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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,456 per month in Mexico City vs $1,100 in Arica, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,361 per month in Mexico City vs $1,669 in Arica, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,266 per month in Mexico City vs $2,237 in Arica, rent included.

Mexico City costs about 32% more than Arica, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Mexico City sits 9% above the global median, while Arica is 18% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.07 MX$229

$8.43 CLP 7,851

55.04%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.8 MX$943

$44.30 CLP 41.3K

21.33%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.68 MX$170

$8.20 CLP 7,635

18.05%

Cappuccino

$3.74 MX$65.6

$2.71 CLP 2,521

38.01%

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

$1.62 MX$28.34

$1.30 CLP 1,210

24.62%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.16 MX$20.37

$1.06 CLP 989

9.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.23 MX$56.6

$3.29 CLP 3,065

-1.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.74 MX$83.1

$4.28 CLP 3,986

10.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 MX$28.89

$1.19 CLP 1,104

38.66%

White Bread (500g)

$2.75 MX$48.30

$1.50 CLP 1,401

83.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.87 MX$32.87

$1.85 CLP 1,723

1.08%

Eggs

$2.50 MX$43.86

$3.50 CLP 3,260

-28.57%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.20 MX$179

$10.31 CLP 9,599

-1.07%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.25 MX$145

$6.73 CLP 6,270

22.59%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.82 MX$207

$10.79 CLP 10.0K

9.55%

Apples (1kg)

$3.01 MX$52.8

$1.89 CLP 1,759

59.26%

Banana (1kg)

$1.81 MX$31.77

$1.57 CLP 1,465

15.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.00 MX$35.07

$1.60 CLP 1,492

25.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.00 MX$35.00

$1.50 CLP 1,394

33.33%

Potato (1kg)

$2.08 MX$36.56

$1.24 CLP 1,158

67.74%

Onion (1kg)

$2.27 MX$39.85

$1.36 CLP 1,269

66.91%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.46 MX$25.55

$1.22 CLP 1,136

19.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 MX$18.88

$1.23 CLP 1,146

-12.20%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.35 MX$76.3

$5.27 CLP 4,904

-17.46%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.99 MX$298

$6.39 CLP 5,946

165.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.73 MX$30.40

$1.54 CLP 1,431

12.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.58 MX$62.7

$2.32 CLP 2,161

54.31%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.39 MX$6.79

$0.58 CLP 537

-32.76%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.69 MX$328

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.33 MX$23.25

$0.51 CLP 471

160.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.28 MX$4.91

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.25 MX$92.1

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 MX$23.44

$1.38 CLP 1,286

-2.90%

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

$19.4K MX$340.5K

$19.7K CLP 18.4M

-1.61%

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

$23.8K MX$418.0K

$21.5K CLP 20.0M

11.04%

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

$40.69 MX$714

$134 CLP 125.1K

-69.71%

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

$26.87 MX$471

$13.49 CLP 12.6K

99.18%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.51 MX$535

$22.09 CLP 20.6K

38.12%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.8 MX$926

$38.36 CLP 35.7K

37.59%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.65 MX$467

$21.43 CLP 20.0K

24.36%

Cinema Ticket

$6.51 MX$114

$5.81 CLP 5,410

12.05%

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

$428 MX$7,508

$435 CLP 404.7K

-1.50%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.5K MX$184.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.3 MX$1,004

$50.6 CLP 47.1K

13.21%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.50 MX$798

$30.88 CLP 28.8K

47.34%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$104 MX$1,825

$56.2 CLP 52.3K

85.24%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 MX$1,891

$83.9 CLP 78.2K

28.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,003 MX$17.6K

$481 CLP 448.4K

108.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$623 MX$10.9K

$366 CLP 340.9K

70.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,109 MX$37.0K

$875 CLP 815.2K

140.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,218 MX$21.4K

$582 CLP 542.4K

109.12%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,885 MX$68.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,033 MX$35.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,038 MX$18.2K

$537 CLP 499.7K

93.38%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.34

5.18

118.92%

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

Last update for Mexico City: July 13, 2026

Last update for Arica: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,003 in Mexico City versus $481 in Arica. 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 93% 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 $44.00 in Arica. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $292 vs $229 – making Arica 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 Arica: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,456 in Mexico City, $1,100 in Arica – roughly 32% apart. Mexico City costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,185 per month in Mexico City and $1,651 in Arica. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Arica, 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 $44.00 in Arica. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 27% more in Mexico City, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Arica, where all-in costs run around $1,100, than in Mexico City at $1,456. In Arica it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mexico City it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Mexico City has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,100 in Arica to $1,456 in Mexico City. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Arica. 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.