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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,677 in Mexico City versus $2,832 in Barrigada.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,608 in Mexico City versus $3,588 in Barrigada.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,540 in Mexico City versus $4,344 in Barrigada.

Living in Mexico City costs roughly 41% less than in Barrigada, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Mexico City 22% above, Barrigada 105% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.14 MX$206

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.9 MX$914

$101 $101

-46.66%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.09 MX$188

Cappuccino

$4.10 MX$69.5

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

$1.68 MX$28.53

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.39 MX$23.55

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.33 MX$56.5

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.88 MX$99.7

Milk (1 liter)

$1.85 MX$31.41

White Bread (500g)

$3.17 MX$53.8

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.07 MX$35.13

Eggs

$2.93 MX$49.67

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.59 MX$214

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.11 MX$172

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.09 MX$273

Apples (1kg)

$3.39 MX$57.5

Banana (1kg)

$2.08 MX$35.26

Oranges (1kg)

$2.12 MX$35.97

Tomato (1kg)

$2.41 MX$40.95

Potato (1kg)

$2.13 MX$36.11

Onion (1kg)

$2.01 MX$34.02

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.55 MX$26.21

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.36 MX$23.15

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.77 MX$97.8

$7.17 $7.17

-19.53%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.74 MX$301

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.07 MX$35.11

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.61 MX$78.3

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.37 MX$6.21

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.18 MX$359

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.05 MX$34.84

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 MX$9.79

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.07 MX$103

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.55 MX$26.34

$1.49 $1.49

4.03%

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

$22.9K MX$388.1K

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

$27.2K MX$462.0K

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

$67.4 MX$1,144

$412 $412

-83.66%

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

$30.62 MX$520

$102 $102

-69.95%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$37.24 MX$632

$81.5 $81.5

-54.32%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.5 MX$1,043

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.12 MX$460

Cinema Ticket

$7.11 MX$121

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

$456 MX$7,739

$724 $724

-36.99%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.7K MX$232.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$74.2 MX$1,259

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$57.0 MX$967

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 MX$1,958

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 MX$2,061

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,148 MX$19.5K

$2,439 $2,439

-52.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$709 MX$12.0K

$2,289 $2,289

-69.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,577 MX$43.7K

$3,378 $3,378

-23.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,295 MX$22.0K

$3,234 $3,234

-59.96%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,005 MX$67.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,130 MX$36.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,082 MX$18.4K

$4,866 $4,866

-77.76%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.3

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

Last update for Mexico City: September 6, 2026

Last update for Barrigada: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,148 in Mexico City and $2,439 in Barrigada. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Barrigada pays 350% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out at a mid-range restaurant: $54.0 in Mexico City vs $101 in Barrigada for two.

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 Barrigada: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mexico City is cheaper overall, especially in Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 69% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 350% lower in Barrigada. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,148 in Mexico City versus $2,439 in Barrigada. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Mexico City – a meal for two runs $54.0 versus $101 in Barrigada. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Childcare runs $456 in Mexico City versus $724 in Barrigada. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $1,677 in Mexico City versus $2,832 in Barrigada, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Mexico City but tight or insufficient in Barrigada. The gap between the two cities makes Mexico City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Mexico City is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Barrigada, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Mexico City and Barrigada are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Mexico City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 69% less than in Barrigada. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.