😐A single person spends $1,456 per month in Mexico City vs $698 in Calbayog, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,361 per month in Mexico City vs $1,058 in Calbayog, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,266 per month in Mexico City vs $1,419 in Calbayog, rent included.
😐Mexico City costs about 109% more than Calbayog, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Mexico City sits 9% above the global median, while Calbayog is 48% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Calbayog
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.07MX$229
$3.48₱214
275.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.8MX$943
$17.95₱1,105
199.44%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.68MX$170
$3.35₱206
188.96%
Cappuccino
$3.74MX$65.6
$2.38₱147
57.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$28.34
$0.82₱50.2
97.56%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.16MX$20.37
$0.39₱24.21
197.44%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.23MX$56.6
$1.31₱80.8
146.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.74MX$83.1
$2.07₱127
128.99%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Calbayog
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.65MX$28.89
$1.36₱83.5
21.32%
White Bread(500g)
$2.75MX$48.30
$1.20₱74.1
129.17%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.87MX$32.87
$0.99₱60.8
88.89%
Eggs
$2.50MX$43.86
$2.07₱127
20.77%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.20MX$179
$8.07₱497
26.39%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.25MX$145
$3.91₱240
111.00%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.82MX$207
$7.60₱468
55.53%
Apples(1kg)
$3.01MX$52.8
$1.65₱102
82.42%
Banana(1kg)
$1.81MX$31.77
$0.99₱61.1
82.83%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.00MX$35.07
$2.71₱167
-26.20%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.00MX$35.00
$1.62₱100.0
23.46%
Potato(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.56
$2.28₱140
-8.77%
Onion(1kg)
$2.27MX$39.85
$2.53₱156
-10.28%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.46MX$25.55
$1.06₱65.3
37.74%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08MX$18.88
$0.71₱43.41
52.11%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.35MX$76.3
$4.39₱270
-0.91%
Wine(Bottle)
$16.99MX$298
$7.10₱437
139.30%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73MX$30.40
$0.71₱43.54
143.66%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.58MX$62.7
$0.96₱58.9
272.92%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Calbayog
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.39MX$6.79
$0.28₱17.31
39.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.69MX$328
$20.97₱1,291
-10.87%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.33MX$23.25
$0.78₱47.72
70.51%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28MX$4.91
$0.22₱13.51
27.27%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.25MX$92.1
$2.10₱129
150.00%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.34MX$23.44
$1.52₱93.6
-11.84%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.4KMX$340.5K
$26.6K₱1.6M
-27.05%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.8KMX$418.0K
$20.7K₱1.3M
15.24%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Calbayog
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.69MX$714
$112₱6,877
-63.57%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.87MX$471
$33.05₱2,035
-18.70%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.51MX$535
$26.97₱1,660
13.13%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Calbayog
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.8MX$926
$34.06₱2,097
54.96%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.65MX$467
$4.54₱280
487.00%
Cinema Ticket
$6.51MX$114
$6.04₱372
7.78%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Calbayog
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$428MX$7,508
$150₱9,237
185.30%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.5KMX$184.2K
$4,272₱263.0K
145.79%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Calbayog
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.3MX$1,004
$45.06₱2,774
27.05%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.50MX$798
$26.11₱1,607
74.26%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104MX$1,825
$74.2₱4,567
40.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108MX$1,891
$53.0₱3,260
103.63%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Calbayog
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,003MX$17.6K
$179₱11.0K
459.46%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$623MX$10.9K
$105₱6,492
490.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,109MX$37.0K
$338₱20.8K
523.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,218MX$21.4K
$183₱11.3K
564.43%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,885MX$68.1K
$2,235₱137.6K
73.79%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,033MX$35.7K
$1,039₱64.0K
95.65%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Calbayog
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,038MX$18.2K
$153₱9,404
579.40%
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: July 13, 2026
Last update for Calbayog: July 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,003 in Mexico City versus $179 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 579% 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: $292 vs $182 – 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 109%, 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 $2,185 per month in Mexico City and $1,046 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 in Calbayog?
Groceries cost about 61% 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 in 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 living in Mexico City or in Calbayog?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Calbayog, where all-in costs run around $698, than in Mexico City at $1,456. 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.
Mexico City vs other spots: cost of living compared