😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,467 in Mexico City versus $877 in Adma.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,371 in Mexico City versus $1,426 in Adma.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,274 in Mexico City versus $1,975 in Adma.
😐Living in Mexico City is roughly 67% more expensive than Adma, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 10% above, Adma is 35% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Adma
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.18MX$228
$10.96LBP 981.0K
20.26%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.9MX$932
$60.3LBP 5.4M
-10.64%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.42MX$163
$7.86LBP 703.1K
19.85%
Cappuccino
$3.55MX$61.4
$3.25LBP 290.6K
9.23%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$27.98
$1.56LBP 140.0K
3.85%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.11MX$19.27
$0.93LBP 83.4K
19.35%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.12MX$54.0
$3.52LBP 315.2K
-11.36%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.63MX$80.1
$5.09LBP 455.2K
-9.04%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Adma
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.70MX$29.43
$1.79LBP 160.6K
-5.03%
White Bread(500g)
$2.72MX$47.02
$0.80LBP 71.6K
240.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.91MX$33.07
$1.74LBP 155.9K
9.77%
Eggs
$2.54MX$43.86
$3.05LBP 273.1K
-16.72%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.03MX$174
$11.49LBP 1.0M
-12.71%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.09MX$140
$9.36LBP 837.9K
-13.57%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.62MX$201
$11.49LBP 1.0M
1.13%
Apples(1kg)
$2.97MX$51.3
$1.75LBP 156.6K
69.71%
Banana(1kg)
$1.81MX$31.24
$1.51LBP 135.2K
19.87%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01MX$34.82
$1.10LBP 98.8K
82.73%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03MX$35.20
$1.10LBP 98.2K
84.55%
Potato(1kg)
$2.12MX$36.75
$0.98LBP 88.1K
116.33%
Onion(1kg)
$2.27MX$39.25
$1.04LBP 92.8K
118.27%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.40MX$24.22
$0.83LBP 74.4K
68.67%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.13MX$19.55
$0.52LBP 46.9K
117.31%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27MX$73.9
$2.45LBP 219.3K
74.29%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.56MX$269
$10.06LBP 900.2K
54.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76MX$30.39
$1.25LBP 111.6K
40.80%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.60MX$62.2
$2.16LBP 193.6K
66.67%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Adma
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38MX$6.62
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.18MX$332
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.38MX$23.79
$5.05LBP 452.0K
-72.67%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28MX$4.78
$1.24LBP 110.8K
-77.42%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.45MX$94.2
$19.83LBP 1.8M
-72.52%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.30MX$22.55
$0.90LBP 80.6K
44.44%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.7KMX$323.2K
$35.2KLBP 3.2B
-46.98%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.1KMX$400.1K
$28.1KLBP 2.5B
-17.57%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Adma
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.86MX$707
$217LBP 19.4M
-81.17%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.81MX$464
$38.36LBP 3.4M
-30.11%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.96MX$518
$37.21LBP 3.3M
-19.48%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Adma
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.0MX$900
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.84MX$464
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.30MX$109
$7.91LBP 708.1K
-20.35%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Adma
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$436MX$7,544
$301LBP 26.9M
45.10%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.4KMX$180.2K
$4,452LBP 398.5M
133.96%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Adma
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.7MX$980
$70.7LBP 6.3M
-19.88%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.38MX$768
$45.50LBP 4.1M
-2.46%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103MX$1,780
$122LBP 10.9M
-15.55%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106MX$1,825
$93.2LBP 8.3M
13.23%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Adma
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,022MX$17.7K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$631MX$10.9K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,136MX$36.9K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,243MX$21.5K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,903MX$67.5K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,064MX$35.7K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Adma
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,115MX$19.3K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
11.16
1.61%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: May 31, 2026
Last update for Adma: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $54.0 in Mexico City vs $60.0 in Adma. Groceries flip the comparison at $288 vs $234, with Adma cheaper for home cooking.
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 Adma: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Adma cheaper than Mexico City?
Adma is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 67% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $2,201 in Mexico City and $1,316 in Adma to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $436 in Mexico City versus $301 in Adma. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Mexico City or Adma?
Dining out is cheaper in Adma – a meal for two runs $60.0 versus $54.0 in Mexico City. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Mexico City or Adma?
At $877 in Adma versus $1,467 in Mexico City, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Adma but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Adma the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Mexico City or Adma more family-friendly?
For families, Adma is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Mexico City, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Adma gentler on the wallet – expenses run 67% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Mexico City vs other spots: cost of living compared