😐A single person spends $1,448 per month in Mexico City vs $736 in Cerquilho, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,354 per month in Mexico City vs $1,164 in Cerquilho, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,260 per month in Mexico City vs $1,591 in Cerquilho, rent included.
😐Mexico City costs about 97% more than Cerquilho, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Mexico City sits 9% above the global median, while Cerquilho is 45% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Cerquilho
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.96MX$225
$6.29R$32.44
106.04%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$52.3MX$908
$28.66R$148
82.59%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.69MX$168
$7.24R$37.35
33.84%
Cappuccino
$3.75MX$65.1
$1.78R$9.19
110.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.56MX$27.14
$1.37R$7.09
13.87%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.16MX$20.10
$0.91R$4.71
27.47%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.24MX$56.3
$1.07R$5.51
202.80%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.90MX$85.0
$2.75R$14.17
78.18%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Cerquilho
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.70MX$29.54
$1.09R$5.64
55.96%
White Bread(500g)
$2.67MX$46.30
$1.42R$7.32
88.03%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.89MX$32.77
$1.26R$6.50
50.00%
Eggs
$2.52MX$43.74
$2.32R$11.97
8.62%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.02MX$174
$8.27R$42.68
21.16%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.53MX$148
$1.81R$9.36
371.27%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.94MX$207
$5.55R$28.63
115.14%
Apples(1kg)
$2.97MX$51.6
$1.78R$9.16
66.85%
Banana(1kg)
$1.79MX$31.14
$1.81R$9.35
-1.10%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.00MX$34.69
$1.10R$5.66
81.82%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.96MX$34.03
$1.59R$8.21
23.27%
Potato(1kg)
$2.16MX$37.53
$1.24R$6.40
74.19%
Onion(1kg)
$2.27MX$39.38
$0.52R$2.71
336.54%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.40MX$24.34
$0.79R$4.06
77.22%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.11MX$19.34
$0.56R$2.91
98.21%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.20MX$72.9
$1.27R$6.58
230.71%
Wine(Bottle)
$16.54MX$287
$9.09R$46.93
81.96%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68MX$29.19
$1.10R$5.68
52.73%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.59MX$62.3
$2.68R$13.85
33.96%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Cerquilho
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.39MX$6.71
$0.89R$4.57
-56.18%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.19MX$333
$38.06R$196
-49.58%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.38MX$23.98
$0.94R$4.86
46.81%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.30MX$5.24
$1.06R$5.48
-71.70%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.39MX$93.5
$8.51R$43.92
-36.66%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.29MX$22.32
$1.00R$5.17
29.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.9KMX$327.9K
$22.4KR$115.6K
-15.64%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.8KMX$413.0K
$28.7KR$148.1K
-17.06%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Cerquilho
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$39.86MX$692
$47.71R$246
-16.45%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.83MX$483
$12.69R$65.5
119.31%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.77MX$517
$14.65R$75.6
103.21%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Cerquilho
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.0MX$902
$22.77R$118
128.19%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.22MX$455
$21.26R$110
23.33%
Cinema Ticket
$6.27MX$109
$5.27R$27.22
18.98%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Cerquilho
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$433MX$7,508
$318R$1,641
36.09%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.5KMX$182.9K
$6,762R$34.9K
55.85%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Cerquilho
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.0MX$989
$30.21R$156
88.68%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.33MX$787
$17.71R$91.4
155.96%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102MX$1,768
$53.5R$276
90.43%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109MX$1,883
$71.5R$369
51.78%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Cerquilho
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$994MX$17.2K
$320R$1,651
210.61%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$617MX$10.7K
$217R$1,120
184.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,086MX$36.2K
$580R$2,994
259.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,256MX$21.8K
$424R$2,187
196.30%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,936MX$68.3K
$1,385R$7,146
184.28%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,089MX$36.2K
$1,183R$6,108
76.49%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Cerquilho
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,131MX$19.6K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
10.92
3.85%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: June 14, 2026
Last update for Cerquilho: June 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $994 in Mexico City versus $320 in Cerquilho. 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 $29.00 in Cerquilho. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $292 vs $166 – making Cerquilho 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 Cerquilho: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Mexico City or Cerquilho?
Mexico City costs about 97% more than Cerquilho, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Mexico City and in Cerquilho?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,173 per month in Mexico City and $1,105 in Cerquilho. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Mexico City or Cerquilho?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Cerquilho, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do childcare costs compare in Mexico City and in Cerquilho?
Kindergarten costs $433 per month in Mexico City and $318 in Cerquilho. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Mexico City or in Cerquilho?
Groceries cost about 76% 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.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Mexico City or in Cerquilho?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Cerquilho, where all-in costs run around $736, than in Mexico City at $1,448. In Cerquilho it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mexico City it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Mexico City or Cerquilho?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Cerquilho costs $736 versus $1,448 in Mexico City. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
Should I move to Mexico City or to Cerquilho?
If budget matters most, go with Cerquilho. 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.
Mexico City vs other spots: cost of living compared