😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,660 in Mexico City versus $1,217 in Belize City.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,565 in Mexico City versus $1,782 in Belize City.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,470 in Mexico City versus $2,346 in Belize City.
🌍Living in Mexico City is roughly 36% more expensive than in Belize City, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 21% above, Belize City is 11% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Belize City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.92MX$205
$6.47BZD 12.94
84.23%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$51.6MX$886
$50.1BZD 100
3.04%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.41MX$196
$9.55BZD 19.10
19.48%
Cappuccino
$3.99MX$68.6
$3.60BZD 7.19
10.83%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66MX$28.48
$1.74BZD 3.47
-4.60%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.33MX$22.77
$1.45BZD 2.90
-8.28%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.47MX$59.6
$2.60BZD 5.20
33.46%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.90MX$101
$3.07BZD 6.15
92.18%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Belize City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.88MX$32.21
$2.68BZD 5.37
-29.85%
White Bread(500g)
$3.25MX$55.9
$2.42BZD 4.84
34.30%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.16MX$37.10
$3.23BZD 6.46
-33.13%
Eggs
$2.90MX$49.72
$3.45BZD 6.90
-15.94%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.86MX$221
$6.62BZD 13.25
94.26%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.05MX$173
$7.94BZD 15.89
26.57%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.86MX$272
$7.72BZD 15.44
105.44%
Apples(1kg)
$3.29MX$56.6
$3.24BZD 6.49
1.54%
Banana(1kg)
$2.01MX$34.44
$1.52BZD 3.04
32.24%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.20MX$37.76
$2.52BZD 5.05
-12.70%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.36MX$40.44
$3.96BZD 7.93
-40.40%
Potato(1kg)
$2.05MX$35.27
$3.83BZD 7.66
-46.48%
Onion(1kg)
$1.90MX$32.64
$2.51BZD 5.02
-24.30%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.61MX$27.55
$2.29BZD 4.57
-29.69%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.40MX$23.98
$1.16BZD 2.32
20.69%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.46MX$93.8
$5.04BZD 10.08
8.33%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.65MX$303
$9.86BZD 19.72
79.01%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.06MX$35.28
$2.58BZD 5.17
-20.16%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.68MX$80.4
$3.35BZD 6.71
39.70%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Belize City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.34MX$5.81
$2.71BZD 5.43
-87.45%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$20.81MX$357
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.10MX$35.99
$4.42BZD 8.85
-52.49%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.56MX$9.60
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.81MX$99.8
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.61MX$27.56
$2.41BZD 4.81
-33.20%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.8KMX$392.1K
$10.7KBZD 21.4K
113.66%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8KMX$459.2K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Belize City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$65.2MX$1,119
$366BZD 733
-82.21%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.09MX$517
$49.01BZD 98.0
-38.60%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.18MX$638
$46.30BZD 92.6
-19.70%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Belize City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$59.8MX$1,026
$24.66BZD 49.33
142.34%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.55MX$456
$2.43BZD 4.86
992.59%
Cinema Ticket
$7.04MX$121
$4.89BZD 9.77
43.97%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Belize City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$465MX$7,976
$65.0BZD 130
614.86%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.3KMX$227.8K
$674BZD 1,348
1869.68%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Belize City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$75.9MX$1,303
$36.89BZD 73.8
105.69%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$56.0MX$960
$24.95BZD 49.91
124.25%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$112MX$1,920
$55.2BZD 110
102.66%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121MX$2,068
$37.01BZD 74.0
225.59%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Belize City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,103MX$18.9K
$348BZD 696
216.67%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$721MX$12.4K
$193BZD 386
273.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,530MX$43.4K
$560BZD 1,120
351.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,293MX$22.2K
$329BZD 658
293.31%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,991MX$68.5K
$202BZD 404
1874.34%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,090MX$35.9K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Belize City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,037MX$17.8K
$847BZD 1,695
22.42%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.3
11.5
-1.74%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: September 14, 2026
Last update for Belize City: September 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,103 in Mexico City and $348 in Belize City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 22% 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: $52.0 in Mexico City vs $50.0 in Belize City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $345 vs $295 per month, with Belize City 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 Belize City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Mexico City or Belize City?
Belize City wins on cost – living expenses run 36% lower than in Mexico City. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Belize City the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Mexico City or in Belize City?
Average pay runs 22% higher in Mexico City, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Mexico City compared to Belize City?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,103 in Mexico City versus $348 in Belize City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Mexico City or in Belize City?
Supermarket bills run roughly 17% higher in Mexico City. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How much does it cost to live in Mexico City compared to Belize City?
All in, you'll spend $1,660 per month in Mexico City versus $1,217 in Belize City – a 36% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Mexico City or in Belize City?
At $1,217 in Belize City versus $1,660 in Mexico City, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Belize City but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Belize City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Mexico City or Belize City?
Both work as nomad bases, but Belize City delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,217 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Belize City hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Belize City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 36% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Mexico City vs other spots: cost of living compared