๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,315 in Garliava versus $1,466 in Mexico City.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,038 in Garliava versus $2,325 in Mexico City.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,762 in Garliava versus $3,184 in Mexico City.
๐Living in Garliava costs roughly 10% less than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
๐The two cities straddle the global median: Garliava is 2% below, Mexico City is 9% above.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Garliava
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.65โฌ9.93
$13.30MX$231
-12.41%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.8โฌ53.6
$53.8MX$932
16.77%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.83โฌ5.82
$9.42MX$163
-27.49%
Cappuccino
$3.04โฌ2.59
$3.59MX$62.3
-15.32%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29โฌ1.96
$1.62MX$28.13
41.36%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.71โฌ1.46
$1.12MX$19.49
52.68%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.05โฌ4.31
$3.25MX$56.3
55.38%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.36โฌ3.72
$4.65MX$80.6
-6.24%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Garliava
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.44โฌ1.23
$1.64MX$28.37
-12.20%
White Bread(500g)
$1.81โฌ1.54
$2.65MX$46.00
-31.70%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.35โฌ2.00
$1.96MX$33.99
19.90%
Eggs
$2.88โฌ2.45
$2.54MX$44.08
13.39%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.70โฌ9.13
$9.97MX$173
7.32%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.77โฌ6.62
$8.39MX$145
-7.39%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.23โฌ8.73
$11.83MX$205
-13.52%
Apples(1kg)
$1.37โฌ1.17
$2.86MX$49.62
-52.10%
Banana(1kg)
$1.62โฌ1.38
$1.73MX$30.05
-6.36%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.20โฌ1.88
$1.99MX$34.50
10.55%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.56โฌ3.04
$2.05MX$35.51
73.66%
Potato(1kg)
$0.75โฌ0.64
$2.06MX$35.64
-63.59%
Onion(1kg)
$1.00โฌ0.85
$2.28MX$39.54
-56.14%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.68โฌ1.44
$1.45MX$25.05
15.86%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.86โฌ0.74
$1.09MX$18.83
-21.10%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.93โฌ5.05
$4.27MX$73.9
38.88%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.46โฌ8.92
$14.67MX$254
-28.70%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.72โฌ1.46
$1.76MX$30.58
-2.27%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.78โฌ1.52
$3.57MX$61.8
-50.14%
๐ Getting Around
Garliava
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.13โฌ0.97
$0.38MX$6.67
197.37%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$33.72โฌ28.76
$18.73MX$325
80.03%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.94โฌ2.51
$1.39MX$24.09
111.51%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.02โฌ0.87
$0.30MX$5.26
240.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.99โฌ7.67
$5.41MX$93.8
66.17%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.60โฌ1.36
$1.34MX$23.22
19.40%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.4Kโฌ33.6K
$18.9KMX$326.7K
109.20%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.4Kโฌ25.1K
$23.2KMX$402.0K
26.93%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Garliava
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$213โฌ182
$40.30MX$698
429.01%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.64โฌ13.35
$27.15MX$471
-42.39%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$14.81โฌ12.63
$29.46MX$510
-49.73%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Garliava
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.49โฌ35.39
$52.7MX$914
-21.33%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.75โฌ19.40
$26.17MX$454
-13.07%
Cinema Ticket
$9.02โฌ7.69
$6.18MX$107
45.95%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Garliava
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$457โฌ389
$441MX$7,637
3.59%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,667โฌ6,540
$10.7KMX$185.4K
-28.32%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Garliava
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$85.3โฌ72.8
$57.2MX$992
49.02%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.70โฌ36.43
$45.04MX$781
-5.20%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$82.7โฌ70.6
$103MX$1,793
-20.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$117โฌ99.5
$109MX$1,884
7.32%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Garliava
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$531โฌ453
$1,000MX$17.3K
-46.94%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$362โฌ309
$632MX$11.0K
-42.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$834โฌ712
$2,141MX$37.1K
-61.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$642โฌ547
$1,253MX$21.7K
-48.79%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,678โฌ2,284
$3,745MX$64.9K
-28.49%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,627โฌ1,388
$2,381MX$41.3K
-31.67%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Garliava
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,409โฌ1,202
$1,079MX$18.7K
30.55%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.13
11.34
-63.58%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Garliava: April 21, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: April 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $531 in Garliava and $1,000 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
๐ฐGarliava pays 31% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
๐Dining out: $63 in Garliava vs $54 in Mexico City. Groceries flip the comparison at $253 vs $286, with Garliava cheaper for home cooking.
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
Garliava vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mexico City cheaper than Garliava?
Garliava is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 12% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Garliava or Mexico City?
Garliava pays 31% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Garliava and Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $531 in Garliava versus $1,000 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Garliava runs roughly 80% less than in Mexico City. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $457 in Garliava versus $441 in Mexico City. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Garliava or Mexico City?
At $1,315 in Garliava versus $1,466 in Mexico City, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Garliava but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Garliava the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Garliava or Mexico City more family-friendly?
For families, Garliava is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Mexico City, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Garliava or Mexico City?
Safety-wise, Garliava 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.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Garliava gentler on the wallet โ expenses run 12% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.