😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,677 in Mexico City versus $678 in Azua.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,608 in Mexico City versus $1,104 in Azua.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,540 in Mexico City versus $1,530 in Azua.
🌍Living in Mexico City is roughly 147% more expensive than in Azua, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 22% above, Azua is 51% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Azua
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.14MX$206
$8.28DOP 488
46.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.9MX$914
$41.64DOP 2,455
29.44%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.09MX$188
$7.36DOP 434
50.68%
Cappuccino
$4.10MX$69.5
$1.38DOP 81.6
197.10%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68MX$28.53
$0.73DOP 43.31
130.14%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.39MX$23.55
$0.38DOP 22.53
265.79%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.33MX$56.5
$2.56DOP 151
30.08%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.88MX$99.7
$4.03DOP 238
45.91%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Azua
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.85MX$31.41
$1.20DOP 71.0
54.17%
White Bread(500g)
$3.17MX$53.8
$1.76DOP 104
80.11%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.07MX$35.13
$1.05DOP 61.6
97.14%
Eggs
$2.93MX$49.67
$1.47DOP 86.5
99.32%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.59MX$214
$6.30DOP 372
99.84%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.11MX$172
$3.68DOP 217
174.73%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.09MX$273
$4.73DOP 279
240.17%
Apples(1kg)
$3.39MX$57.5
$3.82DOP 225
-11.26%
Banana(1kg)
$2.08MX$35.26
$1.41DOP 83.3
47.52%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.12MX$35.97
$3.33DOP 196
-36.34%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.41MX$40.95
$2.20DOP 129
9.55%
Potato(1kg)
$2.13MX$36.11
$3.63DOP 214
-41.32%
Onion(1kg)
$2.01MX$34.02
$3.02DOP 178
-33.44%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.55MX$26.21
$0.94DOP 55.5
64.89%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.36MX$23.15
$1.64DOP 96.5
-17.07%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.77MX$97.8
$5.02DOP 296
14.94%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.74MX$301
$17.04DOP 1,004
4.11%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.07MX$35.11
$3.10DOP 183
-33.23%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61MX$78.3
$3.58DOP 211
28.77%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Azua
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.37MX$6.21
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$21.18MX$359
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.05MX$34.84
$2.58DOP 152
-20.54%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.58MX$9.79
$3.33DOP 197
-82.58%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.07MX$103
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.55MX$26.34
$1.44DOP 84.8
7.64%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.9KMX$388.1K
$15.5KDOP 914.2K
47.53%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.2KMX$462.0K
$25.5KDOP 1.5M
6.81%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Azua
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$67.4MX$1,144
$95.7DOP 5,641
-29.54%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.62MX$520
$27.71DOP 1,634
10.50%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.24MX$632
$39.88DOP 2,351
-6.62%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Azua
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.5MX$1,043
$20.00DOP 1,179
207.30%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$27.12MX$460
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.11MX$121
$5.21DOP 307
36.47%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Azua
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$456MX$7,739
$153DOP 9,018
198.25%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.7KMX$232.3K
$5,651DOP 333.2K
142.33%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Azua
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$74.2MX$1,259
$26.82DOP 1,581
176.62%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$57.0MX$967
$46.97DOP 2,769
21.38%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115MX$1,958
$62.5DOP 3,684
84.72%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122MX$2,061
$67.9DOP 4,004
78.93%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Azua
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,148MX$19.5K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$709MX$12.0K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,577MX$43.7K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,295MX$22.0K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,005MX$67.9K
$3,663DOP 216.0K
9.34%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,130MX$36.1K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Azua
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,082MX$18.4K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.3
11
2.73%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: September 6, 2026
Last update for Azua: September 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $54.0 in Mexico City vs $42.00 in Azua for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $345 vs $240 per month, with Azua cheaper across the board.
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 Azua: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Azua cheaper than Mexico City?
Azua is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 147% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $2,515 in Mexico City and $1,017 in Azua to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do food prices compare in Mexico City and in Azua?
Supermarket bills run roughly 44% higher in Mexico City. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Mexico City and in Azua?
All in, you'll spend $1,677 per month in Mexico City versus $678 in Azua – a 147% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Mexico City or in Azua?
At $678 in Azua versus $1,677 in Mexico City, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Azua but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Azua the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Mexico City or Azua more family-friendly?
For families, Azua is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Mexico City, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Mexico City or Azua?
Safety-wise, Mexico City and Azua are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Azua gentler on the wallet – expenses run 147% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Mexico City vs other spots: cost of living compared