😐A single person spends $1,456 per month in Mexico City vs $456 in Aja, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,361 per month in Mexico City vs $738 in Aja, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,266 per month in Mexico City vs $1,019 in Aja, rent included.
😐Mexico City costs about 219% more than Aja, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Mexico City sits 9% above the global median, while Aja is 66% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Aja
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.07MX$228
$3.49E£178
274.50%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.8MX$936
$15.55E£794
245.66%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.68MX$169
$4.52E£231
114.16%
Cappuccino
$3.74MX$65.1
$1.50E£76.7
149.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$28.13
$0.31E£16.07
422.58%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.16MX$20.23
$0.10E£4.88
1060.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.23MX$56.2
$1.15E£59.0
180.87%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.74MX$82.5
$2.88E£147
64.58%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Aja
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.65MX$28.68
$0.83E£42.26
98.80%
White Bread(500g)
$2.75MX$47.95
$0.61E£31.25
350.82%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.87MX$32.63
$0.70E£35.97
167.14%
Eggs
$2.50MX$43.54
$1.46E£74.6
71.23%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.20MX$178
$3.43E£175
197.38%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.25MX$144
$4.24E£217
94.58%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.82MX$206
$8.57E£437
37.92%
Apples(1kg)
$3.01MX$52.4
$1.47E£75.0
104.76%
Banana(1kg)
$1.81MX$31.54
$0.55E£28.04
229.09%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.00MX$34.81
$0.42E£21.69
376.19%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.00MX$34.74
$0.40E£20.35
400.00%
Potato(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.30
$0.37E£19.10
462.16%
Onion(1kg)
$2.27MX$39.56
$0.41E£20.68
453.66%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.46MX$25.36
$0.22E£11.16
563.64%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08MX$18.74
$0.19E£9.81
468.42%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.35MX$75.7
$1.94E£99.3
124.23%
Wine(Bottle)
$16.99MX$296
$6.30E£322
169.68%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73MX$30.18
$1.31E£66.8
32.06%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.58MX$62.3
$1.81E£92.3
97.79%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Aja
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.39MX$6.74
$0.16E£8.22
143.75%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.69MX$325
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.33MX$23.08
$0.41E£21.11
224.39%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28MX$4.87
$0.29E£14.78
-3.45%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.25MX$91.5
$1.93E£98.6
172.02%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.34MX$23.27
$0.30E£15.56
346.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.4KMX$338.0K
$35.8KE£1.8M
-45.78%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.8KMX$415.0K
$33.0KE£1.7M
-27.77%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Aja
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.69MX$709
$11.99E£612
239.37%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.87MX$468
$6.54E£334
310.86%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.51MX$531
$10.65E£544
186.48%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Aja
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.8MX$919
$22.66E£1,157
132.92%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.65MX$464
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.51MX$113
$2.89E£148
125.26%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Aja
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$428MX$7,454
$89.8E£4,582
376.95%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.5KMX$182.8K
$1,881E£96.0K
458.13%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Aja
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.3MX$997
$27.07E£1,382
111.49%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.50MX$792
$48.11E£2,456
-5.43%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104MX$1,812
$111E£5,650
-5.98%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108MX$1,878
$51.3E£2,620
110.05%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Aja
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,003MX$17.5K
$187E£9,550
436.37%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$623MX$10.8K
$98.6E£5,035
531.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,109MX$36.7K
$308E£15.7K
585.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,218MX$21.2K
$180E£9,187
576.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,885MX$67.6K
$839E£42.9K
362.79%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,033MX$35.4K
$431E£22.0K
371.48%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Aja
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,038MX$18.1K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
16.67
-31.97%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: July 13, 2026
Last update for Aja: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,003 in Mexico City versus $187 in Aja. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $54.0 in Mexico City versus $16.00 in Aja. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $292 vs $122 – making Aja 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
Mexico City vs Aja: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Mexico City or Aja?
Mexico City costs about 219% more than Aja, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Mexico City and in Aja?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,185 per month in Mexico City and $684 in Aja. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Mexico City or Aja?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Aja, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Mexico City compared to Aja?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,456 in Mexico City and $456 in Aja. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do childcare costs compare in Mexico City and in Aja?
Kindergarten costs $428 per month in Mexico City and $89.8 in Aja. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Mexico City or in Aja?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Aja, where all-in costs run around $456, than in Mexico City at $1,456. In Aja it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mexico City it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Mexico City or Aja?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Aja costs $456 versus $1,456 in Mexico City. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
Should I move to Mexico City or to Aja?
If budget matters most, go with Aja. 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.
Mexico City vs other spots: cost of living compared