😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,447 in Mexico City versus $1,109 in Belize City.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,310 in Mexico City versus $1,654 in Belize City.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,174 in Mexico City versus $2,199 in Belize City.
😐Living in Mexico City is roughly 30% more expensive than Belize City, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 8% above, Belize City is 17% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Belize City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.98MX$223
$6.13BZD 12.27
111.75%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$52.6MX$903
$39.98BZD 80.0
31.59%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.43MX$162
$6.12BZD 12.25
54.08%
Cappuccino
$3.57MX$61.3
$3.59BZD 7.18
-0.56%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.61MX$27.55
$1.39BZD 2.78
15.83%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.15MX$19.81
$1.33BZD 2.66
-13.53%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.15MX$54.0
$2.23BZD 4.46
41.26%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.86MX$83.4
$3.53BZD 7.07
37.68%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Belize City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.70MX$29.17
$3.13BZD 6.27
-45.69%
White Bread(500g)
$2.64MX$45.23
$1.30BZD 2.60
103.08%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.90MX$32.67
$2.25BZD 4.49
-15.56%
Eggs
$2.54MX$43.62
$2.43BZD 4.87
4.53%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.08MX$173
$7.30BZD 14.61
38.08%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.29MX$142
$6.58BZD 13.17
25.99%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.57MX$199
$5.45BZD 10.90
112.29%
Apples(1kg)
$3.03MX$52.0
$3.91BZD 7.82
-22.51%
Banana(1kg)
$1.71MX$29.35
$1.42BZD 2.85
20.42%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.05MX$35.16
$2.18BZD 4.36
-5.96%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.06MX$35.36
$2.99BZD 5.97
-31.10%
Potato(1kg)
$2.06MX$35.43
$2.95BZD 5.91
-30.17%
Onion(1kg)
$2.17MX$37.25
$2.35BZD 4.71
-7.66%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.40MX$24.08
$2.19BZD 4.38
-36.07%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.12MX$19.26
$0.89BZD 1.77
25.84%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.29MX$73.7
$3.87BZD 7.74
10.85%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.41MX$265
$10.86BZD 21.72
41.90%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.67MX$28.74
$1.88BZD 3.76
-11.17%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.69MX$63.3
$3.43BZD 6.85
7.58%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Belize City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38MX$6.55
$1.95BZD 3.91
-80.51%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.06MX$327
$20.38BZD 40.76
-6.48%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.38MX$23.70
$4.09BZD 8.18
-66.26%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28MX$4.74
$3.92BZD 7.83
-92.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.42MX$92.9
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.28MX$21.98
$1.79BZD 3.57
-28.49%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.0KMX$325.8K
$10.4KBZD 20.7K
83.29%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.5KMX$402.7K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Belize City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$41.02MX$704
$208BZD 416
-80.28%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.92MX$462
$49.28BZD 98.6
-45.37%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.69MX$510
$54.3BZD 109
-45.33%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Belize City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.3MX$898
$28.63BZD 57.3
82.78%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.23MX$450
$2.42BZD 4.85
983.88%
Cinema Ticket
$6.18MX$106
$8.19BZD 16.38
-24.54%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Belize City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$427MX$7,331
$65.4BZD 131
553.06%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.7KMX$183.6K
$682BZD 1,365
1467.66%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Belize City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.8MX$975
$36.92BZD 73.8
53.90%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.83MX$769
$27.10BZD 54.2
65.42%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$105MX$1,794
$80.9BZD 162
29.18%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106MX$1,819
$89.7BZD 179
18.16%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Belize City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$995MX$17.1K
$284BZD 568
250.23%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$621MX$10.7K
$180BZD 359
245.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,126MX$36.5K
$610BZD 1,221
248.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,254MX$21.5K
$342BZD 685
266.30%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,903MX$67.0K
$196BZD 393
1887.17%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,096MX$36.0K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Belize City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,107MX$19.0K
$1,222BZD 2,444
-9.37%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
13.83
-18.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: June 7, 2026
Last update for Belize City: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $995 in Mexico City and $284 in Belize City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Belize City pays 10% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $53.0 in Mexico City vs $40.00 in Belize City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $288 vs $257 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 30% 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 Belize City?
On paper, Belize City earns 10% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Mexico City vs Belize City?
Rent for a central apartment: $995 in Mexico City versus $284 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 Belize City?
Supermarket bills run roughly 12% higher in Mexico City. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How do dining costs compare in Mexico City vs Belize City?
Dining out is cheaper in Belize City – a meal for two runs $40.00 versus $53.0 in Mexico City. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Mexico City or Belize City?
At $1,109 in Belize City versus $1,447 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 $1,109 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 30% 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