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 $1,660 per month in Mexico City vs $2,417 in Castel, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,565 per month in Mexico City vs $3,885 in Castel, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,470 per month in Mexico City vs $5,352 in Castel, rent included.

Mexico City is about 31% cheaper than Castel, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Mexico City and Castel sit above the global median – Mexico City by 21%, Castel by 77%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.92 MX$206

$40.92 GGP 30.36

-70.87%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$51.6 MX$890

$80.4 GGP 59.7

-35.82%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.41 MX$197

Cappuccino

$3.99 MX$68.9

$5.20 GGP 3.86

-23.27%

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

$1.66 MX$28.61

$3.34 GGP 2.48

-50.30%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.33 MX$22.87

$4.10 GGP 3.05

-67.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.47 MX$59.9

$4.46 GGP 3.31

-22.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.90 MX$102

$6.91 GGP 5.13

-14.62%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.88 MX$32.36

$2.07 GGP 1.54

-9.18%

White Bread (500g)

$3.25 MX$56.1

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.16 MX$37.26

Eggs

$2.90 MX$49.94

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.86 MX$222

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.05 MX$173

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.86 MX$273

Apples (1kg)

$3.29 MX$56.8

Banana (1kg)

$2.01 MX$34.60

Oranges (1kg)

$2.20 MX$37.93

Tomato (1kg)

$2.36 MX$40.63

Potato (1kg)

$2.05 MX$35.43

Onion (1kg)

$1.90 MX$32.79

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.61 MX$27.68

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.40 MX$24.09

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.46 MX$94.2

Wine (Bottle)

$17.65 MX$304

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.06 MX$35.44

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.68 MX$80.8

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.34 MX$5.84

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.81 MX$359

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.10 MX$36.15

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.56 MX$9.64

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.81 MX$100

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.61 MX$27.68

$2.21 GGP 1.64

-27.15%

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

$22.8K MX$393.8K

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

$26.8K MX$461.2K

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

$65.2 MX$1,124

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

$30.09 MX$519

$26.92 GGP 19.97

11.78%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$37.18 MX$641

$67.0 GGP 49.73

-44.52%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$59.8 MX$1,030

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.55 MX$458

Cinema Ticket

$7.04 MX$121

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

$465 MX$8,012

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.3K MX$228.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$75.9 MX$1,308

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$56.0 MX$965

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$112 MX$1,929

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$121 MX$2,078

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,103 MX$19.0K

$2,058 GGP 1,527

-46.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$721 MX$12.4K

$1,906 GGP 1,414

-62.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,530 MX$43.6K

$4,092 GGP 3,036

-38.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,293 MX$22.3K

$3,780 GGP 2,805

-65.78%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,991 MX$68.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,090 MX$36.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,037 MX$17.9K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.3

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

Last update for Mexico City: September 14, 2026

Last update for Castel: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,103 in Mexico City versus $2,058 in Castel. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $52.0 in Mexico City versus $80.0 in Castel. Groceries tell a different story – $345 in Mexico City vs $21.00 in Castel – so Castel wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 – Castel is pricier by about 46%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,489 per month in Mexico City and $3,626 in Castel. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Interestingly, groceries are about 1563% cheaper in Castel – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $52.0 in Mexico City and $80.0 in Castel. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Mexico City, where all-in costs run around $1,660, than in Castel at $2,417. In Mexico City it covers expenses comfortably, while in Castel it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Mexico City – 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 Mexico City. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Castel makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.