🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,484 in Mexico City versus $2,867 in Castlebar.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,342 in Mexico City versus $3,805 in Castlebar.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,199 in Mexico City versus $4,743 in Castlebar.
🙂Living in Mexico City costs roughly 48% less than in Castlebar, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Mexico City10% above, Castlebar113% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Castlebar
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.29MX$231
$16.43€13.98
-19.11%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.8MX$933
$100€85.1
-46.26%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.29MX$161
$10.84€9.23
-14.30%
Cappuccino
$3.61MX$62.6
$4.04€3.44
-10.64%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.56MX$27.03
$2.37€2.02
-34.18%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.12MX$19.46
$2.00€1.70
-44.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.13MX$54.3
$6.67€5.68
-53.07%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.71MX$81.7
$5.34€4.54
-11.80%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Castlebar
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.70MX$29.54
$1.68€1.43
1.19%
White Bread(500g)
$2.77MX$48.03
$1.47€1.25
88.44%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.96MX$34.05
$2.00€1.70
-2.00%
Eggs
$2.60MX$45.21
$4.23€3.60
-38.53%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.94MX$173
$2.94€2.50
238.10%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.10MX$141
$4.73€4.02
71.25%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.50MX$200
$7.03€5.99
63.58%
Apples(1kg)
$2.87MX$49.84
$3.31€2.82
-13.29%
Banana(1kg)
$1.73MX$30.07
$1.95€1.66
-11.28%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.00MX$34.73
$2.89€2.46
-30.80%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.04MX$35.38
$2.95€2.51
-30.85%
Potato(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.14
$2.24€1.91
-7.14%
Onion(1kg)
$2.20MX$38.12
$0.70€0.60
214.29%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.45MX$25.24
$1.31€1.12
10.69%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07MX$18.63
$2.11€1.79
-49.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27MX$74.2
$17.39€14.80
-75.45%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.32MX$249
$12.81€10.90
11.79%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76MX$30.62
$3.52€3.00
-50.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.70MX$64.2
$3.84€3.27
-3.65%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Castlebar
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.35MX$6.12
$3.27€2.78
-89.30%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.19MX$333
$148€126
-87.07%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.34MX$23.18
$4.28€3.64
-68.69%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28MX$4.83
$2.69€2.29
-89.59%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.33MX$92.6
$38.84€33.05
-86.28%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.34MX$23.27
$2.01€1.71
-33.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.1KMX$332.0K
$43.1K€36.6K
-55.59%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.9KMX$414.5K
$39.8K€33.8K
-39.96%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Castlebar
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$39.86MX$692
$283€240
-85.89%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.78MX$465
$23.94€20.37
11.86%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.36MX$510
$56.8€48.36
-48.33%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Castlebar
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$53.4MX$927
$78.5€66.8
-31.94%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.09MX$453
$34.87€29.68
-25.18%
Cinema Ticket
$6.40MX$111
$11.62€9.89
-44.92%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Castlebar
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$440MX$7,647
$1,341€1,141
-67.14%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.8KMX$186.6K
$9,696€8,251
10.88%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Castlebar
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.6MX$1,000
$107€91.4
-46.33%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.02MX$781
$34.70€29.53
29.74%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104MX$1,801
$106€90.3
-2.29%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108MX$1,874
$128€109
-15.52%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Castlebar
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,013MX$17.6K
$1,681€1,431
-39.74%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$630MX$10.9K
$1,480€1,259
-57.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,162MX$37.5K
$2,007€1,708
7.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,222MX$21.2K
$1,770€1,506
-30.95%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,793MX$65.8K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,332MX$40.5K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Castlebar
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,075MX$18.7K
$3,948€3,360
-72.77%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
4.04
180.69%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: April 11, 2026
Last update for Castlebar: April 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,013 in Mexico City and $1,681 in Castlebar. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Castlebar pays 267% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $54 in Mexico City vs $100 in Castlebar. Groceries flip the comparison at $285 vs $254, with Castlebar cheaper for home cooking.
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 Castlebar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and Castlebar?
Mexico City and Castlebar differ by about 93% in total monthly costs ($1,484 vs $2,867 including rent). Mexico City is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Castlebar earns 267% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Mexico City and Castlebar?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,013 in Mexico City versus $1,681 in Castlebar. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city is more expensive overall: Mexico City or Castlebar?
All in, you'll spend $1,484 per month in Mexico City versus $2,867 in Castlebar – a 93% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How do commuting costs compare in Mexico City and Castlebar?
A monthly transit pass in Mexico City runs roughly 673% less than in Castlebar. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,484 in Mexico City versus $2,867 in Castlebar, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Mexico City but tight or insufficient in Castlebar. The gap between the two cities makes Mexico City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mexico City and Castlebar?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Mexico City or Castlebar safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Mexico City and Castlebar are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Mexico City or Castlebar?
Expats usually find Mexico City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 93% less than in Castlebar. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Mexico City vs other spots: cost of living compared