🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $774 in Dourados versus $1,447 in Mexico City.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,223 in Dourados versus $2,310 in Mexico City.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,672 in Dourados versus $3,174 in Mexico City.
🙂Living in Dourados costs roughly 47% less than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Dourados is 42% below, Mexico City is 8% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Dourados
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.28R$26.71
$12.98MX$223
-59.32%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.21R$138
$52.6MX$903
-48.28%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.35R$32.15
$9.43MX$162
-32.66%
Cappuccino
$1.79R$9.07
$3.57MX$61.3
-49.86%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.08R$5.48
$1.61MX$27.55
-32.92%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.63R$3.18
$1.15MX$19.81
-45.22%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.79R$9.05
$3.15MX$54.0
-43.17%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74R$13.87
$4.86MX$83.4
-43.62%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Dourados
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.95R$4.80
$1.70MX$29.17
-44.12%
White Bread(500g)
$1.46R$7.39
$2.64MX$45.23
-44.70%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.15R$5.80
$1.90MX$32.67
-39.47%
Eggs
$2.03R$10.27
$2.54MX$43.62
-20.08%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.22R$41.59
$10.08MX$173
-18.45%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.54R$17.94
$8.29MX$142
-57.30%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.11R$35.99
$11.57MX$199
-38.55%
Apples(1kg)
$2.15R$10.89
$3.03MX$52.0
-29.04%
Banana(1kg)
$1.32R$6.66
$1.71MX$29.35
-22.81%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.15R$5.82
$2.05MX$35.16
-43.90%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.46R$7.40
$2.06MX$35.36
-29.13%
Potato(1kg)
$1.19R$6.05
$2.06MX$35.43
-42.23%
Onion(1kg)
$1.09R$5.54
$2.17MX$37.25
-49.77%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.74R$3.76
$1.40MX$24.08
-47.14%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.67R$3.38
$1.12MX$19.26
-40.18%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.18R$11.01
$4.29MX$73.7
-49.18%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.92R$40.10
$15.41MX$265
-48.60%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.27R$6.42
$1.67MX$28.74
-23.95%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.00R$10.14
$3.69MX$63.3
-45.80%
🚌 Getting Around
Dourados
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.92R$4.66
$0.38MX$6.55
142.11%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$37.86R$192
$19.06MX$327
98.64%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.11R$5.59
$1.38MX$23.70
-19.57%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.76R$3.87
$0.28MX$4.74
171.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.32R$31.98
$5.42MX$92.9
16.61%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.08R$5.47
$1.28MX$21.98
-15.62%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.8KR$105.5K
$19.0KMX$325.8K
9.80%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.5KR$139.4K
$23.5KMX$402.7K
17.39%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dourados
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$61.7R$312
$41.02MX$704
50.41%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.55R$68.6
$26.92MX$462
-49.67%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.95R$95.9
$29.69MX$510
-36.17%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Dourados
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$22.56R$114
$52.3MX$898
-56.89%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.23R$107
$26.23MX$450
-19.06%
Cinema Ticket
$6.47R$32.78
$6.18MX$106
4.69%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Dourados
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$273R$1,383
$427MX$7,331
-36.02%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,474R$32.8K
$10.7KMX$183.6K
-39.48%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Dourados
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.16R$249
$56.8MX$975
-13.48%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.40R$210
$44.83MX$769
-7.65%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$76.1R$385
$105MX$1,794
-27.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$64.2R$325
$106MX$1,819
-39.42%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Dourados
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$310R$1,568
$995MX$17.1K
-68.87%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$213R$1,078
$621MX$10.7K
-65.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$583R$2,951
$2,126MX$36.5K
-72.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$422R$2,137
$1,254MX$21.5K
-66.33%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,752R$8,871
$3,903MX$67.0K
-55.10%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,292R$6,541
$2,096MX$36.0K
-38.34%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Dourados
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$1,107MX$19.0K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.92
11.34
-3.70%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Dourados: June 6, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $310 in Dourados and $995 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $27.00 in Dourados vs $53.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $174 vs $288 per month, with Dourados 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
Dourados vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Dourados or Mexico City?
Dourados wins on cost – living expenses run 87% lower than in Mexico City. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Dourados the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Dourados vs Mexico City?
You'd need roughly $1,160 in Dourados and $2,171 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.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Dourados vs Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $310 in Dourados versus $995 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Dourados or Mexico City?
Supermarket bills run roughly 65% higher in Mexico City. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How do dining costs compare in Dourados vs Mexico City?
Dining out is cheaper in Dourados – a meal for two runs $27.00 versus $53.0 in Mexico City. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Dourados or Mexico City?
At $774 in Dourados versus $1,447 in Mexico City, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Dourados but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Dourados the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Dourados or Mexico City?
Both work as nomad bases, but Dourados delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $774 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Dourados hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Dourados gentler on the wallet – expenses run 87% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.