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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $614 per month in Dipolog vs $1,660 in Mexico City, rent included.

A couple spends around $839 per month in Dipolog vs $2,565 in Mexico City, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,065 per month in Dipolog vs $3,470 in Mexico City, rent included.

Dipolog is about 63% cheaper than Mexico City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Dipolog sits 55% below the global median, while Mexico City is 21% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.38 ₱86.4

$11.92 MX$205

-88.42%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.31 ₱1,213

$51.6 MX$889

-62.58%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.75 ₱173

$11.41 MX$197

-75.90%

Cappuccino

$2.00 ₱126

$3.99 MX$68.8

-49.87%

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

$0.69 ₱43.43

$1.66 MX$28.57

-58.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.27 ₱16.88

$1.33 MX$22.84

-79.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.06 ₱66.7

$3.47 MX$59.8

-69.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.70 ₱107

$5.90 MX$102

-71.19%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.61 ₱101

$1.88 MX$32.31

-14.36%

White Bread (500g)

$0.78 ₱48.74

$3.25 MX$56.0

-76.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.83 ₱52.2

$2.16 MX$37.21

-61.57%

Eggs

$1.96 ₱123

$2.90 MX$49.87

-32.41%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.86 ₱368

$12.86 MX$221

-54.43%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.96 ₱249

$10.05 MX$173

-60.60%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.47 ₱344

$15.86 MX$273

-65.51%

Apples (1kg)

$1.56 ₱97.8

$3.29 MX$56.7

-52.58%

Banana (1kg)

$1.08 ₱67.9

$2.01 MX$34.55

-46.27%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.97 ₱186

$2.20 MX$37.88

35.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.45 ₱91.0

$2.36 MX$40.57

-38.56%

Potato (1kg)

$1.87 ₱118

$2.05 MX$35.38

-8.78%

Onion (1kg)

$2.80 ₱176

$1.90 MX$32.75

47.37%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.40 ₱87.8

$1.61 MX$27.64

-13.04%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.61 ₱38.25

$1.40 MX$24.05

-56.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.94 ₱185

$5.46 MX$94.1

-46.15%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.05 ₱255

$17.65 MX$304

-77.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.11 ₱69.7

$2.06 MX$35.39

-46.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.31 ₱82.4

$4.68 MX$80.7

-72.01%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 ₱17.11

$0.34 MX$5.83

-20.59%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.16 ₱701

$20.81 MX$358

-46.37%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.70 ₱43.74

$2.10 MX$36.11

-66.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.34 ₱21.34

$0.56 MX$9.63

-39.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.35 ₱148

$5.81 MX$100

-59.55%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.93 ₱58.7

$1.61 MX$27.65

-42.24%

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

$21.4K ₱1.3M

$22.8K MX$393.3K

-6.22%

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

$19.3K ₱1.2M

$26.8K MX$460.6K

-27.72%

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

$63.5 ₱3,990

$65.2 MX$1,122

-2.58%

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

$7.97 ₱501

$30.09 MX$518

-73.51%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.29 ₱1,526

$37.18 MX$640

-34.67%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$31.52 ₱1,980

$59.8 MX$1,029

-47.26%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.85 ₱305

$26.55 MX$457

-81.73%

Cinema Ticket

$4.72 ₱297

$7.04 MX$121

-32.95%

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

$31.33 ₱1,968

$465 MX$8,001

-93.26%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,141 ₱511.5K

$13.3K MX$228.6K

-38.67%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$32.16 ₱2,021

$75.9 MX$1,307

-57.62%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.45 ₱1,222

$56.0 MX$963

-65.24%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$56.6 ₱3,556

$112 MX$1,926

-49.41%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$23.87 ₱1,499

$121 MX$2,075

-80.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$162 ₱10.2K

$1,103 MX$19.0K

-85.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$171 ₱10.8K

$721 MX$12.4K

-76.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$500 ₱31.4K

$2,530 MX$43.6K

-80.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$134 ₱8,399

$1,293 MX$22.3K

-89.66%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,582 ₱162.2K

$3,991 MX$68.7K

-35.31%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,055 ₱66.3K

$2,090 MX$36.0K

-49.53%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$238 ₱14.9K

$1,037 MX$17.9K

-77.09%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.33

11.3

-35.13%

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

Last update for Dipolog: September 12, 2026

Last update for Mexico City: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $162 in Dipolog versus $1,103 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 336% 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 $19.00 in Dipolog versus $52.0 in Mexico City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $163 vs $345 – making Dipolog 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

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

Mexico City costs about 170% more than Dipolog, 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 $921 per month in Dipolog and $2,489 in Mexico City. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $31.33 per month in Dipolog and $465 in Mexico City. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 112% 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 Dipolog, where all-in costs run around $614, than in Mexico City at $1,660. In Dipolog 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. Dipolog costs $614 versus $1,660 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 Dipolog. 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.