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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,594 per month in Dili vs $1,682 in Mexico City, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,475 per month in Dili vs $2,599 in Mexico City, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,357 per month in Dili vs $3,516 in Mexico City, rent included.

Dili is about 5% cheaper than Mexico City, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Dili and Mexico City sit above the global median – Dili by 16%, Mexico City by 23%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.14 $5.14

$11.83 MX$200

-56.55%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$42.27 $42.27

$52.2 MX$884

-18.95%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.10 $8.10

$10.87 MX$184

-25.48%

Cappuccino

$4.08 $4.08

$4.03 MX$68.2

1.24%

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

$1.70 $1.70

$1.71 MX$28.99

-0.58%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.29 $2.29

$1.34 MX$22.70

70.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.51 $2.51

$3.39 MX$57.5

-25.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.43 $4.43

$5.74 MX$97.3

-22.82%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.69 $2.69

$1.89 MX$31.99

42.33%

White Bread (500g)

$2.86 $2.86

$3.17 MX$53.8

-9.78%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.62 $1.62

$2.05 MX$34.74

-20.98%

Eggs

$2.72 $2.72

$3.01 MX$51.1

-9.63%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.06 $2.06

$12.61 MX$214

-83.66%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.36 $9.36

$9.94 MX$169

-5.84%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.02 $16.02

$16.00 MX$271

0.12%

Apples (1kg)

$3.48 $3.48

$3.28 MX$55.6

6.10%

Banana (1kg)

$1.84 $1.84

$2.06 MX$34.87

-10.68%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 $1.53

$2.09 MX$35.36

-26.79%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.09 $2.09

$2.50 MX$42.44

-16.40%

Potato (1kg)

$1.37 $1.37

$2.05 MX$34.76

-33.17%

Onion (1kg)

$1.26 $1.26

$1.87 MX$31.70

-32.62%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.86 $0.86

$1.57 MX$26.66

-45.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.98 $0.98

$1.39 MX$23.64

-29.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.07 $3.07

$5.38 MX$91.2

-42.94%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.93 $11.93

$17.95 MX$304

-33.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.22 $2.22

$2.02 MX$34.31

9.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.86 $2.86

$4.76 MX$80.7

-39.92%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.24 $0.24

$0.36 MX$6.13

-33.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.54 $30.54

$20.80 MX$353

46.83%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.57 $3.57

$2.06 MX$34.92

73.30%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.60 $3.60

$0.56 MX$9.55

542.86%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$20.37 $20.37

$5.82 MX$98.6

250.00%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 $1.45

$1.54 MX$26.05

-5.84%

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

$17.7K $17.7K

$22.5K MX$380.6K

-21.31%

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

$17.2K $17.2K

$26.5K MX$448.7K

-34.86%

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

$151 $151

$66.0 MX$1,118

129.26%

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

$29.90 $29.90

$30.98 MX$525

-3.49%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.20 MX$613

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$49.15 $49.15

$57.5 MX$975

-14.57%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.75 MX$453

Cinema Ticket

$5.41 $5.41

$7.13 MX$121

-24.12%

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

$457 MX$7,738

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.8K $15.8K

$13.2K MX$224.5K

19.51%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.9 $59.9

$75.8 MX$1,285

-20.95%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.55 $29.55

$54.1 MX$917

-45.39%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.5 $79.5

$116 MX$1,974

-31.71%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$59.3 $59.3

$122 MX$2,063

-51.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$863 $863

$1,147 MX$19.4K

-24.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$770 $770

$726 MX$12.3K

6.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,750 $2,750

$2,503 MX$42.4K

9.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,527 $1,527

$1,331 MX$22.6K

14.78%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,895 MX$66.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,149 MX$36.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,531 $3,531

$1,069 MX$18.1K

230.30%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.37

11.35

-52.69%

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

Last update for Dili: August 16, 2026

Last update for Mexico City: August 17, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $863 in Dili versus $1,147 in Mexico City. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 230% higher in Dili, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $42.00 in Dili versus $52.0 in Mexico City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $282 vs $344 – making Dili 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

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

Yes – Mexico City is pricier by about 6%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,390 per month in Dili and $2,523 in Mexico City. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Dili, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 47% less in Dili. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Groceries cost about 22% 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 $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Dili, where all-in costs run around $1,594, than in Mexico City at $1,682. In Dili it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mexico City it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Dili – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Dili. 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.