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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,447 per month in Mexico City vs $815 in Chiquimula, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,310 per month in Mexico City vs $1,345 in Chiquimula, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,174 per month in Mexico City vs $1,874 in Chiquimula, rent included.

Mexico City costs about 77% more than Chiquimula, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Mexico City sits 8% above the global median, while Chiquimula is 39% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Chiquimula
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.98 MX$223
$8.41 Q 64.1
54.34%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$52.6 MX$903
$53.1 Q 405
-0.98%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.43 MX$162
$8.94 Q 68.1
5.48%
Cappuccino
$3.57 MX$61.3
$4.03 Q 30.65
-11.41%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.61 MX$27.55
$2.01 Q 15.33
-19.90%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.15 MX$19.81
$1.25 Q 9.53
-8.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.15 MX$54.0
$3.78 Q 28.82
-16.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.86 MX$83.4
$5.99 Q 45.64
-18.86%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Chiquimula
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.70 MX$29.17
$1.97 Q 15.03
-13.71%
White Bread (500g)
$2.64 MX$45.23
$3.73 Q 28.37
-29.22%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.90 MX$32.67
$1.60 Q 12.15
18.75%
Eggs
$2.54 MX$43.62
$2.54 Q 19.31
-
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.08 MX$173
$7.47 Q 56.9
34.94%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.29 MX$142
$9.22 Q 70.2
-10.09%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.57 MX$199
$10.27 Q 78.2
12.66%
Apples (1kg)
$3.03 MX$52.0
$4.54 Q 34.59
-33.26%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 MX$29.35
$2.12 Q 16.16
-19.34%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.05 MX$35.16
$5.10 Q 38.80
-59.80%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.06 MX$35.36
$1.58 Q 12.04
30.38%
Potato (1kg)
$2.06 MX$35.43
$1.89 Q 14.37
8.99%
Onion (1kg)
$2.17 MX$37.25
$1.70 Q 12.91
27.65%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.40 MX$24.08
$1.26 Q 9.61
11.11%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.12 MX$19.26
$1.37 Q 10.45
-18.25%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.29 MX$73.7
$3.87 Q 29.51
10.85%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.41 MX$265
$8.92 Q 67.9
72.76%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.67 MX$28.74
$2.96 Q 22.55
-43.58%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.69 MX$63.3
$3.70 Q 28.14
-0.27%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Chiquimula
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.38 MX$6.55
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$19.06 MX$327
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.38 MX$23.70
$4.55 Q 34.66
-69.67%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.28 MX$4.74
$0.61 Q 4.64
-54.10%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.42 MX$92.9
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.28 MX$21.98
$1.08 Q 8.23
18.52%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.0K MX$325.8K
$20.5K Q 155.9K
-7.32%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.5K MX$402.7K
$22.1K Q 168.5K
6.03%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Chiquimula
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$41.02 MX$704
$49.89 Q 380
-17.78%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.92 MX$462
$38.99 Q 297
-30.96%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.69 MX$510
$69.0 Q 526
-56.98%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Chiquimula
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.3 MX$898
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.23 MX$450
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.18 MX$106
$8.56 Q 65.2
-27.80%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Chiquimula
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$427 MX$7,331
$529 Q 4,028
-19.26%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.7K MX$183.6K
$12.6K Q 96.3K
-15.39%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Chiquimula
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.8 MX$975
$47.40 Q 361
19.87%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.83 MX$769
$53.6 Q 408
-16.35%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$105 MX$1,794
$99.8 Q 760
4.74%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106 MX$1,819
$85.4 Q 651
24.02%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Chiquimula
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$995 MX$17.1K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$621 MX$10.7K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,126 MX$36.5K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,254 MX$21.5K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,903 MX$67.0K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,096 MX$36.0K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Chiquimula
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,107 MX$19.0K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.34
8.5
33.41%

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

Last update for Mexico City: June 7, 2026

Last update for Chiquimula: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $53.0 in Mexico City versus $53.0 in Chiquimula. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $288 vs $307 – making Mexico City 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 Chiquimula: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Chiquimula cheaper than Mexico City?
Yes – Mexico City is pricier by about 77%, and the gap shows up most in Monthly Utilities & Internet. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,171 per month in Mexico City and $1,223 in Chiquimula. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Is eating out cheaper in Mexico City or Chiquimula?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $53.0 in Mexico City and $53.0 in Chiquimula. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Mexico City and Chiquimula?
Interestingly, groceries are about 7% cheaper in Mexico City – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Mexico City or Chiquimula?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Chiquimula, where all-in costs run around $815, than in Mexico City at $1,447. In Chiquimula it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mexico City it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Mexico City or Chiquimula more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Chiquimula – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Mexico City or Chiquimula?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Chiquimula. 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

Similar cities