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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,922 in Escazu versus $1,660 in Mexico City.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,968 in Escazu versus $2,565 in Mexico City.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,014 in Escazu versus $3,470 in Mexico City.

Living in Escazu is roughly 16% more expensive than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Escazu 40% above, Mexico City 21% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.15 ₡5,401

$11.92 MX$204

1.93%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$58.9 ₡26.2K

$51.6 MX$885

14.07%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.48 ₡5,101

$11.41 MX$196

0.61%

Cappuccino

$4.30 ₡1,912

$3.99 MX$68.5

7.77%

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

$2.68 ₡1,192

$1.66 MX$28.45

61.45%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.93 ₡858

$1.33 MX$22.74

45.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.31 ₡1,469

$3.47 MX$59.5

-4.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.33 ₡1,926

$5.90 MX$101

-26.61%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.34 ₡1,040

$1.88 MX$32.18

24.47%

White Bread (500g)

$3.13 ₡1,391

$3.25 MX$55.8

-3.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.42 ₡1,076

$2.16 MX$37.05

12.04%

Eggs

$3.52 ₡1,565

$2.90 MX$49.66

21.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.00 ₡4,890

$12.86 MX$220

-14.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.60 ₡4,713

$10.05 MX$172

5.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.12 ₡6,278

$15.86 MX$272

-10.97%

Apples (1kg)

$5.07 ₡2,253

$3.29 MX$56.5

54.10%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 ₡714

$2.01 MX$34.40

-19.90%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.20 ₡1,422

$2.20 MX$37.71

45.45%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.16 ₡1,403

$2.36 MX$40.40

33.90%

Potato (1kg)

$3.77 ₡1,675

$2.05 MX$35.23

83.90%

Onion (1kg)

$3.71 ₡1,651

$1.90 MX$32.60

95.26%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.00 ₡445

$1.61 MX$27.52

-37.89%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 ₡759

$1.40 MX$23.95

22.14%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.54 ₡2,461

$5.46 MX$93.7

1.47%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.25 ₡8,556

$17.65 MX$303

9.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.67 ₡743

$2.06 MX$35.24

-18.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.77 ₡1,232

$4.68 MX$80.3

-40.81%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.11 ₡495

$0.34 MX$5.80

226.47%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.81 MX$357

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.10 ₡932

$2.10 MX$35.95

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.63 ₡726

$0.56 MX$9.59

191.07%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.77 ₡3,896

$5.81 MX$99.7

50.95%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.47 ₡652

$1.61 MX$27.53

-8.70%

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

$21.8K ₡9.7M

$22.8K MX$391.6K

-4.38%

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

$34.7K ₡15.4M

$26.8K MX$458.6K

29.56%

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

$97.4 ₡43.3K

$65.2 MX$1,117

49.48%

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

$30.08 ₡13.4K

$30.09 MX$516

-0.03%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.0 ₡28.0K

$37.18 MX$637

69.50%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$109 ₡48.4K

$59.8 MX$1,024

82.10%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.96 ₡4,427

$26.55 MX$455

-62.49%

Cinema Ticket

$8.36 ₡3,715

$7.04 MX$121

18.75%

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

$450 ₡199.9K

$465 MX$7,967

-3.20%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$17.0K ₡7.5M

$13.3K MX$227.6K

27.84%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$72.7 ₡32.3K

$75.9 MX$1,301

-4.18%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.4 ₡24.6K

$56.0 MX$959

-1.04%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$133 ₡58.9K

$112 MX$1,918

18.54%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$134 ₡59.7K

$121 MX$2,066

11.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$843 ₡374.7K

$1,103 MX$18.9K

-23.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$836 ₡371.6K

$721 MX$12.4K

16.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,922 ₡854.0K

$2,530 MX$43.4K

-24.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,497 ₡665.2K

$1,293 MX$22.2K

15.71%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,378 ₡612.4K

$3,991 MX$68.4K

-65.48%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$945 ₡420.1K

$2,090 MX$35.8K

-54.76%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,803 ₡801.3K

$1,037 MX$17.8K

73.79%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.78

11.3

-22.30%

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

Last update for Escazu: September 15, 2026

Last update for Mexico City: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $843 in Escazu and $1,103 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Escazu pays 74% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $59.0 in Escazu vs $52.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $366 vs $345 per month, with Mexico City 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

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

Mexico City is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 16% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 74% higher in Escazu, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $843 in Escazu versus $1,103 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 6% higher in Escazu. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,922 per month in Escazu versus $1,660 in Mexico City – a 16% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,660 in Mexico City versus $1,922 in Escazu, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Mexico City but tight or insufficient in Escazu. The gap between the two cities makes Mexico City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Mexico City is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Escazu, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Escazu 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.

Expats usually find Mexico City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 16% less than in Escazu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.