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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,472 in Mexico City versus $787 in Barreiras.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,359 in Mexico City versus $1,228 in Barreiras.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,245 in Mexico City versus $1,669 in Barreiras.

Living in Mexico City is roughly 87% more expensive than in Barreiras, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 11% above, Barreiras is 41% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Barreiras
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.14 MX$227
$5.31 R$26.93
147.46%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.5 MX$926
$27.15 R$138
97.16%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.33 MX$161
$6.26 R$31.76
49.04%
Cappuccino
$3.70 MX$64.0
$1.73 R$8.77
113.87%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.60 MX$27.76
$1.08 R$5.48
48.15%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.12 MX$19.34
$0.65 R$3.31
72.31%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.14 MX$54.3
$1.79 R$9.08
75.42%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.85 MX$83.9
$2.78 R$14.09
74.46%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Barreiras
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.65 MX$28.61
$1.02 R$5.16
61.76%
White Bread (500g)
$2.71 MX$46.96
$1.50 R$7.63
80.67%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.91 MX$33.03
$1.14 R$5.80
67.54%
Eggs
$2.59 MX$44.81
$2.00 R$10.16
29.50%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.81 MX$170
$8.03 R$40.76
22.17%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.43 MX$146
$3.55 R$18.04
137.46%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.93 MX$206
$7.33 R$37.22
62.76%
Apples (1kg)
$2.95 MX$51.1
$2.12 R$10.74
39.15%
Banana (1kg)
$1.74 MX$30.10
$1.30 R$6.58
33.85%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.04 MX$35.38
$1.14 R$5.76
78.95%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.06 MX$35.64
$1.44 R$7.32
43.06%
Potato (1kg)
$2.15 MX$37.20
$1.20 R$6.07
79.17%
Onion (1kg)
$2.26 MX$39.02
$1.09 R$5.55
107.34%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.39 MX$23.97
$0.73 R$3.72
90.41%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.12 MX$19.31
$0.62 R$3.12
80.65%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.22 MX$73.0
$2.12 R$10.74
99.06%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.51 MX$303
$6.70 R$34.01
161.34%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71 MX$29.58
$1.27 R$6.44
34.65%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.63 MX$62.8
$1.98 R$10.04
83.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Barreiras
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.35 MX$6.10
$0.88 R$4.47
-60.23%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$19.32 MX$334
$38.43 R$195
-49.73%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.38 MX$23.80
$1.05 R$5.33
31.43%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.28 MX$4.77
$0.76 R$3.86
-63.16%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.28 MX$91.3
$6.37 R$32.31
-17.11%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.36 MX$23.50
$1.08 R$5.45
25.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.1K MX$330.5K
$20.5K R$104.1K
-6.90%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.6K MX$408.4K
$28.0K R$141.8K
-15.54%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Barreiras
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$40.53 MX$701
$60.0 R$304
-32.39%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.38 MX$474
$13.53 R$68.6
102.37%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.38 MX$526
$18.91 R$96.0
60.66%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Barreiras
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.2 MX$903
$22.64 R$115
130.65%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.48 MX$458
$21.78 R$111
21.58%
Cinema Ticket
$6.19 MX$107
$6.44 R$32.66
-3.88%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Barreiras
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$425 MX$7,355
$272 R$1,383
56.00%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.7K MX$185.7K
$6,472 R$32.8K
65.88%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Barreiras
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.3 MX$1,009
$49.00 R$249
19.00%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.57 MX$771
$42.91 R$218
3.87%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 MX$1,791
$75.0 R$380
38.04%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109 MX$1,881
$64.8 R$329
67.81%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Barreiras
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,014 MX$17.5K
$314 R$1,591
223.37%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$623 MX$10.8K
$219 R$1,113
183.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,119 MX$36.7K
$593 R$3,007
257.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,223 MX$21.2K
$422 R$2,142
189.81%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,792 MX$65.6K
$1,529 R$7,757
148.06%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,110 MX$36.5K
$1,088 R$5,520
93.96%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Barreiras
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,052 MX$18.2K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.34
10.92
3.85%

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

Last update for Mexico City: July 25, 2026

Last update for Barreiras: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,014 in Mexico City and $314 in Barreiras. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $54.0 in Mexico City vs $27.00 in Barreiras for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $293 vs $172 per month, with Barreiras 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 Barreiras: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Barreiras cheaper than Mexico City?
Barreiras is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 87% 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 $1,181 in Barreiras 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.
What is the rent difference between Mexico City and Barreiras?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,014 in Mexico City versus $314 in Barreiras. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $425 in Mexico City versus $272 in Barreiras. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Mexico City and in Barreiras?
Supermarket bills run roughly 71% higher in Mexico City. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Mexico City or in Barreiras?
At $787 in Barreiras versus $1,472 in Mexico City, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Barreiras but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Barreiras the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Mexico City or Barreiras more family-friendly?
For families, Barreiras 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Barreiras gentler on the wallet – expenses run 87% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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