😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,481 in Mexico City versus $894 in Green Island.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,352 in Mexico City versus $1,450 in Green Island.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,222 in Mexico City versus $2,006 in Green Island.
🌍Living in Mexico City is roughly 66% more expensive than in Green Island, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 11% above, Green Island is 33% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Green Island
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.16MX$229
$7.45JMD 1,174
76.64%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.6MX$934
$63.7JMD 10.0K
-15.87%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.55MX$167
$8.68JMD 1,367
10.02%
Cappuccino
$3.72MX$64.9
$4.40JMD 694
-15.45%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57MX$27.33
$1.36JMD 214
15.44%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.16MX$20.16
$0.71JMD 112
63.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.18MX$55.5
$2.44JMD 384
30.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.63MX$80.8
$3.10JMD 487
49.35%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Green Island
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.71MX$29.74
$4.29JMD 676
-60.14%
White Bread(500g)
$2.62MX$45.63
$3.63JMD 572
-27.82%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.89MX$32.93
$1.63JMD 257
15.95%
Eggs
$2.60MX$45.26
$3.58JMD 564
-27.37%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.91MX$173
$11.13JMD 1,752
-10.96%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.22MX$143
$6.18JMD 973
33.01%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.78MX$205
$7.47JMD 1,176
57.70%
Apples(1kg)
$3.00MX$52.2
$5.88JMD 925
-48.98%
Banana(1kg)
$1.80MX$31.38
$3.05JMD 480
-40.98%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.07MX$36.16
$4.27JMD 673
-51.52%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.97MX$34.30
$2.93JMD 461
-32.76%
Potato(1kg)
$2.07MX$36.13
$2.01JMD 317
2.99%
Onion(1kg)
$2.17MX$37.92
$2.02JMD 317
7.43%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.40MX$24.46
$3.01JMD 474
-53.49%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07MX$18.74
$1.48JMD 233
-27.70%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.12MX$71.8
$8.58JMD 1,351
-51.98%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.42MX$304
$11.54JMD 1,818
50.95%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68MX$29.22
$2.78JMD 438
-39.57%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.65MX$63.6
$3.22JMD 506
13.35%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Green Island
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38MX$6.63
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.71MX$326
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.33MX$23.18
$1.11JMD 175
19.82%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.30MX$5.28
$3.25JMD 512
-90.77%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.51MX$96.1
$6.34JMD 999
-13.09%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31MX$22.76
$1.23JMD 193
6.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.2KMX$334.2K
$43.2KJMD 6.8M
-55.61%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.7KMX$414.1K
$33.6KJMD 5.3M
-29.41%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Green Island
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$41.14MX$717
$164JMD 25.8K
-74.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.74MX$484
$22.27JMD 3,506
24.56%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.13MX$525
$51.6JMD 8,123
-41.59%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Green Island
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$53.7MX$937
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.98MX$453
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.49MX$113
$13.28JMD 2,091
-51.13%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Green Island
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$437MX$7,614
$226JMD 35.6K
93.37%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.5KMX$182.3K
$2,522JMD 397.2K
314.58%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Green Island
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.3MX$1,017
$25.71JMD 4,048
126.88%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.86MX$800
$25.41JMD 4,001
80.48%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101MX$1,769
$71.3JMD 11.2K
42.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107MX$1,858
$76.3JMD 12.0K
39.71%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Green Island
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,005MX$17.5K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$634MX$11.0K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,148MX$37.5K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,247MX$21.7K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,859MX$67.3K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,085MX$36.3K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Green Island
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,072MX$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 Green Island: July 19, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $54.0 in Mexico City vs $64.0 in Green Island for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $291 vs $349 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 Green Island: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and in Green Island?
Mexico City and Green Island differ by about 66% in total monthly costs ($1,481 vs $894 including rent). Green Island is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Mexico City compared to Green Island?
You'd need roughly $2,222 in Mexico City and $1,341 in Green Island 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.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Shoppers in Mexico City pay roughly 20% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more expensive overall: Mexico City or Green Island?
All in, you'll spend $1,481 per month in Mexico City versus $894 in Green Island – a 66% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $894 in Green Island versus $1,481 in Mexico City, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Green Island but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Green Island the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mexico City and Green Island?
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 Green Island?
Expats usually find Green Island gentler on the wallet – expenses run 66% 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