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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,591 in Mexico City versus $567 in Coquimbo.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,478 in Mexico City versus $936 in Coquimbo.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,365 in Mexico City versus $1,305 in Coquimbo.

Living in Mexico City is roughly 181% more expensive than in Coquimbo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 18% above, Coquimbo is 58% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.06 MX$219

$6.81 CLP 6,742

77.09%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$50.8 MX$923

$45.62 CLP 45.2K

11.38%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.90 MX$198

$6.28 CLP 6,215

73.57%

Cappuccino

$3.75 MX$68.2

$3.66 CLP 3,617

2.46%

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

$1.61 MX$29.28

$1.17 CLP 1,158

37.61%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.32 MX$23.89

$1.06 CLP 1,048

24.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.37 MX$61.1

$4.04 CLP 3,995

-16.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.69 MX$103

$4.73 CLP 4,685

20.30%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.77 MX$32.14

$1.05 CLP 1,044

68.57%

White Bread (500g)

$3.08 MX$55.9

$3.19 CLP 3,157

-3.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.97 MX$35.70

$1.26 CLP 1,245

56.35%

Eggs

$2.79 MX$50.7

$2.68 CLP 2,649

4.10%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.92 MX$216

$8.35 CLP 8,260

42.75%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.40 MX$171

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.30 MX$278

Apples (1kg)

$3.16 MX$57.3

$1.37 CLP 1,353

130.66%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 MX$35.96

$1.91 CLP 1,892

3.66%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.07 MX$37.60

$1.05 CLP 1,038

97.14%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.33 MX$42.26

$0.96 CLP 948

142.71%

Potato (1kg)

$2.07 MX$37.57

Onion (1kg)

$1.92 MX$34.91

$1.27 CLP 1,257

51.18%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.52 MX$27.67

$0.60 CLP 593

153.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 MX$24.05

$1.35 CLP 1,337

-2.22%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.26 MX$95.5

$5.05 CLP 5,002

4.16%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.84 MX$306

$8.45 CLP 8,363

99.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.95 MX$35.43

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.37 MX$79.4

$4.73 CLP 4,681

-7.61%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.34 MX$6.20

$0.86 CLP 851

-60.47%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.99 MX$363

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.98 MX$35.87

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.57 MX$10.42

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.42 MX$98.5

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.53 MX$27.74

$1.43 CLP 1,412

6.99%

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

$21.5K MX$390.2K

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

$25.3K MX$460.0K

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

$61.5 MX$1,117

$105 CLP 103.6K

-41.25%

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

$27.38 MX$497

$12.18 CLP 12.1K

124.79%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.93 MX$634

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.8 MX$1,032

$26.14 CLP 25.9K

117.33%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$25.27 MX$459

$5.10 CLP 5,047

395.49%

Cinema Ticket

$6.84 MX$124

$4.02 CLP 3,979

70.15%

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

$438 MX$7,958

$255 CLP 252.2K

71.95%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.8K MX$233.2K

$29.4K CLP 29.1M

-56.27%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$71.2 MX$1,293

$45.59 CLP 45.1K

56.17%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.7 MX$976

$25.39 CLP 25.1K

111.66%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$109 MX$1,983

$61.4 CLP 60.8K

77.87%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$117 MX$2,120

$81.1 CLP 80.3K

43.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,050 MX$19.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$686 MX$12.5K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,410 MX$43.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,258 MX$22.8K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,814 MX$69.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,994 MX$36.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$998 MX$18.1K

$617 CLP 610.4K

61.72%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.3

126.00%

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

Last update for Mexico City: September 26, 2026

Last update for Coquimbo: September 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Mexico City pays 62% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $51.0 in Mexico City vs $46.00 in Coquimbo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $328 vs $158 per month, with Coquimbo 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 Coquimbo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mexico City and Coquimbo differ by about 181% in total monthly costs ($1,591 vs $567 including rent). Coquimbo is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 62% higher in Mexico City, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Childcare runs $438 in Mexico City versus $255 in Coquimbo. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Coquimbo – a meal for two runs $46.00 versus $51.0 in Mexico City. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $567 in Coquimbo versus $1,591 in Mexico City, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Coquimbo but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Coquimbo the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Coquimbo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 181% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.