Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Bella Vista Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Bella Vista

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,467 per month in Mexico City vs $187 in Bella Vista, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,371 per month in Mexico City vs $309 in Bella Vista, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,274 per month in Mexico City vs $431 in Bella Vista, rent included.

Mexico City costs about 684% more than Bella Vista, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Mexico City sits 10% above the global median, while Bella Vista is 86% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.18 MX$228

$1.95 ₲11.9K

575.90%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.9 MX$932

$13.36 ₲81.4K

303.44%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.42 MX$163

Cappuccino

$3.55 MX$61.4

$1.97 ₲12.0K

80.20%

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

$1.62 MX$27.98

$0.98 ₲5,950

65.31%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.11 MX$19.27

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.12 MX$54.0

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.63 MX$80.1

$1.46 ₲8,925

217.12%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.70 MX$29.43

$0.83 ₲5,073

104.82%

White Bread (500g)

$2.72 MX$47.02

$0.48 ₲2,900

466.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.91 MX$33.07

$1.01 ₲6,169

89.11%

Eggs

$2.54 MX$43.86

$2.07 ₲12.6K

22.71%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.03 MX$174

$6.04 ₲36.8K

66.06%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.09 MX$140

$2.96 ₲18.0K

173.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.62 MX$201

Apples (1kg)

$2.97 MX$51.3

Banana (1kg)

$1.81 MX$31.24

$0.68 ₲4,169

166.18%

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

$1.01 ₲6,165

11.88%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.27 MX$73.9

$0.98 ₲5,967

335.71%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.56 MX$269

$4.90 ₲29.9K

217.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 MX$30.39

$0.78 ₲4,740

125.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.60 MX$62.2

$1.82 ₲11.1K

97.80%

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

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

$17.93 ₲109.3K

127.89%

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

$26.81 MX$464

$11.94 ₲72.8K

124.54%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.96 MX$518

$19.90 ₲121.3K

50.55%

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

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

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$631 MX$10.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,136 MX$36.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,243 MX$21.5K

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

$373 ₲2.3M

198.74%

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 Bella Vista: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 199% higher in Mexico City, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $54.0 in Mexico City versus $13.00 in Bella Vista. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $288 vs $92.0 – making Bella Vista the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Bella Vista: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mexico City costs about 684% more than Bella Vista, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,201 per month in Mexico City and $281 in Bella Vista. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,467 in Mexico City and $187 in Bella Vista. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 214% more in Mexico City, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Bella Vista, where all-in costs run around $187, than in Mexico City at $1,467. In Bella Vista it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mexico City it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Bella Vista costs $187 versus $1,467 in Mexico City. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Bella Vista. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Mexico City makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.