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 $1,447 per month in Mexico City vs $880 in Duncans, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,310 per month in Mexico City vs $1,432 in Duncans, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,174 per month in Mexico City vs $1,985 in Duncans, rent included.

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

Mexico City sits 8% above the global median, while Duncans is 35% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.98 MX$227

$7.56 JMD 1,189

71.69%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$52.6 MX$918

$63.2 JMD 9,945

-16.80%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.43 MX$165

$8.58 JMD 1,349

9.91%

Cappuccino

$3.57 MX$62.3

$4.32 JMD 680

-17.36%

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

$1.61 MX$28.02

$1.30 JMD 205

23.85%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.15 MX$20.14

$0.75 JMD 118

53.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.15 MX$55.0

$2.43 JMD 382

29.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.86 MX$84.8

$3.16 JMD 498

53.80%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.70 MX$29.66

$4.34 JMD 683

-60.83%

White Bread (500g)

$2.64 MX$45.99

$3.48 JMD 547

-24.14%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.90 MX$33.22

$1.63 JMD 257

16.56%

Eggs

$2.54 MX$44.35

$3.59 JMD 564

-29.25%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.08 MX$176

$11.12 JMD 1,748

-9.35%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.29 MX$145

$6.52 JMD 1,025

27.15%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.57 MX$202

$7.49 JMD 1,177

54.47%

Apples (1kg)

$3.03 MX$52.8

$6.09 JMD 959

-50.25%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 MX$29.85

$3.14 JMD 494

-45.54%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.05 MX$35.76

$4.18 JMD 657

-50.96%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.06 MX$35.95

$3.04 JMD 478

-32.24%

Potato (1kg)

$2.06 MX$36.03

$2.04 JMD 321

0.98%

Onion (1kg)

$2.17 MX$37.87

$1.94 JMD 305

11.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.40 MX$24.49

$2.99 JMD 470

-53.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.12 MX$19.58

$1.49 JMD 234

-24.83%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.29 MX$74.9

$8.66 JMD 1,362

-50.46%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.41 MX$269

$11.33 JMD 1,783

36.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.67 MX$29.23

$2.87 JMD 451

-41.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.69 MX$64.3

$3.17 JMD 498

16.40%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.38 MX$6.66

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.06 MX$333

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.38 MX$24.10

$1.07 JMD 168

28.97%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.28 MX$4.82

$3.09 JMD 486

-90.94%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.42 MX$94.5

$6.44 JMD 1,013

-15.84%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 MX$22.35

$1.29 JMD 203

-0.78%

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

$19.0K MX$331.3K

$42.1K JMD 6.6M

-54.93%

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

$23.5K MX$409.5K

$33.0K JMD 5.2M

-28.91%

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

$41.02 MX$716

$163 JMD 25.6K

-74.79%

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

$26.92 MX$470

$22.31 JMD 3,509

20.66%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.69 MX$518

$50.5 JMD 7,942

-41.20%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.3 MX$913

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.23 MX$458

Cinema Ticket

$6.18 MX$108

$12.92 JMD 2,032

-52.17%

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

$427 MX$7,454

$225 JMD 35.4K

89.70%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.7K MX$186.7K

$2,464 JMD 387.5K

334.23%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.8 MX$992

$26.26 JMD 4,130

116.37%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.83 MX$782

$25.90 JMD 4,074

73.09%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$105 MX$1,824

$71.3 JMD 11.2K

46.67%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 MX$1,849

$75.2 JMD 11.8K

40.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$995 MX$17.4K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$621 MX$10.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,126 MX$37.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,254 MX$21.9K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,903 MX$68.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,096 MX$36.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,107 MX$19.3K

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Duncans: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $53.0 in Mexico City versus $63.0 in Duncans. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $288 vs $352 – 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 $2,171 per month in Mexico City and $1,319 in Duncans. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,447 in Mexico City and $880 in Duncans. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $427 per month in Mexico City and $225 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 $880, than in Mexico City at $1,447. 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.