🙂A single person spends $679 per month in Ilheus vs $1,467 in Mexico City, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,111 per month in Ilheus vs $2,371 in Mexico City, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,542 per month in Ilheus vs $3,274 in Mexico City, rent included.
🙂Ilheus is about 54% cheaper than Mexico City, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Ilheus sits 49% below the global median, while Mexico City is 10% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ilheus
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.83R$19.71
$13.18MX$230
-70.94%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.18R$140
$53.9MX$941
-49.57%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.24R$32.16
$9.42MX$165
-33.76%
Cappuccino
$1.80R$9.29
$3.55MX$62.0
-49.30%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.09R$5.60
$1.62MX$28.25
-32.72%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.63R$3.23
$1.11MX$19.46
-43.24%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.85R$9.54
$3.12MX$54.5
-40.71%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78R$14.31
$4.63MX$80.9
-39.96%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ilheus
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.95R$4.87
$1.70MX$29.71
-44.12%
White Bread(500g)
$1.45R$7.49
$2.72MX$47.47
-46.69%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.13R$5.85
$1.91MX$33.39
-40.84%
Eggs
$1.97R$10.13
$2.54MX$44.29
-22.44%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.04R$87.8
$10.03MX$175
69.89%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.54R$18.22
$8.09MX$141
-56.24%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.00R$36.07
$11.62MX$203
-39.76%
Apples(1kg)
$2.16R$11.13
$2.97MX$51.8
-27.27%
Banana(1kg)
$1.31R$6.73
$1.81MX$31.55
-27.62%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.20R$6.18
$2.01MX$35.16
-40.30%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.44R$7.41
$2.03MX$35.54
-29.06%
Potato(1kg)
$1.14R$5.85
$2.12MX$37.10
-46.23%
Onion(1kg)
$1.10R$5.68
$2.27MX$39.63
-51.54%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.73R$3.78
$1.40MX$24.45
-47.86%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66R$3.41
$1.13MX$19.74
-41.59%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.14R$11.02
$4.27MX$74.6
-49.88%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.51R$38.70
$15.56MX$272
-51.74%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.22R$6.27
$1.76MX$30.68
-30.68%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.98R$10.20
$3.60MX$62.8
-45.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Ilheus
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.92R$4.76
$0.38MX$6.69
142.11%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$38.24R$197
$19.18MX$335
99.37%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.06R$5.47
$1.38MX$24.03
-23.19%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.76R$3.92
$0.28MX$4.83
171.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.41R$33.03
$5.45MX$95.1
17.61%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.03R$5.32
$1.30MX$22.77
-20.77%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.8KR$107.3K
$18.7KMX$326.4K
11.42%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.2KR$140.3K
$23.1KMX$404.0K
17.79%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ilheus
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$61.3R$316
$40.86MX$714
50.05%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.61R$70.1
$26.81MX$468
-49.24%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.15R$98.6
$29.96MX$523
-36.08%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ilheus
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$22.78R$117
$52.0MX$908
-56.21%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.49R$111
$26.84MX$469
-19.93%
Cinema Ticket
$6.28R$32.33
$6.30MX$110
-0.32%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ilheus
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$269R$1,383
$436MX$7,617
-38.43%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,548R$33.7K
$10.4KMX$181.9K
-37.14%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ilheus
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.39R$254
$56.7MX$989
-12.82%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.31R$213
$44.38MX$775
-6.92%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$75.4R$388
$103MX$1,798
-26.78%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$63.6R$328
$106MX$1,843
-39.73%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ilheus
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$164R$843
$1,022MX$17.8K
-83.98%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$116R$600
$631MX$11.0K
-81.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$312R$1,608
$2,136MX$37.3K
-85.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$228R$1,173
$1,243MX$21.7K
-81.67%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,610R$8,291
$3,903MX$68.2K
-58.76%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,164R$5,996
$2,064MX$36.1K
-43.62%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ilheus
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$596R$3,070
$1,115MX$19.5K
-46.55%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.92
11.34
-3.70%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ilheus: May 31, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $164 in Ilheus versus $1,022 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 87% higher in Mexico City, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $27.00 in Ilheus versus $54.0 in Mexico City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $198 vs $288 – making Ilheus the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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
Ilheus vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Ilheus and Mexico City compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $679 in Ilheus, $1,467 in Mexico City – roughly 116% apart. Mexico City costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Ilheus compared to Mexico City?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,019 per month in Ilheus and $2,201 in Mexico City. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Ilheus and Mexico City?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Ilheus, 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?
Groceries cost about 45% more in Mexico City, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $27.00 in Ilheus and $54.0 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 $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Ilheus, where all-in costs run around $679, than in Mexico City at $1,467. In Ilheus it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mexico City it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Ilheus and Mexico City?
It depends on your priorities. Mexico City has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $679 in Ilheus to $1,467 in Mexico City. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How do I decide between Ilheus and Mexico City?
If budget matters most, go with Ilheus. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Mexico City makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.