😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,447 in Mexico City versus $899 in Green Island.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,310 in Mexico City versus $1,446 in Green Island.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,174 in Mexico City versus $1,994 in Green Island.
😐Living in Mexico City is roughly 61% more expensive than Green Island, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 8% above, Green Island is 33% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Green Island
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.98MX$227
$7.68JMD 1,208
69.01%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$52.6MX$918
$62.8JMD 9,878
-16.23%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.43MX$165
$8.72JMD 1,372
8.14%
Cappuccino
$3.57MX$62.3
$4.42JMD 695
-19.23%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.61MX$28.02
$1.31JMD 207
22.90%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.15MX$20.14
$0.76JMD 119
51.32%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.15MX$55.0
$2.49JMD 391
26.51%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.86MX$84.8
$3.20JMD 504
51.88%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Green Island
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.70MX$29.66
$4.36JMD 686
-61.01%
White Bread(500g)
$2.64MX$45.99
$3.67JMD 577
-28.07%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.90MX$33.22
$1.55JMD 244
22.58%
Eggs
$2.54MX$44.35
$3.57JMD 562
-28.85%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.08MX$176
$11.26JMD 1,771
-10.48%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.29MX$145
$6.44JMD 1,013
28.73%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.57MX$202
$7.67JMD 1,206
50.85%
Apples(1kg)
$3.03MX$52.8
$5.89JMD 927
-48.56%
Banana(1kg)
$1.71MX$29.85
$3.09JMD 486
-44.66%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.05MX$35.76
$4.21JMD 662
-51.31%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.06MX$35.95
$2.89JMD 455
-28.72%
Potato(1kg)
$2.06MX$36.03
$2.10JMD 331
-1.90%
Onion(1kg)
$2.17MX$37.87
$2.01JMD 317
7.96%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.40MX$24.49
$3.13JMD 493
-55.27%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.12MX$19.58
$1.45JMD 228
-22.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.29MX$74.9
$8.83JMD 1,389
-51.42%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.41MX$269
$11.34JMD 1,784
35.89%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.67MX$29.23
$2.78JMD 437
-39.93%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.69MX$64.3
$3.05JMD 480
20.98%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Green Island
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38MX$6.66
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.06MX$333
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.38MX$24.10
$1.07JMD 168
28.97%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28MX$4.82
$3.25JMD 512
-91.38%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.42MX$94.5
$6.17JMD 970
-12.16%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.28MX$22.35
$1.29JMD 203
-0.78%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.0KMX$331.3K
$42.3KJMD 6.7M
-55.13%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.5KMX$409.5K
$33.3KJMD 5.2M
-29.47%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Green Island
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$41.02MX$716
$165JMD 25.9K
-75.11%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.92MX$470
$22.16JMD 3,486
21.48%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.69MX$518
$49.98JMD 7,862
-40.60%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Green Island
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.3MX$913
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.23MX$458
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.18MX$108
$13.07JMD 2,055
-52.72%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Green Island
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$427MX$7,454
$224JMD 35.3K
90.35%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.7KMX$186.7K
$2,478JMD 389.7K
331.78%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Green Island
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.8MX$992
$26.45JMD 4,160
114.82%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.83MX$782
$25.69JMD 4,041
74.50%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$105MX$1,824
$69.9JMD 11.0K
49.65%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106MX$1,849
$75.3JMD 11.8K
40.69%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Green Island
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$995MX$17.4K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$621MX$10.8K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,126MX$37.1K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,254MX$21.9K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,903MX$68.1K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,096MX$36.6K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Green Island
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,107MX$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 Green Island: June 9, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $53.0 in Mexico City vs $63.0 in Green Island for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $288 vs $352 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 Green Island?
Mexico City and Green Island differ by about 61% in total monthly costs ($1,447 vs $899 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 $2,171 in Mexico City and $1,348 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 22% 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 $1,447 per month in Mexico City versus $899 in Green Island – a 61% 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 $899 in Green Island versus $1,447 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 61% 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