🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,467 in Mexico City versus $2,173 in Crooked Island.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,371 in Mexico City versus $3,524 in Crooked Island.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,274 in Mexico City versus $4,874 in Crooked Island.
🙂Living in Mexico City costs roughly 32% less than in Crooked Island, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Mexico City10% above, Crooked Island62% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Crooked Island
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.18MX$228
$50.7BSD 50.7
-74.01%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.9MX$932
-
-
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.42MX$163
$13.14BSD 13.14
-28.31%
Cappuccino
$3.55MX$61.4
$4.09BSD 4.09
-13.20%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$27.98
$4.03BSD 4.03
-59.80%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.11MX$19.27
$2.04BSD 2.04
-45.59%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.12MX$54.0
$5.12BSD 5.12
-39.06%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.63MX$80.1
$5.05BSD 5.05
-8.32%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Crooked Island
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.70MX$29.43
$8.09BSD 8.09
-78.99%
White Bread(500g)
$2.72MX$47.02
$6.09BSD 6.09
-55.34%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.91MX$33.07
$3.56BSD 3.56
-46.35%
Eggs
$2.54MX$43.86
$11.43BSD 11.43
-77.78%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.03MX$174
$13.14BSD 13.14
-23.67%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.09MX$140
-
-
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.62MX$201
$8.23BSD 8.23
41.19%
Apples(1kg)
$2.97MX$51.3
$6.65BSD 6.65
-55.34%
Banana(1kg)
$1.81MX$31.24
-
-
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01MX$34.82
$1.27BSD 1.27
58.27%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03MX$35.20
$12.16BSD 12.16
-83.31%
Potato(1kg)
$2.12MX$36.75
$2.24BSD 2.24
-5.36%
Onion(1kg)
$2.27MX$39.25
$2.79BSD 2.79
-18.64%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.40MX$24.22
$0.98BSD 0.98
42.86%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.13MX$19.55
$1.95BSD 1.95
-42.05%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27MX$73.9
-
-
Wine(Bottle)
$15.56MX$269
$29.93BSD 29.93
-48.01%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76MX$30.39
$4.88BSD 4.88
-63.93%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.60MX$62.2
$4.94BSD 4.94
-27.13%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Crooked Island
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38MX$6.62
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.18MX$332
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.38MX$23.79
-
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28MX$4.78
$2.01BSD 2.01
-86.07%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.45MX$94.2
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.30MX$22.55
-
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.7KMX$323.2K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.1KMX$400.1K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Crooked Island
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.86MX$707
$217BSD 217
-81.21%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.81MX$464
$58.9BSD 58.9
-54.47%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.96MX$518
$68.6BSD 68.6
-56.34%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Crooked Island
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.0MX$900
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.84MX$464
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.30MX$109
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Crooked Island
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$436MX$7,544
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.4KMX$180.2K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Crooked Island
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.7MX$980
$79.0BSD 79.0
-28.25%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.38MX$768
$49.35BSD 49.35
-10.07%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103MX$1,780
$248BSD 248
-58.47%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106MX$1,825
$99.9BSD 99.9
5.58%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Crooked Island
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,022MX$17.7K
$546BSD 546
87.35%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$631MX$10.9K
$542BSD 542
16.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,136MX$36.9K
$1,632BSD 1,632
30.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,243MX$21.5K
$1,591BSD 1,591
-21.90%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,903MX$67.5K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,064MX$35.7K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Crooked Island
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,115MX$19.3K
$1,089BSD 1,089
2.43%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
0
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: May 31, 2026
Last update for Crooked Island: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,022 in Mexico City and $546 in Crooked Island. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 2% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
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 Crooked Island: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and Crooked Island?
Mexico City and Crooked Island differ by about 48% in total monthly costs ($1,467 vs $2,173 including rent). Mexico City is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Mexico City or Crooked Island?
Mexico City pays 2% 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 Crooked Island?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,022 in Mexico City versus $546 in Crooked Island. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 73% higher in Crooked Island. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Mexico City or Crooked Island?
All in, you'll spend $1,467 per month in Mexico City versus $2,173 in Crooked Island – a 48% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,467 in Mexico City versus $2,173 in Crooked Island, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Mexico City but tight or insufficient in Crooked Island. The gap between the two cities makes Mexico City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mexico City and Crooked Island?
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.
Is Mexico City or Crooked Island safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Mexico City and Crooked Island are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Mexico City or Crooked Island?
Expats usually find Mexico City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 48% less than in Crooked Island. 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