Last update for Derna: June 1, 2026

Last update for Mexico City: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 544% higher in Mexico City, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $9.00 in Derna versus $54.0 in Mexico City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $16.00 vs $288 – making Derna the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Derna vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mexico City costs about 765% more than Derna, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $255 per month in Derna and $2,201 in Mexico City. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $170 in Derna and $1,467 in Mexico City. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 1726% more in Mexico City, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Derna, where all-in costs run around $170, than in Mexico City at $1,467. In Derna it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mexico City it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Derna costs $170 versus $1,467 in Mexico City. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

If budget matters most, go with Derna. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Mexico City makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.