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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $734 per month in Loja vs $1,456 in Mexico City, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,093 per month in Loja vs $2,361 in Mexico City, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,452 per month in Loja vs $3,266 in Mexico City, rent included.

Loja is about 50% cheaper than Mexico City, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Loja sits 45% below the global median, while Mexico City is 9% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.07 $3.07

$13.07 MX$229

-76.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.62 $19.62

$53.8 MX$943

-63.50%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.83 $6.83

$9.68 MX$170

-29.44%

Cappuccino

$1.78 $1.78

$3.74 MX$65.6

-52.41%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.60 $0.60

$1.62 MX$28.34

-62.96%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.49 $0.49

$1.16 MX$20.37

-57.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.03 $1.03

$3.23 MX$56.6

-68.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 $2.05

$4.74 MX$83.1

-56.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.03 $1.03

$1.65 MX$28.89

-37.58%

White Bread (500g)

$1.35 $1.35

$2.75 MX$48.30

-50.91%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.51 $1.51

$1.87 MX$32.87

-19.25%

Eggs

$1.89 $1.89

$2.50 MX$43.86

-24.40%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.35 $5.35

$10.20 MX$179

-47.55%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.37 $4.37

$8.25 MX$145

-47.03%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.94 $5.94

$11.82 MX$207

-49.75%

Apples (1kg)

$1.31 $1.31

$3.01 MX$52.8

-56.48%

Banana (1kg)

$0.90 $0.90

$1.81 MX$31.77

-50.28%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.03 $1.03

$2.00 MX$35.07

-48.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.02 $1.02

$2.00 MX$35.00

-49.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.79 $0.79

$2.08 MX$36.56

-62.02%

Onion (1kg)

$0.86 $0.86

$2.27 MX$39.85

-62.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.49 $0.49

$1.46 MX$25.55

-66.44%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.08 MX$18.88

-3.70%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.79 $5.79

$4.35 MX$76.3

33.10%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.14 $7.14

$16.99 MX$298

-57.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.50 $1.50

$1.73 MX$30.40

-13.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.77 $2.77

$3.58 MX$62.7

-22.63%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.31 $0.31

$0.39 MX$6.79

-20.51%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$39.98 $39.98

$18.69 MX$328

113.91%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.62 $0.62

$1.33 MX$23.25

-53.38%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.02 $1.02

$0.28 MX$4.91

264.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.55 $13.55

$5.25 MX$92.1

158.10%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.64 $0.64

$1.34 MX$23.44

-52.24%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$15.2K $15.2K

$19.4K MX$340.5K

-21.55%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$28.9K $28.9K

$23.8K MX$418.0K

21.28%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$20.15 $20.15

$40.69 MX$714

-50.48%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$10.75 $10.75

$26.87 MX$471

-59.99%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.74 $28.74

$30.51 MX$535

-5.80%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.30 $34.30

$52.8 MX$926

-35.01%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.08 $14.08

$26.65 MX$467

-47.17%

Cinema Ticket

$7.32 $7.32

$6.51 MX$114

12.44%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$178 $178

$428 MX$7,508

-58.51%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,999 $1,999

$10.5K MX$184.2K

-80.96%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.1 $57.1

$57.3 MX$1,004

-0.28%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.60 $49.60

$45.50 MX$798

9.01%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.7 $85.7

$104 MX$1,825

-17.61%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$65.2 $65.2

$108 MX$1,891

-39.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$281 $281

$1,003 MX$17.6K

-71.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$234 $234

$623 MX$10.9K

-62.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$421 $421

$2,109 MX$37.0K

-80.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$334 $334

$1,218 MX$21.4K

-72.60%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$555 $555

$3,885 MX$68.1K

-85.72%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$326 $326

$2,033 MX$35.7K

-83.97%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$481 $481

$1,038 MX$18.2K

-53.61%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.34

-11.82%

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

Last update for Loja: July 11, 2026

Last update for Mexico City: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $281 in Loja versus $1,003 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 116% 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 $20.00 in Loja versus $54.0 in Mexico City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $160 vs $292 – making Loja 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

Loja vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $734 in Loja, $1,456 in Mexico City – roughly 98% apart. Mexico City costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,101 per month in Loja and $2,185 in Mexico City. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Loja, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 114% less in Loja. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $178 per month in Loja and $428 in Mexico City. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Loja, where all-in costs run around $734, than in Mexico City at $1,456. In Loja it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mexico City it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Mexico City has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $734 in Loja to $1,456 in Mexico City. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Loja. 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.