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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,447 per month in Mexico City vs $975 in Calarasi, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,310 per month in Mexico City vs $1,488 in Calarasi, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,174 per month in Mexico City vs $2,001 in Calarasi, rent included.

Mexico City costs about 48% more than Calarasi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Mexico City sits 8% above the global median, while Calarasi is 27% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.98 MX$223

$10.08 RON 45.61

28.77%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$52.6 MX$903

$28.11 RON 127

87.16%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.43 MX$162

$7.79 RON 35.22

21.05%

Cappuccino

$3.57 MX$61.3

$2.58 RON 11.67

38.37%

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

$1.61 MX$27.55

$1.54 RON 6.99

4.55%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.15 MX$19.81

$1.87 RON 8.48

-38.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.15 MX$54.0

$2.28 RON 10.32

38.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.86 MX$83.4

$3.50 RON 15.84

38.86%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.70 MX$29.17

$1.36 RON 6.14

25.00%

White Bread (500g)

$2.64 MX$45.23

$1.06 RON 4.79

149.06%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.90 MX$32.67

$1.75 RON 7.91

8.57%

Eggs

$2.54 MX$43.62

$3.33 RON 15.04

-23.72%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.08 MX$173

$8.96 RON 40.52

12.50%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.29 MX$142

$7.14 RON 32.28

16.11%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.57 MX$199

$8.90 RON 40.27

30.00%

Apples (1kg)

$3.03 MX$52.0

$1.18 RON 5.34

156.78%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 MX$29.35

$1.43 RON 6.47

19.58%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.05 MX$35.16

$1.35 RON 6.09

51.85%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.06 MX$35.36

$1.96 RON 8.89

5.10%

Potato (1kg)

$2.06 MX$35.43

$0.77 RON 3.46

167.53%

Onion (1kg)

$2.17 MX$37.25

$0.94 RON 4.24

130.85%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.40 MX$24.08

$0.71 RON 3.19

97.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.12 MX$19.26

$0.84 RON 3.82

33.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.29 MX$73.7

$5.65 RON 25.55

-24.07%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.41 MX$265

$4.38 RON 19.83

251.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.67 MX$28.74

$0.97 RON 4.38

72.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.69 MX$63.3

$1.37 RON 6.20

169.34%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.38 MX$6.55

$0.44 RON 2.01

-13.64%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.06 MX$327

$13.70 RON 62.0

39.12%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.38 MX$23.70

$0.72 RON 3.26

91.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.28 MX$4.74

$0.61 RON 2.78

-54.10%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.42 MX$92.9

$5.65 RON 25.57

-4.07%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 MX$21.98

$1.59 RON 7.20

-19.50%

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

$19.0K MX$325.8K

$24.9K RON 112.5K

-23.66%

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

$23.5K MX$402.7K

$27.2K RON 123.1K

-13.76%

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

$41.02 MX$704

$146 RON 659

-71.85%

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

$26.92 MX$462

$8.53 RON 38.58

215.59%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.69 MX$510

$7.52 RON 34.00

294.81%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.3 MX$898

$70.3 RON 318

-25.56%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.23 MX$450

$19.24 RON 87.0

36.33%

Cinema Ticket

$6.18 MX$106

$5.97 RON 26.98

3.52%

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

$427 MX$7,331

$429 RON 1,938

-0.34%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.7K MX$183.6K

$6,987 RON 31.6K

53.11%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.8 MX$975

$81.3 RON 368

-30.15%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.83 MX$769

$42.78 RON 194

4.79%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$105 MX$1,794

$76.0 RON 344

37.52%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 MX$1,819

$99.6 RON 450

6.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$995 MX$17.1K

$392 RON 1,774

153.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$621 MX$10.7K

$226 RON 1,021

175.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,126 MX$36.5K

$599 RON 2,709

254.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,254 MX$21.5K

$373 RON 1,688

235.95%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,903 MX$67.0K

$1,241 RON 5,612

214.56%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,096 MX$36.0K

$960 RON 4,341

118.38%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,107 MX$19.0K

$749 RON 3,387

47.86%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.34

6.62

71.30%

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

Last update for Mexico City: June 7, 2026

Last update for Calarasi: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $995 in Mexico City versus $392 in Calarasi. 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 48% 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 $28.00 in Calarasi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $288 vs $197 – making Calarasi 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 Calarasi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,447 in Mexico City, $975 in Calarasi – roughly 48% apart. Mexico City costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,171 per month in Mexico City and $1,463 in Calarasi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $427 per month in Mexico City and $429 in Calarasi. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 46% 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 $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Calarasi, where all-in costs run around $975, than in Mexico City at $1,447. In Calarasi 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 $975 in Calarasi to $1,447 in Mexico City. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 Calarasi. 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.