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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,467 per month in Mexico City vs $709 in Calbayog, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,371 per month in Mexico City vs $1,075 in Calbayog, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,274 per month in Mexico City vs $1,441 in Calbayog, rent included.

Mexico City costs about 107% more than Calbayog, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Mexico City sits 10% above the global median, while Calbayog is 47% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Calbayog
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.18 MX$228
$3.58 ₱221
268.16%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.9 MX$932
$17.71 ₱1,092
204.35%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.42 MX$163
$3.37 ₱208
179.53%
Cappuccino
$3.55 MX$61.4
$2.43 ₱150
46.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62 MX$27.98
$0.84 ₱51.5
92.86%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.11 MX$19.27
$0.39 ₱24.14
184.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.12 MX$54.0
$1.37 ₱84.3
127.74%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.63 MX$80.1
$2.09 ₱129
121.53%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Calbayog
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.70 MX$29.43
$1.37 ₱84.2
24.09%
White Bread (500g)
$2.72 MX$47.02
$1.22 ₱74.9
122.95%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.91 MX$33.07
$1.01 ₱62.1
89.11%
Eggs
$2.54 MX$43.86
$2.09 ₱129
21.53%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.03 MX$174
$7.98 ₱492
25.69%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.09 MX$140
$3.77 ₱232
114.59%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.62 MX$201
$7.68 ₱474
51.30%
Apples (1kg)
$2.97 MX$51.3
$1.71 ₱105
73.68%
Banana (1kg)
$1.81 MX$31.24
$0.98 ₱60.3
84.69%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.01 MX$34.82
$2.60 ₱161
-22.69%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.03 MX$35.20
$1.56 ₱96.3
30.13%
Potato (1kg)
$2.12 MX$36.75
$2.30 ₱142
-7.83%
Onion (1kg)
$2.27 MX$39.25
$2.64 ₱163
-14.02%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.40 MX$24.22
$1.12 ₱69.2
25.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.13 MX$19.55
$0.76 ₱47.11
48.68%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27 MX$73.9
$4.30 ₱265
-0.70%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.56 MX$269
$8.86 ₱546
75.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76 MX$30.39
$0.77 ₱47.22
128.57%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.60 MX$62.2
$1.01 ₱62.0
256.44%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Calbayog
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.38 MX$6.62
$0.26 ₱15.98
46.15%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$19.18 MX$332
$21.49 ₱1,325
-10.75%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.38 MX$23.79
$0.76 ₱47.10
81.58%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.28 MX$4.78
$0.24 ₱14.84
16.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.45 MX$94.2
$2.16 ₱133
152.31%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.30 MX$22.55
$1.53 ₱94.2
-15.03%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.7K MX$323.2K
$26.6K ₱1.6M
-29.83%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.1K MX$400.1K
$20.0K ₱1.2M
15.52%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Calbayog
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$40.86 MX$707
$111 ₱6,870
-63.32%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.81 MX$464
$32.28 ₱1,990
-16.95%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.96 MX$518
$27.69 ₱1,708
8.20%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Calbayog
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.0 MX$900
$33.53 ₱2,067
55.14%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.84 MX$464
$4.53 ₱279
492.49%
Cinema Ticket
$6.30 MX$109
$6.08 ₱375
3.62%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Calbayog
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$436 MX$7,544
$152 ₱9,383
186.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.4K MX$180.2K
$4,258 ₱262.5K
144.64%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Calbayog
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.7 MX$980
$45.34 ₱2,796
24.94%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.38 MX$768
$26.29 ₱1,621
68.81%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 MX$1,780
$74.5 ₱4,594
38.13%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106 MX$1,825
$52.8 ₱3,257
99.81%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Calbayog
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,022 MX$17.7K
$174 ₱10.7K
487.05%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$631 MX$10.9K
$108 ₱6,638
486.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,136 MX$36.9K
$332 ₱20.5K
542.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,243 MX$21.5K
$189 ₱11.6K
557.86%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,903 MX$67.5K
$2,101 ₱129.6K
85.71%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,064 MX$35.7K
$1,015 ₱62.6K
103.43%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Calbayog
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,115 MX$19.3K
$153 ₱9,410
630.70%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.34
6.67
70.01%

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

Last update for Mexico City: May 31, 2026

Last update for Calbayog: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,022 in Mexico City versus $174 in Calbayog. 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 631% 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 $18.00 in Calbayog. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $288 vs $186 – making Calbayog 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 Calbayog: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Calbayog cheaper than Mexico City?
Yes – Mexico City is pricier by about 107%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,201 per month in Mexico City and $1,064 in Calbayog. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Calbayog, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do food prices compare in Mexico City and Calbayog?
Groceries cost about 55% 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.
Is eating out cheaper in Mexico City or Calbayog?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $54.0 in Mexico City and $18.00 in Calbayog. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Mexico City or Calbayog?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Calbayog, where all-in costs run around $709, than in Mexico City at $1,467. In Calbayog it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mexico City it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Mexico City or Calbayog more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Calbayog – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Calbayog. 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.

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