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 $1,660 per month in Mexico City vs $915 in Calarasi, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,565 per month in Mexico City vs $1,420 in Calarasi, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,470 per month in Mexico City vs $1,925 in Calarasi, rent included.

Mexico City costs about 81% more than Calarasi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Mexico City sits 21% above the global median, while Calarasi is 33% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.92 MX$204

$9.14 RON 41.60

30.42%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$51.6 MX$884

$34.76 RON 158

48.45%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.41 MX$196

$8.21 RON 37.38

38.98%

Cappuccino

$3.99 MX$68.5

$2.22 RON 10.12

79.73%

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

$1.66 MX$28.43

$1.95 RON 8.86

-14.87%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.33 MX$22.73

$1.71 RON 7.79

-22.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.47 MX$59.5

$1.69 RON 7.68

105.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.90 MX$101

$1.52 RON 6.90

288.16%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.88 MX$32.15

$1.52 RON 6.92

23.68%

White Bread (500g)

$3.25 MX$55.8

$0.97 RON 4.42

235.05%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.16 MX$37.03

$1.61 RON 7.34

34.16%

Eggs

$2.90 MX$49.63

$2.85 RON 12.96

1.75%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.86 MX$220

$7.91 RON 36.01

62.58%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.05 MX$172

$4.31 RON 19.64

133.18%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.86 MX$272

$8.69 RON 39.54

82.51%

Apples (1kg)

$3.29 MX$56.5

$1.17 RON 5.31

181.20%

Banana (1kg)

$2.01 MX$34.38

$1.47 RON 6.68

36.73%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.20 MX$37.69

$1.31 RON 5.95

67.94%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.36 MX$40.37

$1.51 RON 6.87

56.29%

Potato (1kg)

$2.05 MX$35.20

$0.46 RON 2.09

345.65%

Onion (1kg)

$1.90 MX$32.58

$0.64 RON 2.90

196.87%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.61 MX$27.50

$0.42 RON 1.91

283.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.40 MX$23.93

$0.78 RON 3.56

79.49%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.46 MX$93.6

$6.44 RON 29.34

-15.22%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.65 MX$302

$4.51 RON 20.52

291.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.06 MX$35.21

$0.99 RON 4.49

108.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.68 MX$80.3

$1.45 RON 6.62

222.76%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.34 MX$5.80

$0.45 RON 2.07

-24.44%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.81 MX$357

$13.15 RON 59.9

58.25%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.10 MX$35.93

$0.64 RON 2.90

228.13%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.56 MX$9.58

$0.69 RON 3.15

-18.84%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.81 MX$99.6

$6.67 RON 30.36

-12.89%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.61 MX$27.51

$1.68 RON 7.64

-4.17%

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

$22.8K MX$391.4K

$29.6K RON 134.9K

-22.90%

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

$26.8K MX$458.3K

$25.7K RON 117.2K

3.93%

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

$65.2 MX$1,117

$161 RON 731

-59.39%

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

$30.09 MX$516

$6.75 RON 30.73

345.78%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$37.18 MX$637

$6.95 RON 31.63

434.96%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$59.8 MX$1,024

$50.1 RON 228

19.40%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.55 MX$455

$54.6 RON 248

-51.33%

Cinema Ticket

$7.04 MX$121

$8.60 RON 39.15

-18.14%

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

$465 MX$7,961

$413 RON 1,879

12.58%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.3K MX$227.4K

$6,198 RON 28.2K

114.16%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$75.9 MX$1,300

$76.7 RON 349

-1.06%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$56.0 MX$959

$21.77 RON 99.1

157.01%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$112 MX$1,917

$96.9 RON 441

15.47%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$121 MX$2,065

$99.0 RON 451

21.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,103 MX$18.9K

$334 RON 1,522

229.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$721 MX$12.3K

$202 RON 918

257.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,530 MX$43.3K

$435 RON 1,980

481.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,293 MX$22.2K

$336 RON 1,530

284.74%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,991 MX$68.4K

$1,232 RON 5,610

223.85%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,090 MX$35.8K

$982 RON 4,469

112.84%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,037 MX$17.8K

$772 RON 3,513

34.43%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.3

7.85

43.95%

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

Last update for Mexico City: September 14, 2026

Last update for Calarasi: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,103 in Mexico City versus $334 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 34% 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 $52.0 in Mexico City versus $35.00 in Calarasi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $345 vs $172 – 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: $1,660 in Mexico City, $915 in Calarasi – roughly 81% apart. Mexico City costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,489 per month in Mexico City and $1,372 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 $465 per month in Mexico City and $413 in Calarasi. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 101% 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 $915, than in Mexico City at $1,660. 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 $915 in Calarasi to $1,660 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.