😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,484 in Mexico City versus $798 in Francisco Morato.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,381 in Mexico City versus $1,309 in Francisco Morato.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,278 in Mexico City versus $1,821 in Francisco Morato.
😐Living in Mexico City is roughly 86% more expensive than Francisco Morato, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 11% above, Francisco Morato is 40% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Francisco Morato
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.98MX$227
$6.27R$31.27
107.02%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.1MX$929
$32.59R$163
62.84%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.72MX$170
$7.19R$35.89
35.19%
Cappuccino
$3.75MX$65.6
$1.80R$8.97
108.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57MX$27.46
$1.37R$6.84
14.60%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.13MX$19.76
$0.87R$4.35
29.89%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.18MX$55.7
$1.76R$8.80
80.68%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.66MX$81.6
$3.47R$17.30
34.29%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Francisco Morato
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.62MX$28.37
$1.13R$5.64
43.36%
White Bread(500g)
$2.71MX$47.36
$1.52R$7.60
78.29%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.88MX$32.89
$1.27R$6.31
48.03%
Eggs
$2.51MX$43.90
$2.29R$11.41
9.61%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.08MX$176
$8.08R$40.34
24.75%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.29MX$145
$3.73R$18.60
122.25%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.94MX$209
$8.63R$43.06
38.35%
Apples(1kg)
$2.86MX$50.1
$2.24R$11.20
27.68%
Banana(1kg)
$1.75MX$30.62
$1.78R$8.90
-1.69%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.48
$1.48R$7.39
40.54%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.97MX$34.46
$1.58R$7.87
24.68%
Potato(1kg)
$2.16MX$37.79
$1.31R$6.55
64.89%
Onion(1kg)
$2.18MX$38.16
$1.14R$5.70
91.23%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.39MX$24.34
$0.76R$3.79
82.89%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.12MX$19.69
$0.65R$3.24
72.31%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.20MX$73.5
$2.69R$13.41
56.13%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.25MX$249
$9.69R$48.33
47.06%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76MX$30.85
$1.32R$6.57
33.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68MX$64.5
$3.33R$16.61
10.51%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Francisco Morato
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.39MX$6.74
$0.94R$4.71
-58.51%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.66MX$327
$38.91R$194
-52.04%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.39MX$24.26
$0.86R$4.29
61.63%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.30MX$5.32
$1.02R$5.07
-70.59%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.42MX$94.9
$8.41R$41.97
-35.55%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35MX$23.63
$1.01R$5.06
33.66%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.9KMX$330.5K
$22.4KR$111.9K
-15.77%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.2KMX$405.2K
$29.4KR$146.5K
-21.14%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Francisco Morato
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.82MX$714
$47.80R$239
-14.60%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.50MX$481
$15.07R$75.2
82.48%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.38MX$532
$19.04R$95.0
59.56%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Francisco Morato
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$53.4MX$935
$22.27R$111
139.92%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.30MX$460
$21.73R$108
21.03%
Cinema Ticket
$6.27MX$110
$5.27R$26.29
18.98%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Francisco Morato
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$436MX$7,632
$313R$1,561
39.40%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.5KMX$183.2K
$6,840R$34.1K
53.05%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Francisco Morato
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.8MX$993
$57.9R$289
-1.88%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.79MX$784
$52.5R$262
-14.60%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103MX$1,799
$83.9R$418
22.61%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108MX$1,888
$72.0R$359
49.92%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Francisco Morato
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,000MX$17.5K
$312R$1,555
220.74%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$620MX$10.9K
$218R$1,087
184.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,137MX$37.4K
$590R$2,946
261.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,235MX$21.6K
$436R$2,175
183.41%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,865MX$67.6K
$1,692R$8,445
128.40%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,332MX$40.8K
$1,193R$5,955
95.42%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Francisco Morato
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,067MX$18.7K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
10.92
3.85%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: April 27, 2026
Last update for Francisco Morato: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,000 in Mexico City and $312 in Francisco Morato. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $53.0 in Mexico City vs $33.00 in Francisco Morato for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $286 vs $195 per month, with Francisco Morato 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 Francisco Morato: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Francisco Morato cheaper than Mexico City?
Francisco Morato is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 86% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $2,225 in Mexico City and $1,196 in Francisco Morato to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Mexico City and Francisco Morato?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,000 in Mexico City versus $312 in Francisco Morato. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Mexico City or Francisco Morato?
Dining out is cheaper in Francisco Morato – a meal for two runs $33.00 versus $53.0 in Mexico City. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Mexico City vs Francisco Morato?
All in, you'll spend $1,484 per month in Mexico City versus $798 in Francisco Morato – a 86% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Mexico City or Francisco Morato?
At $798 in Francisco Morato versus $1,484 in Mexico City, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Francisco Morato but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Francisco Morato the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Mexico City or Francisco Morato more family-friendly?
For families, Francisco Morato is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Mexico City, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Francisco Morato gentler on the wallet – expenses run 86% 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