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

😐 Solo nomad: Mexico City is 83.4% more expensive than Arequipa without rent, and 126.1% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Mexico City is 80.7% more expensive than Arequipa without rent, and 119.5% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Arequipa
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.38 MX$253
$4.13 PEN 14.9
223.97%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$52.7 MX$997
$27.5 PEN 99.3
91.75%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.31 MX$176
$5.63 PEN 20.32
65.36%
Cappuccino
$3.61 MX$68.3
$2.51 PEN 9.05
43.82%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.64 MX$30.91
$0.76 PEN 2.75
115.79%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.12 MX$21.14
$0.37 PEN 1.34
202.70%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.26 MX$61.7
$2.19 PEN 7.92
48.86%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.82 MX$91.1
$5.92 PEN 21.38
-18.58%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Arequipa
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.65 MX$31.24
$1.6 PEN 5.78
3.12%
White Bread (500g)
$2.74 MX$51.7
$1.23 PEN 4.45
122.76%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.92 MX$36.28
$1.22 PEN 4.4
57.38%
Eggs
$2.51 MX$47.53
$2.09 PEN 7.54
20.10%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.89 MX$187
$5.39 PEN 19.49
83.49%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.39 MX$159
$5.42 PEN 19.58
54.80%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.95 MX$226
$7.73 PEN 27.92
54.59%
Apples (1kg)
$2.87 MX$54.3
$1.52 PEN 5.48
88.82%
Banana (1kg)
$1.74 MX$32.85
$1.21 PEN 4.39
43.80%
Oranges (1kg)
$2 MX$37.81
$1.22 PEN 4.41
63.93%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.07 MX$39.14
$0.8 PEN 2.89
158.75%
Potato (1kg)
$2.05 MX$38.78
$0.58 PEN 2.11
253.45%
Onion (1kg)
$2.18 MX$41.22
$0.55 PEN 1.97
296.36%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.38 MX$26.16
$0.47 PEN 1.71
193.62%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.11 MX$21.06
$0.71 PEN 2.58
56.34%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.16 MX$78.6
$5.02 PEN 18.15
-17.13%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.05 MX$209
$5.1 PEN 18.43
116.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.75 MX$33.16
$2.5 PEN 9.02
-30.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 MX$70
$2.24 PEN 8.11
65.18%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Arequipa
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.38 MX$7.25
$0.27 PEN 0.97
40.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.97 MX$359
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.36 MX$25.72
$2.14 PEN 7.73
-36.45%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.28 MX$5.25
$2.06 PEN 7.45
-86.41%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.3 MX$100
$12.93 PEN 46.71
-59.01%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.36 MX$25.63
$1.55 PEN 5.61
-12.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.8K MX$354.6K
$19.2K PEN 69.5K
-2.43%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4K MX$441.7K
$24.9K PEN 89.8K
-6.02%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Arequipa
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$39.97 MX$756
$39.77 PEN 144
0.50%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.48 MX$519
$10.54 PEN 38.09
160.72%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.22 MX$571
$31.12 PEN 112
-2.89%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Arequipa
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.6 MX$994
$21.83 PEN 78.9
140.95%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.84 MX$507
$8.56 PEN 30.91
213.55%
Cinema Ticket
$6.32 MX$120
$4.57 PEN 16.51
38.29%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Arequipa
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$437 MX$8,258
$60.1 PEN 217
626.32%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.6K MX$199.9K
$6,375 PEN 23K
65.83%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Arequipa
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.2 MX$1,082
$36.87 PEN 133
55.19%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.14 MX$853
$22.42 PEN 81
101.34%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 MX$1,928
$62.2 PEN 225
64.03%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109 MX$2,056
$55.2 PEN 199
97.03%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Arequipa
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,000 MX$18.9K
$239 PEN 865
317.42%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$622 MX$11.8K
$156 PEN 562
300.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,160 MX$40.8K
$532 PEN 1,921
306.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,235 MX$23.3K
$396 PEN 1,429
212.12%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,566 MX$67.4K
$2,431 PEN 8,781
46.71%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,480 MX$46.9K
$1,336 PEN 4,826
85.66%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Arequipa
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$867 MX$16.4K
$637 PEN 2,301
36.20%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.34
15
-24.40%

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

Last update for Mexico City: October 28, 2025

Last update for Arequipa: October 28, 2025

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