🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $871 in Ibb versus $1,646 in Mexico City.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,442 in Ibb versus $2,613 in Mexico City.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,013 in Ibb versus $3,580 in Mexico City.
🌍Living in Ibb costs roughly 47% less than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Ibb is 37% below, Mexico City is 20% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ibb
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.22YER 1,473
$12.11MX$205
-48.64%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.96YER 5,909
$52.2MX$883
-52.21%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.65YER 2,994
$10.90MX$184
16.06%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.05YER 486
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.55YER 604
-
-
Cappuccino
$2.07YER 491
$4.05MX$68.5
-48.89%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.13YER 269
$1.72MX$29.00
-34.30%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.54YER 127
$1.38MX$23.29
-60.87%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$3.47MX$58.6
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$5.81MX$98.2
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ibb
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.08YER 492
$1.85MX$31.33
12.43%
White Bread(500g)
$1.02YER 242
$3.22MX$54.5
-68.32%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.00YER 473
$2.09MX$35.25
-4.31%
Eggs
$3.57YER 844
$2.91MX$49.18
22.68%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.97YER 3,307
$12.49MX$211
11.85%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.16YER 1,931
$10.11MX$171
-19.29%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.18YER 4,541
$15.89MX$269
20.70%
Apples(1kg)
$3.32YER 785
$3.31MX$56.0
0.30%
Banana(1kg)
$1.01YER 240
$2.13MX$35.95
-52.58%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.17YER 513
$2.19MX$37.03
-0.91%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.56YER 368
$2.45MX$41.37
-36.33%
Potato(1kg)
$1.47YER 347
$2.19MX$37.00
-32.88%
Onion(1kg)
$1.36YER 321
$1.90MX$32.20
-28.42%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.81YER 191
$1.62MX$27.31
-50.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.63YER 149
$1.35MX$22.82
-53.33%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$3.40YER 805
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86YER 441
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.45YER 816
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.96YER 936
$5.43MX$91.7
-27.07%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$17.59MX$297
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$2.07MX$34.96
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$4.75MX$80.2
-
🚌 Getting Around
Ibb
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.34MX$5.75
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$21.58MX$365
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.09YER 494
$2.04MX$34.49
2.45%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.58YER 610
$0.58MX$9.77
344.83%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.11YER 1,683
$5.97MX$101
19.10%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.10YER 498
$1.62MX$27.31
29.63%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.1KYER 4.0M
$22.8KMX$385.6K
-25.11%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.6KYER 8.2M
$26.7KMX$450.7K
29.86%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ibb
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$64.4YER 15.3K
$65.2MX$1,103
-1.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.07YER 3,804
$29.87MX$505
-46.20%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.95YER 6,854
$36.55MX$618
-20.79%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ibb
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$61.0MX$1,031
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$26.70MX$451
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.07YER 1,436
$6.85MX$116
-11.39%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ibb
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$24.22YER 5,734
$453MX$7,664
-94.66%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,128YER 503.8K
$13.4KMX$226.0K
-84.08%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ibb
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$29.82YER 7,060
$75.0MX$1,267
-60.22%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$125YER 29.5K
$55.3MX$935
125.61%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$48.60YER 11.5K
$114MX$1,920
-57.22%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$40.97YER 9,699
$123MX$2,073
-66.60%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ibb
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$312YER 73.8K
$1,134MX$19.2K
-72.48%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$251YER 59.5K
$712MX$12.0K
-64.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$757YER 179.2K
$2,571MX$43.5K
-70.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$624YER 147.7K
$1,311MX$22.2K
-52.42%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,993MX$67.5K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,095MX$35.4K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ibb
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$352YER 83.3K
$1,047MX$17.7K
-66.37%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.25
11.3
-0.44%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ibb: August 31, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: August 29, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $312 in Ibb and $1,134 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 197% 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: $25.00 in Ibb vs $52.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $250 vs $345 per month, with Ibb 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
Ibb vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mexico City cheaper than Ibb?
Ibb is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 89% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Ibb or Mexico City?
On paper, salaries run 197% lower in Mexico City. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Ibb and Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $312 in Ibb versus $1,134 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Ibb and in Mexico City?
Supermarket bills run roughly 38% higher in Mexico City. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Ibb and in Mexico City?
All in, you'll spend $871 per month in Ibb versus $1,646 in Mexico City – a 89% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Ibb or in Mexico City?
At $871 in Ibb versus $1,646 in Mexico City, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Ibb but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Ibb the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Ibb or Mexico City more family-friendly?
For families, Ibb 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Ibb gentler on the wallet – expenses run 89% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.