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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,467 per month in Mexico City vs $107 in Barra, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,371 per month in Mexico City vs $184 in Barra, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,274 per month in Mexico City vs $261 in Barra, rent included.

Mexico City costs about 1273% more than Barra, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Mexico City sits 10% above the global median, while Barra is 92% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.18 MX$228

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.9 MX$934

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.42 MX$163

Cappuccino

$3.55 MX$61.5

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

$1.62 MX$28.03

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.11 MX$19.31

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.12 MX$54.1

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.63 MX$80.2

Milk (1 liter)

$1.70 MX$29.48

White Bread (500g)

$2.72 MX$47.10

$0.94 GMD 69.6

189.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.91 MX$33.13

Eggs

$2.54 MX$43.94

$2.53 GMD 187

0.40%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.03 MX$174

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.09 MX$140

$7.33 GMD 542

10.37%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.62 MX$201

Apples (1kg)

$2.97 MX$51.4

Banana (1kg)

$1.81 MX$31.30

$2.10 GMD 155

-13.81%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.01 MX$34.88

$2.76 GMD 204

-27.17%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.03 MX$35.26

$2.08 GMD 154

-2.40%

Potato (1kg)

$2.12 MX$36.82

$1.10 GMD 81.3

92.73%

Onion (1kg)

$2.27 MX$39.32

$0.84 GMD 61.9

170.24%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.40 MX$24.26

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.13 MX$19.59

$0.51 GMD 37.83

121.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.27 MX$74.0

Wine (Bottle)

$15.56 MX$270

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 MX$30.44

$1.15 GMD 85.3

53.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.60 MX$62.3

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.38 MX$6.64

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.18 MX$332

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.38 MX$23.84

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.28 MX$4.79

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.45 MX$94.4

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.30 MX$22.60

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

$18.7K MX$323.8K

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

$23.1K MX$400.8K

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

$40.86 MX$708

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

$26.81 MX$465

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.96 MX$519

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.0 MX$901

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.84 MX$465

Cinema Ticket

$6.30 MX$109

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

$436 MX$7,558

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.4K MX$180.5K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.7 MX$982

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.38 MX$769

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 MX$1,784

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 MX$1,829

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,022 MX$17.7K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$631 MX$10.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,136 MX$37.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,243 MX$21.5K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,903 MX$67.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,064 MX$35.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,115 MX$19.3K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.34

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

Last update for Mexico City: May 31, 2026

Last update for Barra: June 1, 2026

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 Barra: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Mexico City is pricier by about 1273%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,201 per month in Mexico City and $160 in Barra. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,467 in Mexico City and $107 in Barra. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 169% 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 $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Barra, where all-in costs run around $107, than in Mexico City at $1,467. In Barra it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mexico City it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Barra – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Barra. 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.