😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,472 in Mexico City versus $908 in Azua.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,359 in Mexico City versus $1,262 in Azua.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,245 in Mexico City versus $1,616 in Azua.
🌍Living in Mexico City is roughly 62% more expensive than in Azua, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 11% above, Azua is 32% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Azua
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.14MX$229
$8.44DOP 490
55.69%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.5MX$934
$49.97DOP 2,899
7.12%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.33MX$163
$7.24DOP 420
28.87%
Cappuccino
$3.70MX$64.5
$1.33DOP 77.1
178.20%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.60MX$27.98
$1.03DOP 60.0
55.34%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.12MX$19.49
$0.84DOP 48.75
33.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.14MX$54.7
$2.51DOP 146
25.10%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.85MX$84.5
$4.94DOP 286
-1.82%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Azua
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.65MX$28.84
$1.21DOP 69.9
36.36%
White Bread(500g)
$2.71MX$47.34
$1.71DOP 99.5
58.48%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.91MX$33.29
$1.08DOP 62.9
76.85%
Eggs
$2.59MX$45.17
$1.64DOP 95.1
57.93%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.81MX$171
$7.23DOP 419
35.68%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.43MX$147
$6.49DOP 376
29.89%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.93MX$208
$10.80DOP 627
10.46%
Apples(1kg)
$2.95MX$51.5
$3.30DOP 192
-10.61%
Banana(1kg)
$1.74MX$30.35
$0.93DOP 54.0
87.10%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.04MX$35.66
$3.04DOP 176
-32.89%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.06MX$35.93
$1.94DOP 112
6.19%
Potato(1kg)
$2.15MX$37.49
$2.52DOP 146
-14.68%
Onion(1kg)
$2.26MX$39.33
$2.33DOP 135
-3.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.39MX$24.17
$1.13DOP 65.7
23.01%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.12MX$19.47
$0.94DOP 54.8
19.15%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.22MX$73.6
$5.93DOP 344
-28.84%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.51MX$305
$16.94DOP 982
3.36%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71MX$29.82
$2.70DOP 157
-36.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.63MX$63.4
$3.09DOP 179
17.48%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Azua
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.35MX$6.15
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.32MX$337
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.38MX$24.00
$3.32DOP 193
-58.43%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28MX$4.81
$2.14DOP 124
-86.92%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.28MX$92.0
$5.88DOP 341
-10.20%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.36MX$23.69
$1.27DOP 73.9
7.09%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.1KMX$333.2K
$26.4KDOP 1.5M
-27.56%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.6KMX$411.7K
$29.7KDOP 1.7M
-20.44%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Azua
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.53MX$707
$75.7DOP 4,392
-46.47%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.38MX$478
$25.29DOP 1,467
8.26%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.38MX$530
$35.71DOP 2,072
-14.93%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Azua
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.2MX$911
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.48MX$462
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.19MX$108
$6.65DOP 386
-6.92%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Azua
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$425MX$7,414
$273DOP 15.8K
55.88%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.7KMX$187.2K
$7,993DOP 463.6K
34.32%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Azua
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.3MX$1,017
$60.2DOP 3,490
-3.08%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.57MX$777
$51.8DOP 3,002
-13.87%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103MX$1,805
$96.2DOP 5,582
7.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109MX$1,897
$115DOP 6,695
-5.79%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Azua
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,014MX$17.7K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$623MX$10.9K
$206DOP 11.9K
203.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,119MX$37.0K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,223MX$21.3K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,792MX$66.1K
$3,702DOP 214.8K
2.43%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,110MX$36.8K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Azua
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,052MX$18.4K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
12.9
-12.09%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: July 25, 2026
Last update for Azua: July 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $54.0 in Mexico City vs $50.0 in Azua for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $293 vs $252 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, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 62% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $2,208 in Mexico City and $1,363 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 16% 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 $1,472 per month in Mexico City versus $908 in Azua – a 62% 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 $908 in Azua versus $1,472 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 62% 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