😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,682 in Mexico City versus $1,073 in Coquimbo.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,599 in Mexico City versus $1,670 in Coquimbo.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,516 in Mexico City versus $2,267 in Coquimbo.
🌍Living in Mexico City is roughly 57% more expensive than in Coquimbo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 23% above, Coquimbo is 22% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Coquimbo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.83MX$200
$7.34CLP 6,770
61.17%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$52.2MX$884
$48.33CLP 44.6K
7.90%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.87MX$184
$6.47CLP 5,970
68.01%
Cappuccino
$4.03MX$68.2
$3.86CLP 3,564
4.40%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.71MX$28.99
$1.17CLP 1,082
46.15%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.34MX$22.70
$1.12CLP 1,035
19.64%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.39MX$57.5
$4.34CLP 4,006
-21.89%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.74MX$97.3
$5.06CLP 4,668
13.44%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Coquimbo
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.89MX$31.99
$1.07CLP 984
76.64%
White Bread(500g)
$3.17MX$53.8
$1.80CLP 1,662
76.11%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.05MX$34.74
$1.65CLP 1,518
24.24%
Eggs
$3.01MX$51.1
$3.90CLP 3,596
-22.82%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.61MX$214
$11.47CLP 10.6K
9.94%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.94MX$169
$6.47CLP 5,970
53.63%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.00MX$271
$12.70CLP 11.7K
25.98%
Apples(1kg)
$3.28MX$55.6
$1.97CLP 1,820
66.50%
Banana(1kg)
$2.06MX$34.87
$1.67CLP 1,538
23.35%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.09MX$35.36
$1.72CLP 1,591
21.51%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.50MX$42.44
$1.70CLP 1,566
47.06%
Potato(1kg)
$2.05MX$34.76
$1.03CLP 947
99.03%
Onion(1kg)
$1.87MX$31.70
$1.48CLP 1,361
26.35%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.57MX$26.66
$1.35CLP 1,245
16.30%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.39MX$23.64
$1.17CLP 1,081
18.80%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.38MX$91.2
$5.54CLP 5,114
-2.89%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.95MX$304
$5.97CLP 5,509
200.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.02MX$34.31
$1.56CLP 1,439
29.49%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.76MX$80.7
$2.28CLP 2,104
108.77%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Coquimbo
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.36MX$6.13
$0.85CLP 785
-57.65%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$20.80MX$353
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.06MX$34.92
$0.83CLP 765
148.19%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.56MX$9.55
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.82MX$98.6
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.54MX$26.05
$1.48CLP 1,369
4.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.5KMX$380.6K
$19.8KCLP 18.3M
13.40%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5KMX$448.7K
$24.5KCLP 22.6M
8.24%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Coquimbo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$66.0MX$1,118
$119CLP 110.2K
-44.76%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.98MX$525
$13.52CLP 12.5K
129.14%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.20MX$613
$20.45CLP 18.9K
77.02%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Coquimbo
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.5MX$975
$27.85CLP 25.7K
106.57%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.75MX$453
$5.55CLP 5,117
381.98%
Cinema Ticket
$7.13MX$121
$7.26CLP 6,697
-1.79%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Coquimbo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$457MX$7,738
$444CLP 410.0K
2.76%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.2KMX$224.5K
$8,551CLP 7.9M
54.92%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Coquimbo
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$75.8MX$1,285
$51.3CLP 47.4K
47.73%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$54.1MX$917
$30.01CLP 27.7K
80.31%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$116MX$1,974
$60.2CLP 55.6K
93.34%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122MX$2,063
$74.8CLP 69.0K
62.80%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Coquimbo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,147MX$19.4K
$512CLP 472.4K
124.13%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$726MX$12.3K
$425CLP 391.9K
70.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,503MX$42.4K
$1,042CLP 961.0K
140.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,331MX$22.6K
$682CLP 629.6K
95.02%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,895MX$66.0K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,149MX$36.4K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Coquimbo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,069MX$18.1K
$647CLP 596.5K
65.33%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.35
5.15
120.39%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: August 17, 2026
Last update for Coquimbo: August 16, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,147 in Mexico City and $512 in Coquimbo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 65% 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 $48.00 in Coquimbo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $344 vs $241 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 in Coquimbo?
Mexico City and Coquimbo differ by about 57% in total monthly costs ($1,682 vs $1,073 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?
Average pay runs 65% 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.
How do apartment prices compare in Mexico City and in Coquimbo?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,147 in Mexico City versus $512 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 $457 in Mexico City versus $444 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 $48.00 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 $1,073 in Coquimbo versus $1,682 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 57% 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