🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $886 in Ibb versus $1,677 in Mexico City.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,482 in Ibb versus $2,608 in Mexico City.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,078 in Ibb versus $3,540 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 36% below, Mexico City is 22% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ibb
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.42YER 1,520
$12.14MX$206
-47.12%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.91YER 5,897
$53.9MX$914
-53.78%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.11YER 3,104
$11.09MX$188
18.21%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.97YER 467
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48YER 588
-
-
Cappuccino
$2.13YER 503
$4.10MX$69.5
-48.05%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.18YER 279
$1.68MX$28.53
-29.76%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.50YER 119
$1.39MX$23.55
-64.03%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$3.33MX$56.5
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$5.88MX$99.7
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ibb
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.06YER 489
$1.85MX$31.41
11.35%
White Bread(500g)
$0.96YER 228
$3.17MX$53.8
-69.72%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.99YER 470
$2.07MX$35.13
-3.86%
Eggs
$3.55YER 841
$2.93MX$49.67
21.16%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.88YER 3,285
$12.59MX$214
10.25%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.25YER 1,953
$10.11MX$172
-18.40%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.47YER 4,373
$16.09MX$273
14.79%
Apples(1kg)
$3.33YER 789
$3.39MX$57.5
-1.77%
Banana(1kg)
$1.00YER 237
$2.08MX$35.26
-51.92%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.14YER 508
$2.12MX$35.97
0.94%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.74YER 413
$2.41MX$40.95
-27.80%
Potato(1kg)
$1.47YER 349
$2.13MX$36.11
-30.99%
Onion(1kg)
$1.36YER 323
$2.01MX$34.02
-32.34%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.87YER 206
$1.55MX$26.21
-43.87%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.63YER 149
$1.36MX$23.15
-53.68%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$3.44YER 815
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.79YER 423
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.40YER 805
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.86YER 915
$5.77MX$97.8
-33.10%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$17.74MX$301
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$2.07MX$35.11
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$4.61MX$78.3
-
🚌 Getting Around
Ibb
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.37MX$6.21
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$21.18MX$359
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.06YER 488
$2.05MX$34.84
0.49%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.55YER 605
$0.58MX$9.79
339.66%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.44YER 1,762
$6.07MX$103
22.57%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.03YER 481
$1.55MX$26.34
30.97%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$16.9KYER 4.0M
$22.9KMX$388.1K
-26.00%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.9KYER 8.3M
$27.2KMX$462.0K
28.08%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ibb
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$62.1YER 14.7K
$67.4MX$1,144
-7.83%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.56YER 3,685
$30.62MX$520
-49.18%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.08YER 6,885
$37.24MX$632
-21.91%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ibb
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$61.5MX$1,043
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$27.12MX$460
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.76YER 1,364
$7.11MX$121
-18.99%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ibb
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$24.87YER 5,889
$456MX$7,739
-94.55%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,191YER 518.7K
$13.7KMX$232.3K
-84.00%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ibb
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$29.58YER 7,002
$74.2MX$1,259
-60.13%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$120YER 28.4K
$57.0MX$967
110.65%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$48.30YER 11.4K
$115MX$1,958
-58.15%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$40.64YER 9,622
$122MX$2,061
-66.55%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ibb
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$313YER 74.0K
$1,148MX$19.5K
-72.77%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$255YER 60.3K
$709MX$12.0K
-64.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$748YER 177.2K
$2,577MX$43.7K
-70.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$623YER 147.5K
$1,295MX$22.0K
-51.88%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$4,005MX$67.9K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,130MX$36.1K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ibb
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$359YER 84.9K
$1,082MX$18.4K
-66.85%
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: September 6, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: September 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $313 in Ibb and $1,148 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 202% 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 $54.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $249 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 202% 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: $313 in Ibb versus $1,148 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 39% 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 $886 per month in Ibb versus $1,677 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 $886 in Ibb versus $1,677 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.