Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Carlsbad, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Carlsbad, CA

πŸ™‚ Solo nomad: Mexico City is 33.9% cheaper than Carlsbad, CA without rent, and 60.5% cheaper with rent.
πŸ™‚ Family of 3: Mexico City is 31.9% cheaper than Carlsbad, CA without rent, and 51.3% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Carlsbad, CA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.38 MX$253
$19.84 $19.84
-32.56%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$52.7 MX$997
$82.3 $82.3
-35.95%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.31 MX$176
$11.92 $11.92
-21.90%
Cappuccino
$3.61 MX$68.3
$5.02 $5.02
-28.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.64 MX$30.91
$2.72 $2.72
-39.71%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.12 MX$21.14
$1.97 $1.97
-43.15%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.26 MX$61.7
$6.8 $6.8
-52.06%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.82 MX$91.1
$7.02 $7.02
-31.34%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Carlsbad, CA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.65 MX$31.24
$1.11 $1.11
48.65%
White Bread (500g)
$2.74 MX$51.7
$4.12 $4.12
-33.50%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.92 MX$36.28
$4.01 $4.01
-52.12%
Eggs
$2.51 MX$47.53
$5.65 $5.65
-55.58%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.89 MX$187
$10.8 $10.8
-8.43%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.39 MX$159
$8.32 $8.32
0.84%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.95 MX$226
$14.6 $14.6
-18.15%
Apples (1kg)
$2.87 MX$54.3
$3.37 $3.37
-14.84%
Banana (1kg)
$1.74 MX$32.85
$1.72 $1.72
1.16%
Oranges (1kg)
$2 MX$37.81
$2.82 $2.82
-29.08%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.07 MX$39.14
$5.68 $5.68
-63.56%
Potato (1kg)
$2.05 MX$38.78
$3.66 $3.66
-43.99%
Onion (1kg)
$2.18 MX$41.22
$3.21 $3.21
-32.09%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.38 MX$26.16
$1.4 $1.4
-1.43%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.11 MX$21.06
$2.09 $2.09
-46.89%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.16 MX$78.6
$10.95 $10.95
-62.01%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.05 MX$209
$15.07 $15.07
-26.68%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.75 MX$33.16
$1.47 $1.47
19.05%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 MX$70
$1.2 $1.2
208.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Carlsbad, CA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.38 MX$7.25
$2.53 $2.53
-84.98%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.97 MX$359
$178 $178
-89.34%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.36 MX$25.72
$9.94 $9.94
-86.32%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.28 MX$5.25
$1.71 $1.71
-83.63%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.3 MX$100
$34.91 $34.91
-84.82%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.36 MX$25.63
$1.24 $1.24
9.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.8K MX$354.6K
$24.3K $24.3K
-22.83%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4K MX$441.7K
$24.1K $24.1K
-3.04%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Carlsbad, CA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$39.97 MX$756
$241 $241
-83.43%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.48 MX$519
$46.27 $46.27
-40.61%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.22 MX$571
$60.2 $60.2
-49.78%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Carlsbad, CA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.6 MX$994
$84.4 $84.4
-37.68%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.84 MX$507
$32.38 $32.38
-17.11%
Cinema Ticket
$6.32 MX$120
$20.93 $20.93
-69.80%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Carlsbad, CA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$437 MX$8,258
$1,187 $1,187
-63.20%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.6K MX$199.9K
$23.1K $23.1K
-54.20%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Carlsbad, CA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.2 MX$1,082
$53.2 $53.2
7.56%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.14 MX$853
$24.3 $24.3
85.76%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 MX$1,928
$76.6 $76.6
33.20%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109 MX$2,056
$84.8 $84.8
28.20%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Carlsbad, CA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,000 MX$18.9K
$2,628 $2,628
-61.96%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$622 MX$11.8K
$2,220 $2,220
-71.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,160 MX$40.8K
$4,364 $4,364
-50.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,235 MX$23.3K
$3,508 $3,508
-64.80%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,566 MX$67.4K
$6,959 $6,959
-48.76%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,480 MX$46.9K
$6,253 $6,253
-60.34%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Carlsbad, CA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$867 MX$16.4K
$6,553 $6,553
-86.76%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.34
5.97
89.95%

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

Last update for Mexico City: October 28, 2025

Last update for Carlsbad, CA: October 28, 2025

Join the CityCost newsletter – low traffic, no spam, and easy to unsubscribe. Your email stays private.