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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,467 per month in Mexico City vs $669 in Ambato, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,371 per month in Mexico City vs $1,002 in Ambato, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,274 per month in Mexico City vs $1,334 in Ambato, rent included.

Mexico City costs about 119% more than Ambato, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Mexico City sits 10% above the global median, while Ambato is 50% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.18 MX$228

$3.03 $3.03

334.98%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.9 MX$932

$25.06 $25.06

115.08%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.42 MX$163

$5.12 $5.12

83.98%

Cappuccino

$3.55 MX$61.4

$2.49 $2.49

42.57%

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

$1.62 MX$27.98

$0.78 $0.78

107.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.11 MX$19.27

$0.64 $0.64

73.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.12 MX$54.0

$2.01 $2.01

55.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.63 MX$80.1

$3.60 $3.60

28.61%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.70 MX$29.43

$0.98 $0.98

73.47%

White Bread (500g)

$2.72 MX$47.02

$1.02 $1.02

166.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.91 MX$33.07

$1.50 $1.50

27.33%

Eggs

$2.54 MX$43.86

$1.98 $1.98

28.28%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.03 MX$174

$3.05 $3.05

228.85%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.09 MX$140

$2.93 $2.93

176.11%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.62 MX$201

$4.11 $4.11

182.73%

Apples (1kg)

$2.97 MX$51.3

$0.97 $0.97

206.19%

Banana (1kg)

$1.81 MX$31.24

$1.02 $1.02

77.45%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.01 MX$34.82

$1.02 $1.02

97.06%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.03 MX$35.20

$1.01 $1.01

100.99%

Potato (1kg)

$2.12 MX$36.75

$1.02 $1.02

107.84%

Onion (1kg)

$2.27 MX$39.25

$0.98 $0.98

131.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.40 MX$24.22

$0.50 $0.50

180.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.13 MX$19.55

$1.03 $1.03

9.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.27 MX$73.9

$5.90 $5.90

-27.63%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.56 MX$269

$8.93 $8.93

74.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 MX$30.39

$1.50 $1.50

17.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.60 MX$62.2

$3.04 $3.04

18.42%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.38 MX$6.62

$0.31 $0.31

22.58%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.18 MX$332

$24.02 $24.02

-20.15%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.38 MX$23.79

$0.67 $0.67

105.97%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.28 MX$4.78

$0.99 $0.99

-71.72%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.45 MX$94.2

$9.62 $9.62

-43.35%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.30 MX$22.55

$0.66 $0.66

96.97%

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

$18.7K MX$323.2K

$30.4K $30.4K

-38.60%

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

$23.1K MX$400.1K

$28.4K $28.4K

-18.61%

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

$40.86 MX$707

$39.33 $39.33

3.89%

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

$26.81 MX$464

$13.79 $13.79

94.42%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.96 MX$518

$30.26 $30.26

-0.99%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.0 MX$900

$29.61 $29.61

75.68%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.84 MX$464

$14.84 $14.84

80.86%

Cinema Ticket

$6.30 MX$109

$6.07 $6.07

3.79%

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

$436 MX$7,544

$255 $255

71.09%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.4K MX$180.2K

$2,356 $2,356

342.10%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.7 MX$980

$49.59 $49.59

14.24%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.38 MX$768

$37.10 $37.10

19.62%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 MX$1,780

$88.5 $88.5

16.32%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 MX$1,825

$58.9 $58.9

79.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,022 MX$17.7K

$336 $336

204.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$631 MX$10.9K

$187 $187

237.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,136 MX$36.9K

$616 $616

246.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,243 MX$21.5K

$251 $251

394.65%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,903 MX$67.5K

$1,133 $1,133

244.54%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,064 MX$35.7K

$883 $883

133.83%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,115 MX$19.3K

$668 $668

66.80%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.34

41.75%

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

Last update for Mexico City: May 31, 2026

Last update for Ambato: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,022 in Mexico City versus $336 in Ambato. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 67% 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 $54.0 in Mexico City versus $25.00 in Ambato. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $288 vs $141 – making Ambato 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 Ambato: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mexico City costs about 119% more than Ambato, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,201 per month in Mexico City and $1,004 in Ambato. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Ambato, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $54.0 in Mexico City and $25.00 in Ambato. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,467 in Mexico City and $669 in Ambato. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Ambato, where all-in costs run around $669, than in Mexico City at $1,467. In Ambato 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. Ambato costs $669 versus $1,467 in Mexico City. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Ambato. 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.