Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Charlotte Amalie Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Charlotte Amalie

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,472 per month in Mexico City vs $1,977 in Charlotte Amalie, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,359 per month in Mexico City vs $2,039 in Charlotte Amalie, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,245 per month in Mexico City vs $2,101 in Charlotte Amalie, rent included.

Mexico City is about 26% cheaper than Charlotte Amalie, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Mexico City and Charlotte Amalie sit above the global median – Mexico City by 11%, Charlotte Amalie by 49%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.14 MX$229

$24.75 $24.75

-46.91%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.5 MX$934

$99.7 $99.7

-46.31%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.33 MX$163

$12.11 $12.11

-22.96%

Cappuccino

$3.70 MX$64.5

$7.60 $7.60

-51.32%

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

$1.60 MX$27.98

$2.21 $2.21

-27.60%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.12 MX$19.49

$2.19 $2.19

-48.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.14 MX$54.7

$7.03 $7.03

-55.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.85 MX$84.5

$8.95 $8.95

-45.81%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 MX$28.84

$2.72 $2.72

-39.34%

White Bread (500g)

$2.71 MX$47.34

$8.90 $8.90

-69.55%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.91 MX$33.29

Eggs

$2.59 MX$45.17

$7.07 $7.07

-63.37%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.81 MX$171

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.43 MX$147

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.93 MX$208

Apples (1kg)

$2.95 MX$51.5

Banana (1kg)

$1.74 MX$30.35

Oranges (1kg)

$2.04 MX$35.66

Tomato (1kg)

$2.06 MX$35.93

Potato (1kg)

$2.15 MX$37.49

Onion (1kg)

$2.26 MX$39.33

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.39 MX$24.17

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.12 MX$19.47

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.22 MX$73.6

Wine (Bottle)

$17.51 MX$305

$20.15 $20.15

-13.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 MX$29.82

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 MX$63.4

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.35 MX$6.15

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.32 MX$337

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.38 MX$24.00

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.28 MX$4.81

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.28 MX$92.0

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 MX$23.69

$1.57 $1.57

-13.38%

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

$19.1K MX$333.2K

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

$23.6K MX$411.7K

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

$40.53 MX$707

$299 $299

-86.43%

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

$27.38 MX$478

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.38 MX$530

$117 $117

-74.14%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.2 MX$911

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.48 MX$462

Cinema Ticket

$6.19 MX$108

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

$425 MX$7,414

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.7K MX$187.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.3 MX$1,017

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.57 MX$777

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 MX$1,805

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 MX$1,897

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,014 MX$17.7K

$2,009 $2,009

-49.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$623 MX$10.9K

$942 $942

-33.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,119 MX$37.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,223 MX$21.3K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,792 MX$66.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,110 MX$36.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,052 MX$18.4K

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: July 25, 2026

Last update for Charlotte Amalie: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,014 in Mexico City versus $2,009 in Charlotte Amalie. 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 $54.0 in Mexico City versus $100 in Charlotte Amalie. Groceries tell a different story – $293 in Mexico City vs $185 in Charlotte Amalie – so Charlotte Amalie 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 Charlotte Amalie: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Charlotte Amalie is pricier by about 34%, 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 $2,208 per month in Mexico City and $2,965 in Charlotte Amalie. 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 59% cheaper in Charlotte Amalie – 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 $54.0 in Mexico City and $100 in Charlotte Amalie. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Mexico City, where all-in costs run around $1,472, than in Charlotte Amalie at $1,977. In Mexico City it covers expenses comfortably, while in Charlotte Amalie 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.

If budget matters most, go with Mexico City. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Charlotte Amalie makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.