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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,467 per month in Mexico City vs $170 in Derna, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,371 per month in Mexico City vs $337 in Derna, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,274 per month in Mexico City vs $504 in Derna, rent included.

Mexico City costs about 765% more than Derna, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Mexico City sits 10% above the global median, while Derna is 87% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.18 MX$228

$4.72 LYD 29.99

179.24%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.9 MX$932

$9.35 LYD 59.4

476.47%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.42 MX$163

$3.71 LYD 23.53

153.91%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.53 LYD 3.38

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.75 LYD 4.79

Cappuccino

$3.55 MX$61.4

$0.57 LYD 3.62

522.81%

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

$1.62 MX$27.98

$0.39 LYD 2.46

315.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.11 MX$19.27

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.12 MX$54.0

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.63 MX$80.1

Milk (1 liter)

$1.70 MX$29.43

$0.70 LYD 4.44

142.86%

White Bread (500g)

$2.72 MX$47.02

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.91 MX$33.07

Eggs

$2.54 MX$43.86

$0.76 LYD 4.84

234.21%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.03 MX$174

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.09 MX$140

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.62 MX$201

Apples (1kg)

$2.97 MX$51.3

Banana (1kg)

$1.81 MX$31.24

$0.96 LYD 6.10

88.54%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.01 MX$34.82

Tomato (1kg)

$2.03 MX$35.20

Potato (1kg)

$2.12 MX$36.75

Onion (1kg)

$2.27 MX$39.25

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.40 MX$24.22

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.13 MX$19.55

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.27 MX$73.9

Wine (Bottle)

$15.56 MX$269

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 MX$30.39

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.60 MX$62.2

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.38 MX$6.62

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.18 MX$332

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.38 MX$23.79

$0.93 LYD 5.91

48.39%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.28 MX$4.78

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.45 MX$94.2

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.30 MX$22.55

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

$18.7K MX$323.2K

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

$23.1K MX$400.1K

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

$40.86 MX$707

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

$26.81 MX$464

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.96 MX$518

$16.38 LYD 104

82.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.0 MX$900

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.84 MX$464

Cinema Ticket

$6.30 MX$109

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

$436 MX$7,544

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.4K MX$180.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.7 MX$980

$37.23 LYD 236

52.16%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.38 MX$768

$46.51 LYD 295

-4.58%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 MX$1,780

$45.65 LYD 290

125.45%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 MX$1,825

$45.78 LYD 291

130.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,022 MX$17.7K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$631 MX$10.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,136 MX$36.9K

$183 LYD 1,159

1070.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,243 MX$21.5K

$109 LYD 694

1037.59%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,903 MX$67.5K

$200 LYD 1,271

1849.53%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,064 MX$35.7K

$79.3 LYD 504

2502.53%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,115 MX$19.3K

$173 LYD 1,099

544.31%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.34

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

Last update for Mexico City: May 31, 2026

Last update for Derna: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 544% higher in Mexico City, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $54.0 in Mexico City versus $9.00 in Derna. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $288 vs $16.00 – making Derna the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Derna: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mexico City costs about 765% more than Derna, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,201 per month in Mexico City and $255 in Derna. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,467 in Mexico City and $170 in Derna. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 1726% more in Mexico City, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Derna, where all-in costs run around $170, than in Mexico City at $1,467. In Derna it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mexico City it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Derna costs $170 versus $1,467 in Mexico City. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

If budget matters most, go with Derna. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Mexico City makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.