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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,677 in Mexico City versus $1,679 in Acosta.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,608 in Mexico City versus $2,704 in Acosta.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,540 in Mexico City versus $3,730 in Acosta.

Monthly costs are close between Mexico City and Acosta; which city is cheaper depends on the spending category.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Mexico City 22% above, Acosta 22% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.14 MX$206

$12.39 ₡5,546

-2.02%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.9 MX$914

$57.0 ₡25.5K

-5.47%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.09 MX$188

$11.41 ₡5,106

-2.80%

Cappuccino

$4.10 MX$69.5

$4.24 ₡1,898

-3.30%

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

$1.68 MX$28.53

$2.55 ₡1,142

-34.12%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.39 MX$23.55

$1.91 ₡853

-27.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.33 MX$56.5

$3.37 ₡1,509

-1.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.88 MX$99.7

$4.42 ₡1,977

33.03%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.85 MX$31.41

$2.44 ₡1,094

-24.18%

White Bread (500g)

$3.17 MX$53.8

$2.84 ₡1,273

11.62%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.07 MX$35.13

$2.56 ₡1,147

-19.14%

Eggs

$2.93 MX$49.67

$3.54 ₡1,583

-17.23%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.59 MX$214

$10.76 ₡4,815

17.01%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.11 MX$172

$10.61 ₡4,747

-4.71%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.09 MX$273

$14.41 ₡6,448

11.66%

Apples (1kg)

$3.39 MX$57.5

$5.23 ₡2,342

-35.18%

Banana (1kg)

$2.08 MX$35.26

$1.68 ₡750

23.81%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.12 MX$35.97

$3.35 ₡1,499

-36.72%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.41 MX$40.95

$3.43 ₡1,537

-29.74%

Potato (1kg)

$2.13 MX$36.11

$3.18 ₡1,424

-33.02%

Onion (1kg)

$2.01 MX$34.02

$3.12 ₡1,397

-35.58%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.55 MX$26.21

$1.14 ₡508

35.96%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.36 MX$23.15

$2.74 ₡1,227

-50.36%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.77 MX$97.8

$5.88 ₡2,633

-1.87%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.74 MX$301

$16.76 ₡7,499

5.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.07 MX$35.11

$2.66 ₡1,192

-22.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.61 MX$78.3

$2.62 ₡1,174

75.95%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.37 MX$6.21

$1.38 ₡616

-73.19%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.18 MX$359

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.05 MX$34.84

$2.40 ₡1,074

-14.58%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 MX$9.79

$1.58 ₡705

-63.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.07 MX$103

$8.77 ₡3,924

-30.79%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.55 MX$26.34

$1.54 ₡690

0.65%

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

$22.9K MX$388.1K

$22.3K ₡10.0M

2.65%

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

$27.2K MX$462.0K

$34.7K ₡15.5M

-21.56%

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

$67.4 MX$1,144

$94.9 ₡42.5K

-28.95%

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

$30.62 MX$520

$30.57 ₡13.7K

0.16%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$37.24 MX$632

$60.0 ₡26.9K

-37.96%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.5 MX$1,043

$72.9 ₡32.6K

-15.63%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.12 MX$460

Cinema Ticket

$7.11 MX$121

$8.16 ₡3,653

-12.87%

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

$456 MX$7,739

$856 ₡383.3K

-46.73%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.7K MX$232.3K

$17.2K ₡7.7M

-20.20%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$74.2 MX$1,259

$72.2 ₡32.3K

2.80%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$57.0 MX$967

$57.1 ₡25.6K

-0.16%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 MX$1,958

$130 ₡58.3K

-11.47%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 MX$2,061

$133 ₡59.3K

-8.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,148 MX$19.5K

$789 ₡353.2K

45.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$709 MX$12.0K

$634 ₡283.7K

11.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,577 MX$43.7K

$1,866 ₡835.0K

38.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,295 MX$22.0K

$1,287 ₡576.1K

0.59%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,005 MX$67.9K

$1,939 ₡867.9K

106.54%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,130 MX$36.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,082 MX$18.4K

$1,497 ₡669.9K

-27.71%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.3

8.78

28.70%

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

Last update for Mexico City: September 6, 2026

Last update for Acosta: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,148 in Mexico City and $789 in Acosta. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Acosta pays 38% more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $54.0 in Mexico City vs $57.0 in Acosta for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $345 vs $378 per month, with Mexico City 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

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

On paper, salaries run 38% lower in Acosta. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,148 in Mexico City versus $789 in Acosta. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $456 in Mexico City versus $856 in Acosta. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Supermarket bills run roughly 10% higher in Acosta. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

At $1,677 in Mexico City versus $1,679 in Acosta, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Mexico City but tight or insufficient in Acosta. The gap between the two cities makes Mexico City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Mexico City and Acosta are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

It comes down to priorities – Mexico City wins on affordability, Acosta on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.