😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,456 in Mexico City versus $881 in Hamra.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,361 in Mexico City versus $1,391 in Hamra.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,266 in Mexico City versus $1,901 in Hamra.
🌍Living in Mexico City is roughly 65% more expensive than in Hamra, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 9% above, Hamra is 34% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Hamra
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.07MX$229
$10.86LBP 972.3K
20.35%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.8MX$943
$60.7LBP 5.4M
-11.51%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.68MX$170
$7.98LBP 714.6K
21.30%
Cappuccino
$3.74MX$65.6
$3.43LBP 306.9K
9.04%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$28.34
$1.59LBP 142.2K
1.89%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.16MX$20.37
$0.92LBP 82.1K
26.09%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.23MX$56.6
$3.59LBP 321.3K
-10.03%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.74MX$83.1
$4.87LBP 435.6K
-2.67%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Hamra
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.65MX$28.89
$1.80LBP 161.0K
-8.33%
White Bread(500g)
$2.75MX$48.30
$0.85LBP 75.7K
223.53%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.87MX$32.87
$1.84LBP 164.6K
1.63%
Eggs
$2.50MX$43.86
$3.21LBP 287.2K
-22.12%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.20MX$179
$11.49LBP 1.0M
-11.23%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.25MX$145
$9.49LBP 849.2K
-13.07%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.82MX$207
$11.44LBP 1.0M
3.32%
Apples(1kg)
$3.01MX$52.8
$1.78LBP 159.4K
69.10%
Banana(1kg)
$1.81MX$31.77
$1.47LBP 131.9K
23.13%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.00MX$35.07
$1.15LBP 102.7K
73.91%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.00MX$35.00
$1.09LBP 97.3K
83.49%
Potato(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.56
$1.01LBP 90.1K
105.94%
Onion(1kg)
$2.27MX$39.85
$1.05LBP 93.7K
116.19%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.46MX$25.55
$0.81LBP 72.9K
80.25%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08MX$18.88
$0.52LBP 46.2K
107.69%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.35MX$76.3
$2.54LBP 226.9K
71.26%
Wine(Bottle)
$16.99MX$298
$9.85LBP 881.7K
72.49%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73MX$30.40
$1.28LBP 114.9K
35.16%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.58MX$62.7
$2.21LBP 197.8K
61.99%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Hamra
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.39MX$6.79
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.69MX$328
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.33MX$23.25
$5.06LBP 452.5K
-73.72%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28MX$4.91
$1.28LBP 114.3K
-78.13%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.25MX$92.1
$20.08LBP 1.8M
-73.85%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.34MX$23.44
$0.90LBP 80.5K
48.89%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.4KMX$340.5K
$34.8KLBP 3.1B
-44.20%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.8KMX$418.0K
$28.3KLBP 2.5B
-15.83%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Hamra
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.69MX$714
$215LBP 19.2M
-81.06%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.87MX$471
$38.24LBP 3.4M
-29.73%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.51MX$535
$37.73LBP 3.4M
-19.14%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Hamra
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.8MX$926
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.65MX$467
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.51MX$114
$7.87LBP 704.8K
-17.28%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Hamra
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$428MX$7,508
$306LBP 27.4M
39.82%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.5KMX$184.2K
$4,500LBP 402.7M
133.33%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Hamra
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.3MX$1,004
$69.8LBP 6.3M
-18.03%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.50MX$798
$44.95LBP 4.0M
1.22%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104MX$1,825
$125LBP 11.2M
-16.55%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108MX$1,891
$96.3LBP 8.6M
12.02%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Hamra
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,003MX$17.6K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$623MX$10.9K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,109MX$37.0K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,218MX$21.4K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,885MX$68.1K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,033MX$35.7K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Hamra
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,038MX$18.2K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
11.16
1.61%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: July 13, 2026
Last update for Hamra: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $54.0 in Mexico City vs $61.0 in Hamra. Groceries flip the comparison at $292 vs $236, with Hamra cheaper for home cooking.
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 Hamra: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and in Hamra?
Mexico City and Hamra differ by about 65% in total monthly costs ($1,456 vs $881 including rent). Hamra 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 Hamra?
You'd need roughly $2,185 in Mexico City and $1,321 in Hamra 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 difference in childcare costs between Mexico City and Hamra?
Childcare runs $428 in Mexico City versus $306 in Hamra. 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 Hamra – a meal for two runs $61.0 versus $54.0 in Mexico City. 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 $881 in Hamra versus $1,456 in Mexico City, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Hamra but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Hamra the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mexico City and Hamra?
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 Hamra?
Expats usually find Hamra gentler on the wallet – expenses run 65% 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