😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,448 in Mexico City versus $1,091 in Coquimbo.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,354 in Mexico City versus $1,645 in Coquimbo.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,260 in Mexico City versus $2,200 in Coquimbo.
😐Living in Mexico City is roughly 33% more expensive than Coquimbo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 9% above, Coquimbo is 18% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Coquimbo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.96MX$223
$8.45CLP 7,485
53.37%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$52.3MX$900
$43.77CLP 38.8K
19.56%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.69MX$167
$7.78CLP 6,894
24.55%
Cappuccino
$3.75MX$64.6
$2.80CLP 2,478
33.93%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.56MX$26.91
$1.37CLP 1,213
13.87%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.16MX$19.93
$1.03CLP 908
12.62%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.24MX$55.8
$3.25CLP 2,881
-0.31%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.90MX$84.3
$4.28CLP 3,789
14.49%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Coquimbo
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.70MX$29.29
$1.10CLP 971
54.55%
White Bread(500g)
$2.67MX$45.90
$1.53CLP 1,353
74.51%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.89MX$32.49
$1.86CLP 1,646
1.61%
Eggs
$2.52MX$43.37
$3.57CLP 3,165
-29.41%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.02MX$172
$10.50CLP 9,297
-4.57%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.53MX$147
$6.50CLP 5,753
31.23%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.94MX$205
$10.79CLP 9,555
10.66%
Apples(1kg)
$2.97MX$51.1
$1.81CLP 1,599
64.09%
Banana(1kg)
$1.79MX$30.88
$1.56CLP 1,381
14.74%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.00MX$34.40
$1.58CLP 1,397
26.58%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.96MX$33.74
$1.51CLP 1,335
29.80%
Potato(1kg)
$2.16MX$37.21
$1.23CLP 1,093
75.61%
Onion(1kg)
$2.27MX$39.04
$1.35CLP 1,198
68.15%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.40MX$24.14
$1.21CLP 1,075
15.70%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.11MX$19.18
$1.23CLP 1,093
-9.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.20MX$72.2
$5.51CLP 4,883
-23.77%
Wine(Bottle)
$16.54MX$285
$6.31CLP 5,586
162.12%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68MX$28.94
$1.61CLP 1,427
4.35%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.59MX$61.8
$2.23CLP 1,977
60.99%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Coquimbo
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.39MX$6.65
$0.58CLP 517
-32.76%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.19MX$330
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.38MX$23.77
$0.48CLP 423
187.50%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.30MX$5.19
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.39MX$92.7
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.29MX$22.13
$1.38CLP 1,219
-6.52%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.9KMX$325.1K
$19.4KCLP 17.2M
-2.83%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.8KMX$409.5K
$21.6KCLP 19.1M
10.12%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Coquimbo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$39.86MX$686
$131CLP 115.9K
-69.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.83MX$479
$13.59CLP 12.0K
104.78%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.77MX$512
$21.93CLP 19.4K
35.75%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Coquimbo
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.0MX$894
$38.23CLP 33.9K
35.91%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.22MX$451
$21.47CLP 19.0K
22.12%
Cinema Ticket
$6.27MX$108
$5.79CLP 5,131
8.29%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Coquimbo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$433MX$7,443
$440CLP 390.0K
-1.74%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.5KMX$181.3K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Coquimbo
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.0MX$981
$49.90CLP 44.2K
14.23%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.33MX$780
$30.78CLP 27.3K
47.27%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102MX$1,753
$60.5CLP 53.6K
68.31%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109MX$1,867
$81.7CLP 72.4K
32.79%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Coquimbo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$994MX$17.1K
$478CLP 423.4K
107.90%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$617MX$10.6K
$372CLP 329.4K
65.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,086MX$35.9K
$893CLP 791.4K
133.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,256MX$21.6K
$589CLP 522.1K
113.04%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,936MX$67.7K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,089MX$35.9K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Coquimbo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,131MX$19.5K
$680CLP 602.5K
66.35%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
5.18
118.92%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: June 14, 2026
Last update for Coquimbo: June 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $994 in Mexico City and $478 in Coquimbo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 66% 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: $52.0 in Mexico City vs $44.00 in Coquimbo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $292 vs $228 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
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and Coquimbo?
Mexico City and Coquimbo differ by about 33% in total monthly costs ($1,448 vs $1,091 including rent). Coquimbo is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Mexico City or Coquimbo?
Mexico City pays 66% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Mexico City and Coquimbo?
Rent for a central apartment: $994 in Mexico City versus $478 in Coquimbo. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Mexico City and Coquimbo?
Childcare runs $433 in Mexico City versus $440 in Coquimbo. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Coquimbo – a meal for two runs $44.00 versus $52.0 in Mexico City. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,091 in Coquimbo versus $1,448 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.
How does quality of life compare between Mexico City and Coquimbo?
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.
Where should expats move: Mexico City or Coquimbo?
Expats usually find Coquimbo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 33% 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