🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $987 in Ibb versus $1,467 in Mexico City.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,658 in Ibb versus $2,371 in Mexico City.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,329 in Ibb versus $3,274 in Mexico City.
🙂Living in Ibb costs roughly 33% less than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Ibb is 26% below, Mexico City is 10% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ibb
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.85YER 1,633
$13.18MX$228
-48.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$40.65YER 9,687
$53.9MX$932
-24.58%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.50YER 2,978
$9.42MX$163
32.70%
Cappuccino
$2.08YER 495
$3.55MX$61.4
-41.41%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.60YER 382
$1.62MX$27.98
-1.23%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.50YER 119
$1.11MX$19.27
-54.95%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$3.12MX$54.0
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$4.63MX$80.1
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ibb
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$3.26YER 778
$1.70MX$29.43
91.76%
White Bread(500g)
$1.16YER 276
$2.72MX$47.02
-57.35%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.74YER 1,131
$1.91MX$33.07
148.17%
Eggs
$6.43YER 1,531
$2.54MX$43.86
153.15%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.11YER 2,172
$10.03MX$174
-9.17%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.60YER 3,002
$8.09MX$140
55.75%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$27.63YER 6,585
$11.62MX$201
137.78%
Apples(1kg)
$5.80YER 1,382
$2.97MX$51.3
95.29%
Banana(1kg)
$2.17YER 517
$1.81MX$31.24
19.89%
Oranges(1kg)
$6.45YER 1,537
$2.01MX$34.82
220.90%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.67YER 876
$2.03MX$35.20
80.79%
Potato(1kg)
$2.32YER 554
$2.12MX$36.75
9.43%
Onion(1kg)
$2.02YER 481
$2.27MX$39.25
-11.01%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.78YER 186
$1.40MX$24.22
-44.29%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.40YER 334
$1.13MX$19.55
23.89%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$3.34YER 795
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.04YER 963
$4.27MX$73.9
-5.39%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$15.56MX$269
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.76MX$30.39
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.60MX$62.2
-
🚌 Getting Around
Ibb
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.38MX$6.62
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$19.18MX$332
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.08YER 496
$1.38MX$23.79
50.72%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$0.28MX$4.78
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$5.45MX$94.2
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$3.99YER 952
$1.30MX$22.55
206.92%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$18.7KMX$323.2K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$23.1KMX$400.1K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ibb
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$90.8YER 21.6K
$40.86MX$707
122.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.33YER 3,652
$26.81MX$464
-42.82%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$77.6YER 18.5K
$29.96MX$518
158.85%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ibb
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$80.6YER 19.2K
$52.0MX$900
54.86%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$26.84MX$464
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$6.30MX$109
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ibb
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$28.67YER 6,833
$436MX$7,544
-93.43%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,323YER 791.9K
$10.4KMX$180.2K
-68.10%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ibb
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$29.35YER 6,993
$56.7MX$980
-48.19%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$44.38MX$768
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$48.95YER 11.7K
$103MX$1,780
-52.44%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$57.5YER 13.7K
$106MX$1,825
-45.54%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ibb
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$216YER 51.5K
$1,022MX$17.7K
-78.85%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$160YER 38.2K
$631MX$10.9K
-74.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$571YER 136.1K
$2,136MX$36.9K
-73.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$395YER 94.1K
$1,243MX$21.5K
-68.22%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,903MX$67.5K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,064MX$35.7K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ibb
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$352YER 83.9K
$1,115MX$19.3K
-68.44%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
0
11.34
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ibb: June 1, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $216 in Ibb and $1,022 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 217% 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: $41.00 in Ibb vs $54.0 in Mexico City. Groceries flip the comparison at $379 vs $288, with Mexico City 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
Ibb vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mexico City cheaper than Ibb?
Ibb is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around. The 49% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Ibb or Mexico City?
On paper, Mexico City earns 217% less. 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: $216 in Ibb versus $1,022 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 Mexico City?
Shoppers in Mexico City pay roughly 31% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
What are total monthly expenses in Ibb vs Mexico City?
All in, you'll spend $987 per month in Ibb versus $1,467 in Mexico City – a 49% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Ibb or Mexico City?
At $987 in Ibb versus $1,467 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 49% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.