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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,660 per month in Mexico City vs $1,650 in Caguas, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,565 per month in Mexico City vs $2,619 in Caguas, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,470 per month in Mexico City vs $3,588 in Caguas, rent included.

Mexico City costs about 1% more than Caguas, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Mexico City and Caguas sit above the global median – Mexico City by 21%, Caguas by 21%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.92 MX$206

$15.15 $15.15

-21.32%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$51.6 MX$890

$84.2 $84.2

-38.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.41 MX$197

$8.65 $8.65

31.91%

Cappuccino

$3.99 MX$68.9

$2.36 $2.36

69.07%

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

$1.66 MX$28.61

$1.16 $1.16

43.10%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.33 MX$22.87

$1.17 $1.17

13.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.47 MX$59.9

$1.46 $1.46

137.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.90 MX$102

$3.97 $3.97

48.61%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.88 MX$32.36

$2.23 $2.23

-15.70%

White Bread (500g)

$3.25 MX$56.1

$2.79 $2.79

16.49%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.16 MX$37.26

$2.32 $2.32

-6.90%

Eggs

$2.90 MX$49.94

$4.97 $4.97

-41.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.86 MX$222

$6.97 $6.97

84.51%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.05 MX$173

$9.44 $9.44

6.46%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.86 MX$273

$12.01 $12.01

32.06%

Apples (1kg)

$3.29 MX$56.8

$5.01 $5.01

-34.33%

Banana (1kg)

$2.01 MX$34.60

$2.64 $2.64

-23.86%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.20 MX$37.93

$2.52 $2.52

-12.70%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.36 MX$40.63

$4.31 $4.31

-45.24%

Potato (1kg)

$2.05 MX$35.43

$2.44 $2.44

-15.98%

Onion (1kg)

$1.90 MX$32.79

$2.77 $2.77

-31.41%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.61 MX$27.68

$2.27 $2.27

-29.07%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.40 MX$24.09

$1.66 $1.66

-15.66%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.46 MX$94.2

$10.44 $10.44

-47.70%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.65 MX$304

$14.11 $14.11

25.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.06 MX$35.44

$1.50 $1.50

37.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.68 MX$80.8

$2.23 $2.23

109.87%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.34 MX$5.84

$2.05 $2.05

-83.41%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.81 MX$359

$70.2 $70.2

-70.35%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.10 MX$36.15

$2.56 $2.56

-17.97%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.56 MX$9.64

$1.46 $1.46

-61.64%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.81 MX$100

$41.96 $41.96

-86.15%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.61 MX$27.68

$0.93 $0.93

73.12%

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

$22.8K MX$393.8K

$29.7K $29.7K

-23.13%

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

$26.8K MX$461.2K

$25.7K $25.7K

3.93%

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

$65.2 MX$1,124

$186 $186

-64.86%

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

$30.09 MX$519

$58.6 $58.6

-48.65%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$37.18 MX$641

$56.6 $56.6

-34.25%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$59.8 MX$1,030

$34.92 $34.92

71.13%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.55 MX$458

$49.62 $49.62

-46.49%

Cinema Ticket

$7.04 MX$121

$10.18 $10.18

-30.84%

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

$465 MX$8,012

$297 $297

56.60%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.3K MX$228.9K

$12.7K $12.7K

4.67%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$75.9 MX$1,308

$25.89 $25.89

193.09%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$56.0 MX$965

$35.79 $35.79

56.33%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$112 MX$1,929

$80.0 $80.0

39.87%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$121 MX$2,078

$116 $116

4.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,103 MX$19.0K

$762 $762

44.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$721 MX$12.4K

$534 $534

34.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,530 MX$43.6K

$1,103 $1,103

129.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,293 MX$22.3K

$965 $965

34.01%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,991 MX$68.8K

$2,404 $2,404

66.00%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,090 MX$36.0K

$865 $865

141.47%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,037 MX$17.9K

$3,041 $3,041

-65.88%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.3

4.85

132.99%

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

Last update for Mexico City: September 14, 2026

Last update for Caguas: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,103 in Mexico City versus $762 in Caguas. 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 193% higher in Caguas, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $52.0 in Mexico City versus $84.0 in Caguas. Groceries tell a different story – $345 in Mexico City vs $338 in Caguas – so Caguas wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Caguas: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mexico City costs about 1% more than Caguas, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,489 per month in Mexico City and $2,475 in Caguas. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

A mid-range dinner for two costs $52.0 in Mexico City and $84.0 in Caguas. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,660 in Mexico City and $1,650 in Caguas. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Caguas, where all-in costs run around $1,650, than in Mexico City at $1,660. In Caguas 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. Caguas costs $1,650 versus $1,660 in Mexico City. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

If budget matters most, go with Caguas. 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.