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: $1,456 in Mexico City versus $3,014 in Barrigada.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,361 in Mexico City versus $3,817 in Barrigada.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,266 in Mexico City versus $4,620 in Barrigada.

Living in Mexico City costs roughly 52% less than in Barrigada, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Mexico City 9% above, Barrigada 126% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.07 MX$229

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.8 MX$940

$98.2 $98.2

-45.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.68 MX$169

Cappuccino

$3.74 MX$65.4

$3.66 $3.66

2.19%

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

$1.62 MX$28.25

$1.87 $1.87

-13.37%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.16 MX$20.31

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.23 MX$56.4

$2.77 $2.77

16.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.74 MX$82.9

$3.69 $3.69

28.46%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 MX$28.80

$3.38 $3.38

-51.18%

White Bread (500g)

$2.75 MX$48.15

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.87 MX$32.77

Eggs

$2.50 MX$43.72

$4.79 $4.79

-47.81%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.20 MX$178

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.25 MX$144

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.82 MX$207

Apples (1kg)

$3.01 MX$52.6

Banana (1kg)

$1.81 MX$31.67

Oranges (1kg)

$2.00 MX$34.96

Tomato (1kg)

$2.00 MX$34.89

Potato (1kg)

$2.08 MX$36.45

Onion (1kg)

$2.27 MX$39.72

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.46 MX$25.47

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 MX$18.82

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.35 MX$76.0

$7.15 $7.15

-39.16%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.99 MX$297

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.73 MX$30.31

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.58 MX$62.5

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.39 MX$6.77

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.69 MX$327

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.33 MX$23.18

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.28 MX$4.89

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.25 MX$91.8

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 MX$23.37

$1.48 $1.48

-9.46%

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

$19.4K MX$339.4K

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

$23.8K MX$416.7K

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

$40.69 MX$712

$415 $415

-90.20%

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

$26.87 MX$470

$101 $101

-73.26%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.51 MX$534

$79.4 $79.4

-61.59%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.8 MX$923

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.65 MX$466

Cinema Ticket

$6.51 MX$114

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

$428 MX$7,485

$718 $718

-40.41%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.5K MX$183.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.3 MX$1,001

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.50 MX$796

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$104 MX$1,819

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 MX$1,885

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,003 MX$17.5K

$2,490 $2,490

-59.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$623 MX$10.9K

$2,248 $2,248

-72.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,109 MX$36.9K

$3,365 $3,365

-37.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,218 MX$21.3K

$3,165 $3,165

-61.52%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,885 MX$67.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,033 MX$35.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,038 MX$18.1K

$4,819 $4,819

-78.46%

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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Barrigada: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,003 in Mexico City and $2,490 in Barrigada. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Barrigada pays 364% 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 $98.0 in Barrigada. Groceries flip the comparison at $292 vs $53.0, 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 107% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 364% 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: $1,003 in Mexico City versus $2,490 in Barrigada. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Barrigada pay roughly 452% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $1,456 per month in Mexico City versus $3,014 in Barrigada – a 107% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,456 in Mexico City versus $3,014 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 107% less than in Barrigada. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.