Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Buenaventura Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Buenaventura

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,447 per month in Mexico City vs $803 in Buenaventura, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,310 per month in Mexico City vs $1,225 in Buenaventura, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,174 per month in Mexico City vs $1,648 in Buenaventura, rent included.

Mexico City costs about 80% more than Buenaventura, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Mexico City sits 8% above the global median, while Buenaventura is 40% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.98 MX$223

$3.98 COP 13.9K

226.13%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$52.6 MX$903

$23.67 COP 82.6K

122.26%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.43 MX$162

$7.47 COP 26.1K

26.24%

Cappuccino

$3.57 MX$61.3

$1.50 COP 5,235

138.00%

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

$1.61 MX$27.55

$0.86 COP 3,001

87.21%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.15 MX$19.81

$0.62 COP 2,154

85.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.15 MX$54.0

$1.21 COP 4,220

160.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.86 MX$83.4

$2.24 COP 7,808

116.96%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.70 MX$29.17

$1.07 COP 3,732

58.88%

White Bread (500g)

$2.64 MX$45.23

$1.25 COP 4,355

111.20%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.90 MX$32.67

$1.14 COP 3,995

66.67%

Eggs

$2.54 MX$43.62

$2.16 COP 7,529

17.59%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.08 MX$173

$4.33 COP 15.1K

132.79%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.29 MX$142

$5.27 COP 18.4K

57.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.57 MX$199

$7.55 COP 26.3K

53.25%

Apples (1kg)

$3.03 MX$52.0

$2.51 COP 8,743

20.72%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 MX$29.35

$1.11 COP 3,863

54.05%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.05 MX$35.16

$1.30 COP 4,526

57.69%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.06 MX$35.36

$0.87 COP 3,025

136.78%

Potato (1kg)

$2.06 MX$35.43

$1.13 COP 3,943

82.30%

Onion (1kg)

$2.17 MX$37.25

$1.12 COP 3,914

93.75%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.40 MX$24.08

$0.88 COP 3,063

59.09%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.12 MX$19.26

$0.70 COP 2,444

60.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.29 MX$73.7

$2.30 COP 8,020

86.52%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.41 MX$265

$10.24 COP 35.7K

50.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.67 MX$28.74

$1.14 COP 3,968

46.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.69 MX$63.3

$1.71 COP 5,971

115.79%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.38 MX$6.55

$0.73 COP 2,553

-47.95%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.06 MX$327

$30.19 COP 105.4K

-36.87%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.38 MX$23.70

$1.42 COP 4,972

-2.82%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.28 MX$4.74

$1.72 COP 5,990

-83.72%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.42 MX$92.9

$5.97 COP 20.8K

-9.21%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 MX$21.98

$1.00 COP 3,507

28.00%

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

$19.0K MX$325.8K

$17.7K COP 61.7M

7.42%

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

$23.5K MX$402.7K

$25.6K COP 89.4M

-8.38%

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

$41.02 MX$704

$83.1 COP 289.9K

-50.61%

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

$26.92 MX$462

$8.91 COP 31.1K

202.13%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.69 MX$510

$22.83 COP 79.7K

30.05%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.3 MX$898

$23.22 COP 81.0K

125.37%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.23 MX$450

Cinema Ticket

$6.18 MX$106

$4.01 COP 14.0K

54.11%

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

$427 MX$7,331

$235 COP 818.5K

82.12%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.7K MX$183.6K

$5,923 COP 20.7M

80.60%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.8 MX$975

$58.6 COP 204.4K

-2.99%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.83 MX$769

$32.76 COP 114.3K

36.84%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$105 MX$1,794

$84.2 COP 293.7K

24.20%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 MX$1,819

$73.4 COP 256.2K

44.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$995 MX$17.1K

$282 COP 982.8K

253.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$621 MX$10.7K

$238 COP 832.1K

160.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,126 MX$36.5K

$520 COP 1.8M

308.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,254 MX$21.5K

$425 COP 1.5M

195.15%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,903 MX$67.0K

$1,606 COP 5.6M

143.01%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,096 MX$36.0K

$1,236 COP 4.3M

69.51%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,107 MX$19.0K

$553 COP 1.9M

100.06%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.34

13.18

-13.96%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Mexico City: June 7, 2026

Last update for Buenaventura: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $995 in Mexico City versus $282 in Buenaventura. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 100% 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 $53.0 in Mexico City versus $24.00 in Buenaventura. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $288 vs $174 – making Buenaventura 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 Buenaventura: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,447 in Mexico City, $803 in Buenaventura – roughly 80% apart. Mexico City costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,171 per month in Mexico City and $1,204 in Buenaventura. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Buenaventura, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 65% 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 mid-range dinner for two costs $53.0 in Mexico City and $24.00 in Buenaventura. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Buenaventura, where all-in costs run around $803, than in Mexico City at $1,447. In Buenaventura it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mexico City it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Mexico City has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $803 in Buenaventura to $1,447 in Mexico City. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Buenaventura. 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.