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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,677 per month in Mexico City vs $931 in Castro, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,608 per month in Mexico City vs $1,474 in Castro, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,540 per month in Mexico City vs $2,016 in Castro, rent included.

Mexico City costs about 80% more than Castro, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Mexico City sits 22% above the global median, while Castro is 33% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.14 MX$206

$8.30 CLP 7,815

46.27%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.9 MX$914

$47.78 CLP 45.0K

12.81%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.09 MX$188

$6.02 CLP 5,662

84.22%

Cappuccino

$4.10 MX$69.5

$1.63 CLP 1,531

151.53%

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

$1.68 MX$28.53

$1.31 CLP 1,232

28.24%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.39 MX$23.55

$1.10 CLP 1,031

26.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.33 MX$56.5

$5.43 CLP 5,106

-38.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.88 MX$99.7

$7.38 CLP 6,941

-20.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.85 MX$31.41

$1.09 CLP 1,022

69.72%

White Bread (500g)

$3.17 MX$53.8

$3.86 CLP 3,628

-17.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.07 MX$35.13

$1.31 CLP 1,230

58.02%

Eggs

$2.93 MX$49.67

$4.25 CLP 3,997

-31.06%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.59 MX$214

$10.03 CLP 9,443

25.52%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.11 MX$172

$4.32 CLP 4,070

134.03%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.09 MX$273

$8.54 CLP 8,035

88.41%

Apples (1kg)

$3.39 MX$57.5

$1.47 CLP 1,380

130.61%

Banana (1kg)

$2.08 MX$35.26

$2.31 CLP 2,171

-9.96%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.12 MX$35.97

$1.63 CLP 1,538

30.06%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.41 MX$40.95

$2.09 CLP 1,965

15.31%

Potato (1kg)

$2.13 MX$36.11

$1.22 CLP 1,145

74.59%

Onion (1kg)

$2.01 MX$34.02

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.55 MX$26.21

$1.57 CLP 1,480

-1.27%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.36 MX$23.15

$1.64 CLP 1,540

-17.07%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.77 MX$97.8

$3.96 CLP 3,729

45.71%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.74 MX$301

$7.86 CLP 7,401

125.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.07 MX$35.11

$1.06 CLP 997

95.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.61 MX$78.3

$3.26 CLP 3,069

41.41%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.37 MX$6.21

$0.74 CLP 700

-50.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.18 MX$359

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.05 MX$34.84

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 MX$9.79

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.07 MX$103

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.55 MX$26.34

$1.40 CLP 1,321

10.71%

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

$22.9K MX$388.1K

$15.8K CLP 14.9M

44.48%

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

$27.2K MX$462.0K

$19.4K CLP 18.3M

40.19%

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

$67.4 MX$1,144

$137 CLP 129.0K

-50.82%

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

$30.62 MX$520

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$37.24 MX$632

$31.49 CLP 29.6K

18.26%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.5 MX$1,043

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.12 MX$460

Cinema Ticket

$7.11 MX$121

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

$456 MX$7,739

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.7K MX$232.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$74.2 MX$1,259

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$57.0 MX$967

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 MX$1,958

$85.2 CLP 80.2K

35.43%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 MX$2,061

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,148 MX$19.5K

$376 CLP 353.8K

205.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$709 MX$12.0K

$301 CLP 282.9K

135.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,577 MX$43.7K

$1,054 CLP 991.6K

144.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,295 MX$22.0K

$619 CLP 582.8K

109.12%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,005 MX$67.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,130 MX$36.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,082 MX$18.4K

$643 CLP 605.1K

68.31%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.3

61.43%

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

Last update for Mexico City: September 6, 2026

Last update for Castro: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,148 in Mexico City versus $376 in Castro. 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 68% 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 $54.0 in Mexico City versus $48.00 in Castro. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $345 vs $244 – making Castro 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 Castro: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mexico City costs about 80% more than Castro, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,515 per month in Mexico City and $1,396 in Castro. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Castro, 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 $1,677 in Mexico City and $931 in Castro. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 41% 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 $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Castro, where all-in costs run around $931, than in Mexico City at $1,677. In Castro it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mexico City it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Castro costs $931 versus $1,677 in Mexico City. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

If budget matters most, go with Castro. 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.