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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,668 in Mexico City versus $1,167 in Aguada.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,613 in Mexico City versus $1,212 in Aguada.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,557 in Mexico City versus $1,258 in Aguada.

Living in Mexico City is roughly 43% more expensive than in Aguada, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 24% above, Aguada is 13% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.03 MX$213

$10.81 $10.81

11.29%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$52.8 MX$937

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.69 MX$207

$11.90 $11.90

-1.76%

Cappuccino

$3.87 MX$68.7

$2.01 $2.01

92.54%

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

$1.75 MX$31.05

$1.99 $1.99

-12.06%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.39 MX$24.74

$1.02 $1.02

36.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.36 MX$59.6

$1.46 $1.46

130.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.77 MX$102

$2.97 $2.97

94.28%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.81 MX$32.04

$1.72 $1.72

5.23%

White Bread (500g)

$3.08 MX$54.7

$2.44 $2.44

26.23%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.13 MX$37.78

Eggs

$2.98 MX$52.8

$4.44 $4.44

-32.88%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.53 MX$222

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.24 MX$182

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.92 MX$282

Apples (1kg)

$3.39 MX$60.1

Banana (1kg)

$2.11 MX$37.37

Oranges (1kg)

$2.13 MX$37.73

Tomato (1kg)

$2.47 MX$43.77

Potato (1kg)

$2.04 MX$36.16

Onion (1kg)

$2.01 MX$35.72

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.59 MX$28.25

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.33 MX$23.58

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.49 MX$97.4

Wine (Bottle)

$17.52 MX$311

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.01 MX$35.74

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.74 MX$84.1

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.34 MX$5.96

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.07 MX$374

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.05 MX$36.41

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.61 MX$10.79

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.70 MX$101

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.59 MX$28.20

$0.89 $0.89

78.65%

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

$22.9K MX$406.1K

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

$26.4K MX$467.9K

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

$64.2 MX$1,140

$252 $252

-74.56%

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

$29.42 MX$522

$59.2 $59.2

-50.34%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.83 MX$653

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$58.7 MX$1,042

$54.2 $54.2

8.46%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.54 MX$471

Cinema Ticket

$6.95 MX$123

$6.17 $6.17

12.64%

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

$463 MX$8,210

$497 $497

-6.85%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.4K MX$237.1K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$75.4 MX$1,338

$35.46 $35.46

112.72%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.2 MX$962

$39.50 $39.50

37.24%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$111 MX$1,972

$80.1 $80.1

38.83%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 MX$2,167

$98.9 $98.9

23.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,133 MX$20.1K

$501 $501

126.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$698 MX$12.4K

$450 $450

55.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,442 MX$43.3K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,303 MX$23.1K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,910 MX$69.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,069 MX$36.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,052 MX$18.7K

$2,166 $2,166

-51.42%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.3

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

Last update for Mexico City: September 21, 2026

Last update for Aguada: September 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,133 in Mexico City and $501 in Aguada. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Aguada pays 106% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

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 Aguada: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mexico City and Aguada differ by about 43% in total monthly costs ($1,668 vs $1,167 including rent). Aguada is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 106% lower in Aguada. 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: $1,133 in Mexico City versus $501 in Aguada. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $463 in Mexico City versus $497 in Aguada. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

All in, you'll spend $1,668 per month in Mexico City versus $1,167 in Aguada – a 43% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,167 in Aguada versus $1,668 in Mexico City, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Aguada but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Aguada 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 Aguada are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Aguada gentler on the wallet – expenses run 43% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.