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

😐 Solo nomad: Mexico City is 17.2% more expensive than Cartagena without rent, and 34% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Mexico City is 29% more expensive than Cartagena without rent, and 49.9% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Cartagena
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.38 MX$253
$5.96 COP 24.8K
124.50%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$52.7 MX$997
$46.85 COP 195.3K
12.55%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.31 MX$176
$9.9 COP 41.3K
-5.96%
Cappuccino
$3.61 MX$68.3
$1.65 COP 6,894
118.79%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.64 MX$30.91
$0.8 COP 3,333
105.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.12 MX$21.14
$0.71 COP 2,946
57.75%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.26 MX$61.7
$1.3 COP 5,428
150.77%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.82 MX$91.1
$2.88 COP 12K
67.36%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Cartagena
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.65 MX$31.24
$1.2 COP 4,999
37.50%
White Bread (500g)
$2.74 MX$51.7
$1.83 COP 7,626
49.73%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.92 MX$36.28
$1.32 COP 5,518
45.45%
Eggs
$2.51 MX$47.53
$2.11 COP 8,808
18.96%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.89 MX$187
$7.12 COP 29.7K
38.90%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.39 MX$159
$6.13 COP 25.6K
36.87%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.95 MX$226
$7.78 COP 32.4K
53.60%
Apples (1kg)
$2.87 MX$54.3
$3.26 COP 13.6K
-11.96%
Banana (1kg)
$1.74 MX$32.85
$1.93 COP 8,044
-9.84%
Oranges (1kg)
$2 MX$37.81
$1.47 COP 6,118
36.05%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.07 MX$39.14
$1.59 COP 6,620
30.19%
Potato (1kg)
$2.05 MX$38.78
$1.56 COP 6,485
31.41%
Onion (1kg)
$2.18 MX$41.22
$1.07 COP 4,470
103.74%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.38 MX$26.16
$1.05 COP 4,389
31.43%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.11 MX$21.06
$0.64 COP 2,665
73.44%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.16 MX$78.6
$2.27 COP 9,446
83.26%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.05 MX$209
$23.76 COP 99.1K
-53.49%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.75 MX$33.16
$0.97 COP 4,055
80.41%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 MX$70
$0.98 COP 4,090
277.55%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Cartagena
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.38 MX$7.25
$1.06 COP 4,412
-64.15%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.97 MX$359
$28.09 COP 117.1K
-32.47%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.36 MX$25.72
$2.49 COP 10.4K
-45.38%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.28 MX$5.25
$2.44 COP 10.2K
-88.52%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.3 MX$100
$4.97 COP 20.7K
6.64%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.36 MX$25.63
$0.97 COP 4,064
40.21%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.8K MX$354.6K
$21.5K COP 89.7M
-12.82%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4K MX$441.7K
$23.9K COP 99.6M
-2.22%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Cartagena
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$39.97 MX$756
$141 COP 586.1K
-71.57%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.48 MX$519
$10.92 COP 45.5K
151.65%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.22 MX$571
$24.73 COP 103.1K
22.20%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Cartagena
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.6 MX$994
$35.51 COP 148K
48.13%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.84 MX$507
$8.69 COP 36.2K
208.86%
Cinema Ticket
$6.32 MX$120
$2.94 COP 12.3K
114.97%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Cartagena
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$437 MX$8,258
$143 COP 594.7K
206.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.6K MX$199.9K
$5,872 COP 24.5M
80.03%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Cartagena
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.2 MX$1,082
$49.11 COP 204.8K
16.51%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.14 MX$853
$39.16 COP 163.3K
15.27%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 MX$1,928
$125 COP 521.4K
-18.46%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109 MX$2,056
$114 COP 474.6K
-4.48%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Cartagena
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,000 MX$18.9K
$724 COP 3M
37.96%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$622 MX$11.8K
$335 COP 1.4M
85.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,160 MX$40.8K
$1,312 COP 5.5M
64.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,235 MX$23.3K
$477 COP 2M
158.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,566 MX$67.4K
$2,840 COP 11.8M
25.55%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,480 MX$46.9K
$2,905 COP 12.1M
-14.62%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Cartagena
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$867 MX$16.4K
$577 COP 2.4M
50.44%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.34
15
-24.40%

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

Last update for Mexico City: October 28, 2025

Last update for Cartagena: October 28, 2025

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