🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,467 in Mexico City versus $2,316 in Freeport.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,371 in Mexico City versus $3,584 in Freeport.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,274 in Mexico City versus $4,852 in Freeport.
🙂Living in Mexico City costs roughly 37% less than in Freeport, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Mexico City10% above, Freeport73% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Freeport
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.18MX$228
$22.54BSD 22.54
-41.53%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.9MX$932
$101BSD 101
-46.63%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.42MX$163
$12.09BSD 12.09
-22.08%
Cappuccino
$3.55MX$61.4
$5.57BSD 5.57
-36.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$27.98
$2.19BSD 2.19
-26.03%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.11MX$19.27
$1.60BSD 1.60
-30.62%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.12MX$54.0
$4.58BSD 4.58
-31.88%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.63MX$80.1
$8.08BSD 8.08
-42.70%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Freeport
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.70MX$29.43
$1.80BSD 1.80
-5.56%
White Bread(500g)
$2.72MX$47.02
$3.71BSD 3.71
-26.68%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.91MX$33.07
$5.42BSD 5.42
-64.76%
Eggs
$2.54MX$43.86
$8.40BSD 8.40
-69.76%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.03MX$174
$9.07BSD 9.07
10.58%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.09MX$140
-
-
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.62MX$201
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$2.97MX$51.3
-
-
Banana(1kg)
$1.81MX$31.24
$2.85BSD 2.85
-36.49%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01MX$34.82
-
-
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03MX$35.20
$6.72BSD 6.72
-69.79%
Potato(1kg)
$2.12MX$36.75
-
-
Onion(1kg)
$2.27MX$39.25
$2.23BSD 2.23
1.79%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.40MX$24.22
$3.27BSD 3.27
-57.19%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.13MX$19.55
$1.90BSD 1.90
-40.53%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27MX$73.9
-
-
Wine(Bottle)
$15.56MX$269
$20.21BSD 20.21
-23.01%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76MX$30.39
$4.25BSD 4.25
-58.59%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.60MX$62.2
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Freeport
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38MX$6.62
$1.49BSD 1.49
-74.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.18MX$332
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.38MX$23.79
$2.99BSD 2.99
-53.85%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28MX$4.78
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.45MX$94.2
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.30MX$22.55
$1.51BSD 1.51
-13.91%
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
$34.5KBSD 34.5K
-32.91%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Freeport
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.86MX$707
$120BSD 120
-65.84%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.81MX$464
$40.62BSD 40.62
-34.00%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.96MX$518
$63.6BSD 63.6
-52.92%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Freeport
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.0MX$900
$46.97BSD 46.97
10.75%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.84MX$464
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.30MX$109
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Freeport
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$436MX$7,544
$376BSD 376
15.92%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.4KMX$180.2K
$8,032BSD 8,032
29.69%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Freeport
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.7MX$980
$47.00BSD 47.00
20.53%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.38MX$768
$24.61BSD 24.61
80.33%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103MX$1,780
$94.8BSD 94.8
8.55%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106MX$1,825
$79.5BSD 79.5
32.70%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Freeport
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,022MX$17.7K
$1,169BSD 1,169
-12.54%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$631MX$10.9K
$1,302BSD 1,302
-51.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,136MX$36.9K
$2,113BSD 2,113
1.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,243MX$21.5K
$2,388BSD 2,388
-47.96%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,903MX$67.5K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,064MX$35.7K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Freeport
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,115MX$19.3K
$1,552BSD 1,552
-28.15%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
10.38
9.25%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: May 31, 2026
Last update for Freeport: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,022 in Mexico City and $1,169 in Freeport. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Freeport pays 39% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $54.0 in Mexico City vs $101 in Freeport for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $288 vs $290 per month, with Mexico City 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 Freeport: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and Freeport?
Mexico City and Freeport differ by about 58% in total monthly costs ($1,467 vs $2,316 including rent). Mexico City is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Freeport earns 39% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Mexico City and Freeport?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,022 in Mexico City versus $1,169 in Freeport. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Mexico City and Freeport?
Childcare runs $436 in Mexico City versus $376 in Freeport. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Mexico City – a meal for two runs $54.0 versus $101 in Freeport. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,467 in Mexico City versus $2,316 in Freeport, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Mexico City but tight or insufficient in Freeport. 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 Freeport?
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.
Where should expats move: Mexico City or Freeport?
Expats usually find Mexico City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 58% less than in Freeport. 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