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

๐Ÿ™‚ Solo nomad: Mexico City is 13.3% cheaper than Cartago without rent, and 5% cheaper with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Mexico City is 2.6% more expensive than Cartago without rent, and 19.1% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Mexico City
Cartago
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.38 MX$253
$8 โ‚ก4,006
67.25%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$52.7 MX$997
$31.92 โ‚ก16K
65.19%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.31 MX$176
$9.07 โ‚ก4,540
2.65%
Cappuccino
$3.61 MX$68.3
$3.85 โ‚ก1,929
-6.23%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.64 MX$30.91
$2.04 โ‚ก1,020
-19.61%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.12 MX$21.14
$1.22 โ‚ก613
-8.20%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.26 MX$61.7
$2.04 โ‚ก1,021
59.80%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.82 MX$91.1
$4.68 โ‚ก2,345
2.99%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Cartago
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.65 MX$31.24
$1.98 โ‚ก989
-16.67%
White Bread (500g)
$2.74 MX$51.7
$2.2 โ‚ก1,103
24.55%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.92 MX$36.28
$2.2 โ‚ก1,103
-12.73%
Eggs
$2.51 MX$47.53
$2.87 โ‚ก1,439
-12.54%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.89 MX$187
$8.06 โ‚ก4,037
22.70%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.39 MX$159
$8.9 โ‚ก4,456
-5.73%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.95 MX$226
$13.87 โ‚ก6,946
-13.84%
Apples (1kg)
$2.87 MX$54.3
$4.4 โ‚ก2,205
-34.77%
Banana (1kg)
$1.74 MX$32.85
$1.17 โ‚ก585
48.72%
Oranges (1kg)
$2 MX$37.81
$3.93 โ‚ก1,970
-49.11%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.07 MX$39.14
$2.7 โ‚ก1,352
-23.33%
Potato (1kg)
$2.05 MX$38.78
$1.98 โ‚ก989
3.54%
Onion (1kg)
$2.18 MX$41.22
$1.93 โ‚ก968
12.95%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.38 MX$26.16
$0.97 โ‚ก486
42.27%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.11 MX$21.06
$2.03 โ‚ก1,017
-45.32%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.16 MX$78.6
$5.37 โ‚ก2,688
-22.53%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.05 MX$209
$13.79 โ‚ก6,901
-19.87%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.75 MX$33.16
$2.4 โ‚ก1,203
-27.08%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 MX$70
$1.75 โ‚ก878
111.43%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Mexico City
Cartago
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.38 MX$7.25
$1.06 โ‚ก531
-64.15%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.97 MX$359
$69 โ‚ก34.5K
-72.50%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.36 MX$25.72
$1.35 โ‚ก677
0.74%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.28 MX$5.25
$1.77 โ‚ก886
-84.18%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.3 MX$100
$7.7 โ‚ก3,855
-31.17%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.36 MX$25.63
$1.39 โ‚ก695
-2.16%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.8K MX$354.6K
$37.2K โ‚ก18.6M
-49.59%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4K MX$441.7K
$33.1K โ‚ก16.6M
-29.49%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Cartago
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$39.97 MX$756
$48.99 โ‚ก24.5K
-18.41%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.48 MX$519
$25.87 โ‚ก12.9K
6.22%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.22 MX$571
$56.3 โ‚ก28.2K
-46.30%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Cartago
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.6 MX$994
$57.7 โ‚ก28.9K
-8.87%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.84 MX$507
$24.16 โ‚ก12.1K
11.09%
Cinema Ticket
$6.32 MX$120
$6.38 โ‚ก3,192
-0.94%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Cartago
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$437 MX$8,258
$490 โ‚ก245.4K
-10.89%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.6K MX$199.9K
$7,079 โ‚ก3.5M
49.34%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Cartago
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.2 MX$1,082
$61.7 โ‚ก30.9K
-7.32%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.14 MX$853
$52.2 โ‚ก26.1K
-13.51%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 MX$1,928
$108 โ‚ก54K
-5.49%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109 MX$2,056
$79.5 โ‚ก39.8K
36.76%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Cartago
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,000 MX$18.9K
$776 โ‚ก388.3K
28.85%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$622 MX$11.8K
$606 โ‚ก303.4K
2.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,160 MX$40.8K
$734 โ‚ก367.6K
194.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,235 MX$23.3K
$753 โ‚ก377.1K
63.96%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,566 MX$67.4K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,480 MX$46.9K
-
-
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Cartago
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$867 MX$16.4K
$1,613 โ‚ก807.4K
-46.22%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.34
10
13.40%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Mexico City: October 28, 2025

Last update for Cartago: October 27, 2025

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