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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,447 per month in Mexico City vs $833 in Cartago, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,310 per month in Mexico City vs $1,287 in Cartago, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,174 per month in Mexico City vs $1,740 in Cartago, rent included.

Mexico City costs about 74% more than Cartago, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Mexico City sits 8% above the global median, while Cartago is 38% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.98 MX$223

$3.67 COP 12.8K

253.68%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$52.6 MX$903

$28.98 COP 101.1K

81.54%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.43 MX$162

$7.14 COP 24.9K

32.07%

Cappuccino

$3.57 MX$61.3

$1.65 COP 5,749

116.36%

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

$1.61 MX$27.55

$0.87 COP 3,031

85.06%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.15 MX$19.81

$0.61 COP 2,113

88.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.15 MX$54.0

$1.06 COP 3,696

197.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.86 MX$83.4

$2.59 COP 9,026

87.64%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.70 MX$29.17

$1.23 COP 4,305

38.21%

White Bread (500g)

$2.64 MX$45.23

$1.53 COP 5,327

72.55%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.90 MX$32.67

$1.22 COP 4,247

55.74%

Eggs

$2.54 MX$43.62

$2.58 COP 9,011

-1.55%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.08 MX$173

$4.22 COP 14.7K

138.86%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.29 MX$142

$5.53 COP 19.3K

49.91%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.57 MX$199

$7.58 COP 26.5K

52.64%

Apples (1kg)

$3.03 MX$52.0

$2.40 COP 8,368

26.25%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 MX$29.35

$0.90 COP 3,130

90.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.05 MX$35.16

$1.20 COP 4,189

70.83%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.06 MX$35.36

$1.32 COP 4,604

56.06%

Potato (1kg)

$2.06 MX$35.43

$0.83 COP 2,896

148.19%

Onion (1kg)

$2.17 MX$37.25

$1.07 COP 3,726

102.80%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.40 MX$24.08

$0.76 COP 2,643

84.21%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.12 MX$19.26

$0.70 COP 2,455

60.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.29 MX$73.7

$2.81 COP 9,823

52.67%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.41 MX$265

$11.80 COP 41.2K

30.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.67 MX$28.74

$1.08 COP 3,768

54.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.69 MX$63.3

$1.95 COP 6,796

89.23%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.38 MX$6.55

$0.67 COP 2,322

-43.28%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.06 MX$327

$30.31 COP 105.8K

-37.12%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.38 MX$23.70

$1.55 COP 5,403

-10.97%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.28 MX$4.74

$1.99 COP 6,936

-85.93%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.42 MX$92.9

$9.47 COP 33.0K

-42.77%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 MX$21.98

$0.98 COP 3,406

30.61%

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

$19.0K MX$325.8K

$21.7K COP 75.7M

-12.53%

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

$23.5K MX$402.7K

$29.6K COP 103.5M

-20.87%

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

$41.02 MX$704

$83.4 COP 290.9K

-50.79%

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

$26.92 MX$462

$8.71 COP 30.4K

209.07%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.69 MX$510

$24.88 COP 86.8K

19.33%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.3 MX$898

$23.13 COP 80.7K

126.24%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.23 MX$450

Cinema Ticket

$6.18 MX$106

$4.78 COP 16.7K

29.29%

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

$427 MX$7,331

$228 COP 796.3K

87.18%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.7K MX$183.6K

$5,939 COP 20.7M

80.13%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.8 MX$975

$64.1 COP 223.8K

-11.37%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.83 MX$769

$43.98 COP 153.5K

1.93%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$105 MX$1,794

$77.7 COP 271.3K

34.48%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 MX$1,819

$90.0 COP 314.0K

17.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$995 MX$17.1K

$279 COP 973.3K

256.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$621 MX$10.7K

$234 COP 817.8K

165.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,126 MX$36.5K

$539 COP 1.9M

294.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,254 MX$21.5K

$434 COP 1.5M

188.90%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,903 MX$67.0K

$1,602 COP 5.6M

143.61%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,096 MX$36.0K

$1,302 COP 4.5M

61.01%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,107 MX$19.0K

$324 COP 1.1M

242.03%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.34

11.58

-2.07%

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

Last update for Mexico City: June 7, 2026

Last update for Cartago: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $995 in Mexico City versus $279 in Cartago. 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 242% 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 $53.0 in Mexico City versus $29.00 in Cartago. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $288 vs $184 – making Cartago 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 Cartago: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Mexico City is pricier by about 74%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,171 per month in Mexico City and $1,250 in Cartago. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Cartago, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,447 in Mexico City and $833 in Cartago. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 59% less in Cartago. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Cartago, where all-in costs run around $833, than in Mexico City at $1,447. In Cartago it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mexico City it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Cartago – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Cartago. 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.