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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,484 per month in Mexico City vs $98.9 in Castel, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,381 per month in Mexico City vs $172 in Castel, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,278 per month in Mexico City vs $245 in Castel, rent included.

Mexico City costs about 1399% more than Castel, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Mexico City sits 11% above the global median, while Castel is 93% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.98 MX$227

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.1 MX$929

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.72 MX$170

Cappuccino

$3.75 MX$65.6

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

$1.57 MX$27.46

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.13 MX$19.76

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.18 MX$55.7

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.66 MX$81.6

Milk (1 liter)

$1.62 MX$28.37

$2.03 GGP 1.50

-20.20%

White Bread (500g)

$2.71 MX$47.36

$2.27 GGP 1.68

19.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.88 MX$32.89

Eggs

$2.51 MX$43.90

$4.15 GGP 3.08

-39.52%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.08 MX$176

$13.46 GGP 9.97

-25.11%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.29 MX$145

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.94 MX$209

Apples (1kg)

$2.86 MX$50.1

Banana (1kg)

$1.75 MX$30.62

Oranges (1kg)

$2.08 MX$36.48

Tomato (1kg)

$1.97 MX$34.46

Potato (1kg)

$2.16 MX$37.79

Onion (1kg)

$2.18 MX$38.16

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.39 MX$24.34

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.12 MX$19.69

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.20 MX$73.5

Wine (Bottle)

$14.25 MX$249

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 MX$30.85

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.68 MX$64.5

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.39 MX$6.74

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.66 MX$327

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.39 MX$24.26

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.30 MX$5.32

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.42 MX$94.9

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.35 MX$23.63

$2.25 GGP 1.67

-40.00%

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

$18.9K MX$330.5K

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

$23.2K MX$405.2K

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

$40.82 MX$714

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

$27.50 MX$481

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.38 MX$532

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$53.4 MX$935

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.30 MX$460

Cinema Ticket

$6.27 MX$110

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

$436 MX$7,632

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.5K MX$183.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.8 MX$993

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.79 MX$784

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 MX$1,799

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 MX$1,888

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,000 MX$17.5K

$1,686 GGP 1,249

-40.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$620 MX$10.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,137 MX$37.4K

$2,610 GGP 1,934

-18.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,235 MX$21.6K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,865 MX$67.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,332 MX$40.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,067 MX$18.7K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.34

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

Last update for Mexico City: April 27, 2026

Last update for Castel: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,000 in Mexico City versus $1,686 in Castel. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

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 Castel: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Mexico City is pricier by about 1399%, 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 $2,225 per month in Mexico City and $148 in Castel. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Castel, 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 $1,484 in Mexico City and $98.9 in Castel. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 186% 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.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Castel, where all-in costs run around $98.9, than in Mexico City at $1,484. In Castel it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mexico City it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Castel – 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 Castel. 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.