😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,481 in Mexico City versus $699 in Choloma.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,352 in Mexico City versus $1,166 in Choloma.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,222 in Mexico City versus $1,633 in Choloma.
🌍Living in Mexico City is roughly 112% more expensive than in Choloma, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 11% above, Choloma is 48% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Choloma
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.16MX$230
$5.78HNL 155
127.68%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.6MX$936
$37.84HNL 1,012
41.60%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.55MX$167
$7.82HNL 209
22.12%
Cappuccino
$3.72MX$65.0
$2.35HNL 62.8
58.30%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57MX$27.39
$0.96HNL 25.63
63.54%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.16MX$20.20
$1.14HNL 30.46
1.75%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.18MX$55.7
$1.14HNL 30.46
178.95%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.63MX$81.0
$2.65HNL 70.9
74.72%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Choloma
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.71MX$29.80
$1.39HNL 37.17
23.02%
White Bread(500g)
$2.62MX$45.73
$2.09HNL 56.0
25.36%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.89MX$33.01
$1.23HNL 33.02
53.66%
Eggs
$2.60MX$45.36
$2.04HNL 54.7
27.45%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.91MX$173
$6.14HNL 164
61.40%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.22MX$144
$3.74HNL 100
119.79%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.78MX$206
$8.16HNL 218
44.36%
Apples(1kg)
$3.00MX$52.4
$2.87HNL 76.7
4.53%
Banana(1kg)
$1.80MX$31.45
$1.50HNL 40.09
20.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.07MX$36.24
$1.47HNL 39.22
40.82%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.97MX$34.37
$1.51HNL 40.42
30.46%
Potato(1kg)
$2.07MX$36.21
$1.59HNL 42.60
30.19%
Onion(1kg)
$2.17MX$38.00
$1.35HNL 35.98
60.74%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.40MX$24.52
$0.85HNL 22.70
64.71%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07MX$18.78
$1.65HNL 44.00
-35.15%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.12MX$72.0
$2.44HNL 65.3
68.85%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.42MX$304
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68MX$29.28
$1.34HNL 35.77
25.37%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.65MX$63.8
$1.84HNL 49.09
98.37%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Choloma
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38MX$6.64
$0.57HNL 15.36
-33.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.71MX$327
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.33MX$23.23
$4.31HNL 115
-69.14%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.30MX$5.30
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.51MX$96.3
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31MX$22.81
$1.02HNL 27.37
28.43%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.2KMX$334.9K
$19.1KHNL 509.8K
0.56%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.7KMX$415.0K
$19.5KHNL 522.4K
21.60%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Choloma
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$41.14MX$719
$83.8HNL 2,241
-50.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.74MX$485
$9.09HNL 243
205.17%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.13MX$527
$41.29HNL 1,105
-27.03%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Choloma
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$53.7MX$939
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.98MX$454
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.49MX$113
$5.73HNL 153
13.26%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Choloma
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$437MX$7,630
$252HNL 6,736
73.36%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.5KMX$182.7K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Choloma
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.3MX$1,019
$45.43HNL 1,215
28.40%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.86MX$801
$36.56HNL 978
25.44%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101MX$1,773
$109HNL 2,917
-6.99%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107MX$1,862
$104HNL 2,787
2.24%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Choloma
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,005MX$17.6K
$108HNL 2,897
828.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$634MX$11.1K
$99.3HNL 2,656
538.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,148MX$37.5K
$350HNL 9,350
514.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,247MX$21.8K
$297HNL 7,943
319.89%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,859MX$67.4K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,085MX$36.4K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Choloma
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,072MX$18.7K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
12
-5.50%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: July 22, 2026
Last update for Choloma: July 22, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,005 in Mexico City and $108 in Choloma. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $54.0 in Mexico City vs $38.00 in Choloma for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $291 vs $187 per month, with Choloma cheaper across the board.
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 Choloma: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Choloma cheaper than Mexico City?
Choloma is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 112% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $2,222 in Mexico City and $1,049 in Choloma to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Mexico City and Choloma?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,005 in Mexico City versus $108 in Choloma. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Mexico City and in Choloma?
Supermarket bills run roughly 55% higher in Mexico City. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Mexico City and in Choloma?
All in, you'll spend $1,481 per month in Mexico City versus $699 in Choloma – a 112% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Mexico City or in Choloma?
At $699 in Choloma versus $1,481 in Mexico City, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Choloma but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Choloma the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Mexico City or Choloma more family-friendly?
For families, Choloma is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Mexico City, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Mexico City or Choloma?
Safety-wise, Mexico City and Choloma are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Choloma gentler on the wallet – expenses run 112% less than in Mexico City. 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