😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,447 in Mexico City versus $680 in Choloma.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,310 in Mexico City versus $1,141 in Choloma.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,174 in Mexico City versus $1,603 in Choloma.
😐Living in Mexico City is roughly 113% more expensive than Choloma, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 8% above, Choloma is 49% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Choloma
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.98MX$227
$5.66HNL 151
129.33%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$52.6MX$919
$37.07HNL 988
41.92%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.43MX$165
$7.47HNL 199
26.24%
Cappuccino
$3.57MX$62.4
$2.39HNL 63.6
49.37%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.61MX$28.04
$0.96HNL 25.59
67.71%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.15MX$20.16
$1.14HNL 30.33
0.88%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.15MX$55.0
$1.17HNL 31.20
169.23%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.86MX$84.9
$2.68HNL 71.3
81.34%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Choloma
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.70MX$29.69
$1.40HNL 37.38
21.43%
White Bread(500g)
$2.64MX$46.03
$2.14HNL 57.1
23.36%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.90MX$33.25
$1.27HNL 33.88
49.61%
Eggs
$2.54MX$44.39
$2.13HNL 56.8
19.25%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.08MX$176
$6.13HNL 164
64.44%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.29MX$145
$3.76HNL 100
120.48%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.57MX$202
$7.86HNL 209
47.20%
Apples(1kg)
$3.03MX$52.9
$2.85HNL 76.0
6.32%
Banana(1kg)
$1.71MX$29.87
$1.50HNL 39.89
14.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.05MX$35.79
$1.51HNL 40.38
35.76%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.06MX$35.98
$1.56HNL 41.59
32.05%
Potato(1kg)
$2.06MX$36.06
$1.60HNL 42.67
28.75%
Onion(1kg)
$2.17MX$37.91
$1.40HNL 37.44
55.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.40MX$24.51
$0.88HNL 23.55
59.09%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.12MX$19.60
$1.64HNL 43.70
-31.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.29MX$75.0
$2.44HNL 65.2
75.82%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.41MX$269
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.67MX$29.25
$1.36HNL 36.15
22.79%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.69MX$64.4
$1.86HNL 49.45
98.39%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Choloma
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38MX$6.67
$0.61HNL 16.33
-37.70%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.06MX$333
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.38MX$24.12
$4.35HNL 116
-68.28%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28MX$4.83
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.42MX$94.6
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.28MX$22.37
$1.02HNL 27.21
25.49%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.0KMX$331.6K
$18.8KHNL 502.4K
0.70%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.5KMX$409.8K
$19.0KHNL 507.1K
23.31%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Choloma
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$41.02MX$717
$81.5HNL 2,173
-49.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.92MX$470
$8.88HNL 237
203.15%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.69MX$519
$41.20HNL 1,098
-27.94%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Choloma
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.3MX$914
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.23MX$458
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.18MX$108
$5.85HNL 156
5.64%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Choloma
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$427MX$7,461
$252HNL 6,722
69.36%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.7KMX$186.9K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Choloma
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.8MX$993
$45.63HNL 1,216
24.52%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.83MX$783
$35.64HNL 950
25.79%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$105MX$1,826
$111HNL 2,949
-5.51%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106MX$1,851
$102HNL 2,727
3.57%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Choloma
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$995MX$17.4K
$109HNL 2,900
814.02%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$621MX$10.9K
$99.4HNL 2,649
524.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,126MX$37.1K
$343HNL 9,145
519.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,254MX$21.9K
$297HNL 7,912
322.28%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,903MX$68.2K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,096MX$36.6K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Choloma
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,107MX$19.3K
-
-
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: June 7, 2026
Last update for Choloma: June 9, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $995 in Mexico City and $109 in Choloma. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $53.0 in Mexico City vs $37.00 in Choloma for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $288 vs $188 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 113% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $2,171 in Mexico City and $1,019 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: $995 in Mexico City versus $109 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 Choloma?
Supermarket bills run roughly 53% 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 vs Choloma?
All in, you'll spend $1,447 per month in Mexico City versus $680 in Choloma – a 113% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Mexico City or Choloma?
At $680 in Choloma versus $1,447 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 113% 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