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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,481 per month in Mexico City vs $900 in Duncans, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,352 per month in Mexico City vs $1,459 in Duncans, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,222 per month in Mexico City vs $2,018 in Duncans, rent included.

Mexico City costs about 65% more than Duncans, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Mexico City sits 11% above the global median, while Duncans is 33% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.16 MX$229

$7.42 JMD 1,168

77.36%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.6 MX$934

$62.4 JMD 9,821

-14.08%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.55 MX$167

$8.78 JMD 1,383

8.77%

Cappuccino

$3.72 MX$64.9

$4.30 JMD 678

-13.49%

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

$1.57 MX$27.33

$1.30 JMD 205

20.77%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.16 MX$20.16

$0.70 JMD 111

65.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.18 MX$55.5

$2.56 JMD 403

24.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.63 MX$80.8

$3.09 JMD 486

49.84%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 MX$29.74

$4.19 JMD 659

-59.19%

White Bread (500g)

$2.62 MX$45.63

$3.59 JMD 566

-27.02%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.89 MX$32.93

$1.62 JMD 256

16.67%

Eggs

$2.60 MX$45.26

$3.43 JMD 540

-24.20%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.91 MX$173

$11.25 JMD 1,772

-11.91%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.22 MX$143

$6.32 JMD 996

30.06%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.78 MX$205

$7.56 JMD 1,190

55.82%

Apples (1kg)

$3.00 MX$52.2

$5.88 JMD 926

-48.98%

Banana (1kg)

$1.80 MX$31.38

$3.09 JMD 486

-41.75%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.07 MX$36.16

$4.18 JMD 659

-50.48%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.97 MX$34.30

$3.06 JMD 481

-35.62%

Potato (1kg)

$2.07 MX$36.13

$2.11 JMD 332

-1.90%

Onion (1kg)

$2.17 MX$37.92

$2.03 JMD 319

6.90%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.40 MX$24.46

$3.13 JMD 492

-55.27%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.07 MX$18.74

$1.51 JMD 237

-29.14%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.12 MX$71.8

$8.53 JMD 1,344

-51.70%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.42 MX$304

$11.47 JMD 1,806

51.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.68 MX$29.22

$2.75 JMD 433

-38.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.65 MX$63.6

$3.11 JMD 490

17.36%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.38 MX$6.63

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.71 MX$326

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.33 MX$23.18

$1.07 JMD 169

24.30%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.30 MX$5.28

$3.22 JMD 507

-90.68%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.51 MX$96.1

$6.43 JMD 1,013

-14.31%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 MX$22.76

$1.23 JMD 193

6.50%

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

$19.2K MX$334.2K

$43.3K JMD 6.8M

-55.71%

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

$23.7K MX$414.1K

$33.3K JMD 5.2M

-28.75%

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

$41.14 MX$717

$161 JMD 25.3K

-74.44%

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

$27.74 MX$484

$21.75 JMD 3,425

27.54%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.13 MX$525

$51.3 JMD 8,082

-41.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$53.7 MX$937

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$25.98 MX$453

Cinema Ticket

$6.49 MX$113

$13.28 JMD 2,092

-51.13%

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

$437 MX$7,614

$222 JMD 35.0K

96.41%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.5K MX$182.3K

$2,499 JMD 393.6K

318.38%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.3 MX$1,017

$25.79 JMD 4,062

126.17%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.86 MX$800

$25.46 JMD 4,010

80.13%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 MX$1,769

$70.5 JMD 11.1K

43.83%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 MX$1,858

$77.4 JMD 12.2K

37.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,005 MX$17.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$634 MX$11.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,148 MX$37.5K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,247 MX$21.7K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,859 MX$67.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,085 MX$36.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,072 MX$18.7K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.34

9.15

23.93%

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

Last update for Mexico City: July 22, 2026

Last update for Duncans: July 19, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $54.0 in Mexico City versus $62.0 in Duncans. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $291 vs $350 – making Mexico City 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 Duncans: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Mexico City is pricier by about 65%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,222 per month in Mexico City and $1,349 in Duncans. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,481 in Mexico City and $900 in Duncans. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $437 per month in Mexico City and $222 in Duncans. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Duncans, where all-in costs run around $900, than in Mexico City at $1,481. In Duncans it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mexico City it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Duncans – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Duncans. 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.