Cost of Living Comparison Between Iloilo and Mexico City Cost of Living Comparison Between Iloilo and Mexico City

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $684 per month in Iloilo vs $1,472 in Mexico City, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,037 per month in Iloilo vs $2,359 in Mexico City, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,390 per month in Iloilo vs $3,245 in Mexico City, rent included.

Iloilo is about 54% cheaper than Mexico City, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Iloilo sits 49% below the global median, while Mexico City is 11% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Iloilo
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.71 ₱166
$13.14 MX$228
-79.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$21.66 ₱1,326
$53.5 MX$927
-59.54%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.56 ₱218
$9.33 MX$162
-61.84%
Cappuccino
$2.00 ₱122
$3.70 MX$64.1
-45.95%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.53 ₱32.25
$1.60 MX$27.80
-66.88%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.29 ₱18.05
$1.12 MX$19.37
-74.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.95 ₱57.9
$3.14 MX$54.4
-69.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.73 ₱106
$4.85 MX$84.0
-64.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Iloilo
Mexico City
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.81 ₱111
$1.65 MX$28.65
9.70%
White Bread (500g)
$1.27 ₱77.8
$2.71 MX$47.02
-53.14%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.88 ₱54.0
$1.91 MX$33.07
-53.93%
Eggs
$2.21 ₱136
$2.59 MX$44.87
-14.67%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.76 ₱353
$9.81 MX$170
-41.28%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.19 ₱256
$8.43 MX$146
-50.30%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.09 ₱434
$11.93 MX$207
-40.57%
Apples (1kg)
$3.78 ₱231
$2.95 MX$51.2
28.14%
Banana (1kg)
$1.15 ₱70.7
$1.74 MX$30.15
-33.91%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.28 ₱201
$2.04 MX$35.43
60.78%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.56 ₱95.6
$2.06 MX$35.69
-24.27%
Potato (1kg)
$2.59 ₱159
$2.15 MX$37.25
20.47%
Onion (1kg)
$2.99 ₱183
$2.26 MX$39.08
32.30%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.62 ₱99.2
$1.39 MX$24.01
16.55%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.86 ₱52.8
$1.12 MX$19.34
-23.21%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.12 ₱191
$4.22 MX$73.1
-26.07%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.79 ₱355
$17.51 MX$303
-66.93%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.28 ₱78.5
$1.71 MX$29.62
-25.15%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38 ₱84.7
$3.63 MX$62.9
-61.98%
🚌 Getting Around
Iloilo
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.25 ₱15.39
$0.35 MX$6.11
-28.57%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$5.15 ₱315
$19.32 MX$335
-73.34%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.68 ₱41.79
$1.38 MX$23.84
-50.72%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.31 ₱19.18
$0.28 MX$4.78
10.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.62 ₱160
$5.28 MX$91.4
-50.38%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.09 ₱66.9
$1.36 MX$23.53
-19.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.9K ₱1.5M
$19.1K MX$331.0K
25.20%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.3K ₱1.2M
$23.6K MX$409.0K
-18.43%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Iloilo
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$65.9 ₱4,035
$40.53 MX$702
62.57%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$31.21 ₱1,911
$27.38 MX$474
13.99%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.23 ₱1,851
$30.38 MX$526
-0.49%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Iloilo
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$26.99 ₱1,653
$52.2 MX$905
-48.31%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$26.48 MX$459
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.22 ₱320
$6.19 MX$107
-15.67%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Iloilo
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$34.74 ₱2,128
$425 MX$7,365
-91.83%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,276 ₱261.9K
$10.7K MX$186.0K
-60.17%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Iloilo
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.06 ₱2,759
$58.3 MX$1,010
-22.72%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$22.58 ₱1,383
$44.57 MX$772
-49.34%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$61.8 ₱3,786
$103 MX$1,793
-40.26%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$26.07 ₱1,597
$109 MX$1,884
-76.03%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Iloilo
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$237 ₱14.5K
$1,014 MX$17.6K
-76.64%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$177 ₱10.8K
$623 MX$10.8K
-71.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$357 ₱21.8K
$2,119 MX$36.7K
-83.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$280 ₱17.1K
$1,223 MX$21.2K
-77.11%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,731 ₱228.5K
$3,792 MX$65.7K
-1.61%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,047 ₱64.1K
$2,110 MX$36.6K
-50.37%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Iloilo
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$203 ₱12.4K
$1,052 MX$18.2K
-80.73%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8
11.34
-29.45%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Iloilo: July 27, 2026

Last update for Mexico City: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $237 in Iloilo versus $1,014 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 419% 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 $22.00 in Iloilo versus $54.0 in Mexico City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $201 vs $293 – making Iloilo 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
Iloilo vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mexico City cheaper than Iloilo?
Yes – Mexico City is pricier by about 115%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,026 per month in Iloilo and $2,208 in Mexico City. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Iloilo, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Iloilo or in Mexico City?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $22.00 in Iloilo and $54.0 in Mexico City. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Iloilo and in Mexico City?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $684 in Iloilo and $1,472 in Mexico City. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Iloilo or in Mexico City?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Iloilo, where all-in costs run around $684, than in Mexico City at $1,472. In Iloilo it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mexico City it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Iloilo or Mexico City more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Iloilo – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Iloilo or Mexico City?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Iloilo. 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.

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