😐A single person spends $1,467 per month in Mexico City vs $773 in Asuncion, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,371 per month in Mexico City vs $1,184 in Asuncion, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,274 per month in Mexico City vs $1,596 in Asuncion, rent included.
😐Mexico City costs about 90% more than Asuncion, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Mexico City sits 10% above the global median, while Asuncion is 42% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Asuncion
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.18MX$228
$4.28₲26.1K
207.94%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.9MX$934
$26.53₲161.7K
103.17%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.42MX$163
$4.71₲28.7K
100.00%
Cappuccino
$3.55MX$61.5
$1.88₲11.5K
88.83%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$28.03
$0.82₲5,012
97.56%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.11MX$19.31
$0.49₲3,004
126.53%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.12MX$54.1
$1.42₲8,664
119.72%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.63MX$80.2
$1.92₲11.7K
141.15%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Asuncion
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.70MX$29.48
$0.84₲5,135
102.38%
White Bread(500g)
$2.72MX$47.10
$1.00₲6,094
172.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.91MX$33.13
$0.99₲6,056
92.93%
Eggs
$2.54MX$43.94
$1.58₲9,607
60.76%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.03MX$174
$6.81₲41.5K
47.28%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.09MX$140
$3.13₲19.1K
158.47%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.62MX$201
$6.76₲41.2K
71.89%
Apples(1kg)
$2.97MX$51.4
$1.97₲12.0K
50.76%
Banana(1kg)
$1.81MX$31.30
$0.72₲4,392
151.39%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01MX$34.88
$0.93₲5,673
116.13%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03MX$35.26
$1.65₲10.0K
23.03%
Potato(1kg)
$2.12MX$36.82
$1.06₲6,463
100.00%
Onion(1kg)
$2.27MX$39.32
$1.13₲6,856
100.88%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.40MX$24.26
$0.55₲3,357
154.55%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.13MX$19.59
$0.56₲3,396
101.79%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27MX$74.0
$1.36₲8,263
213.97%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.56MX$270
$8.37₲51.0K
85.90%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76MX$30.44
$0.72₲4,402
144.44%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.60MX$62.3
$1.40₲8,515
157.14%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Asuncion
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38MX$6.64
$0.44₲2,691
-13.64%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.18MX$332
$25.15₲153.3K
-23.74%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.38MX$23.84
$0.60₲3,665
130.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28MX$4.79
$0.78₲4,751
-64.10%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.45MX$94.4
$8.61₲52.5K
-36.70%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.30MX$22.60
$0.87₲5,331
49.43%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.7KMX$323.8K
$14.7K₲89.6M
27.13%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.1KMX$400.8K
$24.0K₲146.4M
-3.72%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Asuncion
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.86MX$708
$43.01₲262.1K
-5.00%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.81MX$465
$13.65₲83.2K
96.41%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.96MX$519
$14.92₲90.9K
100.80%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Asuncion
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.0MX$901
$27.62₲168.3K
88.34%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.84MX$465
$11.59₲70.6K
131.58%
Cinema Ticket
$6.30MX$109
$4.94₲30.1K
27.53%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Asuncion
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$436MX$7,558
$163₲990.4K
168.37%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.4KMX$180.5K
$3,228₲19.7M
222.67%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Asuncion
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.7MX$982
$49.74₲303.2K
13.89%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.38MX$769
$31.28₲190.7K
41.88%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103MX$1,784
$71.7₲437.0K
43.54%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106MX$1,829
$52.3₲318.6K
101.84%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Asuncion
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,022MX$17.7K
$394₲2.4M
159.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$631MX$10.9K
$293₲1.8M
115.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,136MX$37.0K
$728₲4.4M
193.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,243MX$21.5K
$476₲2.9M
160.98%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,903MX$67.6K
$1,687₲10.3M
131.34%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,064MX$35.8K
$1,220₲7.4M
69.24%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Asuncion
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,115MX$19.3K
$647₲3.9M
72.36%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
10.17
11.50%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: May 31, 2026
Last update for Asuncion: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,022 in Mexico City versus $394 in Asuncion. 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 72% 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 $27.00 in Asuncion. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $288 vs $149 – making Asuncion 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 Asuncion: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Asuncion cheaper than Mexico City?
Yes – Mexico City is pricier by about 90%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,201 per month in Mexico City and $1,159 in Asuncion. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Asuncion, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 31% less in Asuncion. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $436 per month in Mexico City and $163 in Asuncion. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Mexico City or Asuncion?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Asuncion, where all-in costs run around $773, than in Mexico City at $1,467. In Asuncion it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mexico City it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Mexico City or Asuncion more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Asuncion – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Asuncion. 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