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: $1,467 in Mexico City versus $2,967 in Barrigada.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,371 in Mexico City versus $3,782 in Barrigada.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,274 in Mexico City versus $4,597 in Barrigada.

Living in Mexico City costs roughly 51% less than in Barrigada, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Mexico City 10% above, Barrigada 121% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.18 MX$228

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.9 MX$932

$99.0 $99.0

-45.54%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.42 MX$163

Cappuccino

$3.55 MX$61.4

$3.67 $3.67

-3.27%

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

$1.62 MX$27.98

$1.86 $1.86

-12.90%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.11 MX$19.27

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.12 MX$54.0

$2.89 $2.89

7.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.63 MX$80.1

$3.64 $3.64

27.20%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.70 MX$29.43

$3.51 $3.51

-51.57%

White Bread (500g)

$2.72 MX$47.02

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.91 MX$33.07

Eggs

$2.54 MX$43.86

$4.75 $4.75

-46.53%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.03 MX$174

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.09 MX$140

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.62 MX$201

Apples (1kg)

$2.97 MX$51.3

Banana (1kg)

$1.81 MX$31.24

Oranges (1kg)

$2.01 MX$34.82

Tomato (1kg)

$2.03 MX$35.20

Potato (1kg)

$2.12 MX$36.75

Onion (1kg)

$2.27 MX$39.25

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.40 MX$24.22

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.13 MX$19.55

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.27 MX$73.9

$6.93 $6.93

-38.38%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.56 MX$269

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 MX$30.39

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.60 MX$62.2

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.38 MX$6.62

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.18 MX$332

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.38 MX$23.79

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.28 MX$4.78

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.45 MX$94.2

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.30 MX$22.55

$1.56 $1.56

-16.67%

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

$18.7K MX$323.2K

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

$23.1K MX$400.1K

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

$40.86 MX$707

$416 $416

-90.18%

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

$26.81 MX$464

$98.2 $98.2

-72.70%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.96 MX$518

$79.5 $79.5

-62.31%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.0 MX$900

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.84 MX$464

Cinema Ticket

$6.30 MX$109

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

$436 MX$7,544

$717 $717

-39.17%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.4K MX$180.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.7 MX$980

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.38 MX$768

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 MX$1,780

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 MX$1,825

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,022 MX$17.7K

$2,440 $2,440

-58.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$631 MX$10.9K

$2,208 $2,208

-71.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,136 MX$36.9K

$3,336 $3,336

-35.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,243 MX$21.5K

$3,218 $3,218

-61.38%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,903 MX$67.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,064 MX$35.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,115 MX$19.3K

$4,802 $4,802

-76.78%

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 Barrigada: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,022 in Mexico City and $2,440 in Barrigada. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Barrigada pays 331% 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: $54.0 in Mexico City vs $99.0 in Barrigada. Groceries flip the comparison at $288 vs $54.0, with Barrigada cheaper for home cooking.

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 102% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Barrigada earns 331% less. 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: $1,022 in Mexico City versus $2,440 in Barrigada. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Barrigada pay roughly 433% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $1,467 per month in Mexico City versus $2,967 in Barrigada – a 102% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,467 in Mexico City versus $2,967 in Barrigada, a $2,000 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 102% less than in Barrigada. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.