😐A single person spends $1,718 per month in Honiara vs $1,646 in Mexico City, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,864 per month in Honiara vs $2,613 in Mexico City, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,010 per month in Honiara vs $3,580 in Mexico City, rent included.
😐Honiara costs about 4% more than Mexico City, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊Both Honiara and Mexico City sit above the global median – Honiara by 25%, Mexico City by 20%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Honiara
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.93SBD 55.4
$12.11MX$206
-42.77%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.4SBD 498
$52.2MX$887
19.45%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.50SBD 99.8
$10.90MX$185
14.68%
Cappuccino
$3.52SBD 28.12
$4.05MX$68.8
-13.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.60SBD 12.74
$1.72MX$29.13
-6.98%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.11SBD 8.86
$1.38MX$23.40
-19.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.47SBD 19.76
$3.47MX$58.9
-28.82%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.50SBD 43.94
$5.81MX$98.7
-5.34%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Honiara
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.58SBD 20.61
$1.85MX$31.48
39.46%
White Bread(500g)
$1.54SBD 12.31
$3.22MX$54.7
-52.17%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.66SBD 13.28
$2.09MX$35.42
-20.57%
Eggs
$5.59SBD 44.63
$2.91MX$49.41
92.10%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.39SBD 51.0
$12.49MX$212
-48.84%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.41SBD 67.1
$10.11MX$172
-16.82%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.00SBD 120
$15.89MX$270
-5.60%
Apples(1kg)
$6.20SBD 49.54
$3.31MX$56.3
87.31%
Banana(1kg)
$2.57SBD 20.53
$2.13MX$36.12
20.66%
Oranges(1kg)
$8.80SBD 70.3
$2.19MX$37.20
301.83%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.76SBD 30.05
$2.45MX$41.57
53.47%
Potato(1kg)
$1.93SBD 15.37
$2.19MX$37.18
-11.87%
Onion(1kg)
$3.53SBD 28.20
$1.90MX$32.35
85.79%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.43SBD 11.40
$1.62MX$27.44
-11.73%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.03SBD 8.21
$1.35MX$22.92
-23.70%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.10SBD 32.74
$5.43MX$92.1
-24.49%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.51SBD 84.0
$17.59MX$299
-40.25%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.79SBD 14.26
$2.07MX$35.12
-13.53%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.52SBD 28.12
$4.75MX$80.6
-25.89%
🚌 Getting Around
Honiara
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.39SBD 3.08
$0.34MX$5.77
14.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$24.79SBD 198
$21.58MX$366
14.87%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.28SBD 10.18
$2.04MX$34.65
-37.25%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.22SBD 9.71
$0.58MX$9.82
110.34%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$12.48SBD 99.7
$5.97MX$101
109.05%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.29SBD 10.31
$1.62MX$27.44
-20.37%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.8KSBD 150.2K
$22.8KMX$387.4K
-17.52%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.1KSBD 280.3K
$26.7KMX$452.8K
31.65%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Honiara
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$444SBD 3,544
$65.2MX$1,108
580.41%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.88SBD 223
$29.87MX$507
-6.66%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$91.0SBD 727
$36.55MX$621
148.97%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Honiara
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$36.67SBD 293
$61.0MX$1,036
-39.89%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.90SBD 71.1
$26.70MX$453
-66.67%
Cinema Ticket
$4.42SBD 35.26
$6.85MX$116
-35.47%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Honiara
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$98.5SBD 786
$453MX$7,700
-78.28%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,849SBD 22.7K
$13.4KMX$227.1K
-78.69%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Honiara
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$26.89SBD 215
$75.0MX$1,273
-64.13%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$92.2SBD 737
$55.3MX$939
66.83%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$98.9SBD 790
$114MX$1,929
-12.96%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$104SBD 834
$123MX$2,083
-14.83%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Honiara
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$902SBD 7,201
$1,134MX$19.3K
-20.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$440SBD 3,515
$712MX$12.1K
-38.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,882SBD 15.0K
$2,571MX$43.7K
-26.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,400SBD 11.2K
$1,311MX$22.3K
6.80%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$87.4KSBD 697.6K
$3,993MX$67.8K
2088.03%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$62.8KSBD 501.1K
$2,095MX$35.6K
2895.19%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Honiara
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$716SBD 5,714
$1,047MX$17.8K
-31.64%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
15.67
11.3
38.67%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Honiara: August 30, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: August 29, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $902 in Honiara versus $1,134 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 46% higher in Mexico City, 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 $62.0 in Honiara versus $52.0 in Mexico City. Groceries tell a different story – $345 in Honiara vs $345 in Mexico City – so Honiara wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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
Honiara vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Honiara and in Mexico City compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,718 in Honiara, $1,646 in Mexico City – roughly 4% apart. Honiara costs more across the board, with Monthly Utilities & Internet showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Honiara compared to Mexico City?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,577 per month in Honiara and $2,469 in Mexico City. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Honiara and Mexico City?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Mexico City, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Interestingly, groceries are about 0% cheaper in Honiara – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $62.0 in Honiara and $52.0 in Mexico City. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Mexico City, where all-in costs run around $1,646, than in Honiara at $1,718. In Mexico City it covers expenses comfortably, while in Honiara it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Honiara and Mexico City?
It depends on your priorities. Mexico City has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,646 in Mexico City to $1,718 in Honiara. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How do I decide between Honiara and Mexico City?
If budget matters most, go with Mexico City. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Honiara makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.