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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $539 per month in Madang vs $1,484 in Mexico City, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,213 per month in Madang vs $2,381 in Mexico City, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,887 per month in Madang vs $3,278 in Mexico City, rent included.

Madang is about 64% cheaper than Mexico City, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Madang sits 60% below the global median, while Mexico City is 11% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.86 PGK 29.77

$12.98 MX$227

-47.15%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$37.85 PGK 164

$53.1 MX$929

-28.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.79 PGK 46.81

$9.72 MX$170

11.01%

Cappuccino

$2.47 PGK 10.70

$3.75 MX$65.6

-34.13%

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

$1.18 PGK 5.11

$1.57 MX$27.46

-24.84%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 PGK 3.19

$1.13 MX$19.76

-35.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.82 PGK 12.24

$3.18 MX$55.7

-11.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.33 PGK 18.81

$4.66 MX$81.6

-7.08%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 PGK 8.21

$1.62 MX$28.37

16.67%

White Bread (500g)

$1.46 PGK 6.33

$2.71 MX$47.36

-46.13%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.45 PGK 6.30

$1.88 MX$32.89

-22.87%

Eggs

$3.31 PGK 14.36

$2.51 MX$43.90

31.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.08 MX$176

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.72 PGK 24.84

$8.29 MX$145

-31.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.38 PGK 36.36

$11.94 MX$209

-29.82%

Apples (1kg)

$5.24 PGK 22.75

$2.86 MX$50.1

83.22%

Banana (1kg)

$2.33 PGK 10.12

$1.75 MX$30.62

33.14%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.94 PGK 4.06

$2.08 MX$36.48

-54.81%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.93 PGK 8.38

$1.97 MX$34.46

-2.03%

Potato (1kg)

$4.70 PGK 20.42

$2.16 MX$37.79

117.59%

Onion (1kg)

$2.95 PGK 12.80

$2.18 MX$38.16

35.32%

Lettuce (1 head)

$6.14 PGK 26.65

$1.39 MX$24.34

341.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.47 PGK 2.03

$1.12 MX$19.69

-58.04%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.04 PGK 21.87

$4.20 MX$73.5

20.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.32 PGK 49.15

$14.25 MX$249

-20.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.10 PGK 9.12

$1.76 MX$30.85

19.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.46 PGK 10.66

$3.68 MX$64.5

-33.15%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.39 MX$6.74

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.66 MX$327

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.39 MX$24.26

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.30 MX$5.32

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.42 MX$94.9

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.10 PGK 4.76

$1.35 MX$23.63

-18.52%

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

$18.9K MX$330.5K

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

$23.2K MX$405.2K

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

$66.2 PGK 287

$40.82 MX$714

62.20%

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

$27.50 MX$481

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.19 PGK 105

$30.38 MX$532

-20.38%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$53.4 MX$935

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.30 MX$460

Cinema Ticket

$6.27 MX$110

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

$80.2 PGK 348

$436 MX$7,632

-81.60%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,987 PGK 26.0K

$10.5K MX$183.2K

-42.81%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$19.42 PGK 84.3

$56.8 MX$993

-65.79%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$14.64 PGK 63.5

$44.79 MX$784

-67.31%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$66.5 PGK 288

$103 MX$1,799

-35.36%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$29.18 PGK 127

$108 MX$1,888

-72.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,000 MX$17.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$620 MX$10.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$971 PGK 4,214

$2,137 MX$37.4K

-54.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$606 PGK 2,631

$1,235 MX$21.6K

-50.91%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,865 MX$67.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,332 MX$40.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$234 PGK 1,016

$1,067 MX$18.7K

-78.07%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.34

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

Last update for Madang: April 28, 2026

Last update for Mexico City: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 356% 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 $38.00 in Madang versus $53.0 in Mexico City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $248 vs $286 – making Madang 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

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

Mexico City costs about 175% more than Madang, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $808 per month in Madang and $2,225 in Mexico City. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $38.00 in Madang and $53.0 in Mexico City. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 15% 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.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Madang, where all-in costs run around $539, than in Mexico City at $1,484. In Madang it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mexico City it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Madang costs $539 versus $1,484 in Mexico City. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

If budget matters most, go with Madang. 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.