Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Iligan City Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Iligan City

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,660 per month in Mexico City vs $735 in Iligan City, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,565 per month in Mexico City vs $1,111 in Iligan City, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,470 per month in Mexico City vs $1,487 in Iligan City, rent included.

Mexico City costs about 126% more than Iligan City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Mexico City sits 21% above the global median, while Iligan City is 46% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Iligan City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.92 MX$205
$3.62 ₱227
229.28%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$51.6 MX$886
$17.64 ₱1,106
192.52%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.41 MX$196
$2.73 ₱171
317.95%
Cappuccino
$3.99 MX$68.6
$2.48 ₱155
60.89%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66 MX$28.48
$0.62 ₱39.12
167.74%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.33 MX$22.77
$0.30 ₱19.05
343.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.47 MX$59.6
$1.12 ₱70.0
209.82%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.90 MX$101
$1.83 ₱115
222.40%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Iligan City
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.88 MX$32.21
$1.97 ₱123
-4.57%
White Bread (500g)
$3.25 MX$55.9
$1.12 ₱70.1
190.18%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.16 MX$37.10
$0.91 ₱56.9
137.36%
Eggs
$2.90 MX$49.72
$1.95 ₱122
48.72%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.86 MX$221
$5.37 ₱336
139.48%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.05 MX$173
$4.28 ₱268
134.81%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.86 MX$272
$7.02 ₱440
125.93%
Apples (1kg)
$3.29 MX$56.6
$2.27 ₱142
44.93%
Banana (1kg)
$2.01 MX$34.44
$1.53 ₱96.1
31.37%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.20 MX$37.76
$2.41 ₱151
-8.71%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.36 MX$40.44
$1.17 ₱73.5
101.71%
Potato (1kg)
$2.05 MX$35.27
$2.03 ₱127
0.99%
Onion (1kg)
$1.90 MX$32.64
$1.99 ₱125
-4.52%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.61 MX$27.55
$0.75 ₱47.23
114.67%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.40 MX$23.98
$0.52 ₱32.80
169.23%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.46 MX$93.8
$2.53 ₱159
115.81%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.65 MX$303
$7.82 ₱490
125.70%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.06 MX$35.28
$0.92 ₱57.8
123.91%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.68 MX$80.4
$1.87 ₱117
150.27%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Iligan City
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.34 MX$5.81
$0.27 ₱17.09
25.93%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$20.81 MX$357
$11.93 ₱747
74.43%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.10 MX$35.99
$0.87 ₱54.4
141.38%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.56 MX$9.60
$0.21 ₱13.42
166.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.81 MX$99.8
$1.87 ₱117
210.70%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.61 MX$27.56
$1.08 ₱67.7
49.07%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.8K MX$392.1K
$23.8K ₱1.5M
-3.96%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8K MX$459.2K
$21.2K ₱1.3M
26.39%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Iligan City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$65.2 MX$1,119
$108 ₱6,781
-39.76%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.09 MX$517
$15.08 ₱945
99.54%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.18 MX$638
$24.61 ₱1,543
51.08%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Iligan City
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$59.8 MX$1,026
$31.38 ₱1,967
90.44%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.55 MX$456
$5.28 ₱331
402.84%
Cinema Ticket
$7.04 MX$121
$5.03 ₱315
39.96%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Iligan City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$465 MX$7,976
$115 ₱7,207
304.05%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13.3K MX$227.8K
$7,666 ₱480.4K
73.15%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Iligan City
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$75.9 MX$1,303
$31.95 ₱2,002
137.50%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$56.0 MX$960
$21.20 ₱1,328
163.92%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$112 MX$1,920
$72.7 ₱4,555
53.90%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121 MX$2,068
$49.30 ₱3,090
144.42%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Iligan City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,103 MX$18.9K
$111 ₱6,961
892.57%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$721 MX$12.4K
$172 ₱10.8K
318.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,530 MX$43.4K
$504 ₱31.6K
401.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,293 MX$22.2K
$352 ₱22.1K
267.60%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,991 MX$68.5K
$2,248 ₱140.8K
77.58%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,090 MX$35.9K
$945 ₱59.2K
121.09%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Iligan City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,037 MX$17.8K
$199 ₱12.5K
420.23%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.3
6.75
67.41%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Mexico City: September 14, 2026

Last update for Iligan City: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,103 in Mexico City versus $111 in Iligan City. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 420% higher in Mexico City, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $52.0 in Mexico City versus $18.00 in Iligan City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $345 vs $180 – making Iligan City the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Iligan City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Mexico City and in Iligan City compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,660 in Mexico City, $735 in Iligan City – roughly 126% apart. Mexico City costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Mexico City compared to Iligan City?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,489 per month in Mexico City and $1,103 in Iligan City. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Mexico City and Iligan City?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Iligan City, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do commuting costs compare in Mexico City and in Iligan City?
Public transport costs about 74% less in Iligan City. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Mexico City and Iligan City?
Kindergarten costs $465 per month in Mexico City and $115 in Iligan City. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Iligan City, where all-in costs run around $735, than in Mexico City at $1,660. In Iligan City it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mexico City it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Mexico City and Iligan City?
It depends on your priorities. Mexico City has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $735 in Iligan City to $1,660 in Mexico City. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How do I decide between Mexico City and Iligan City?
If budget matters most, go with Iligan City. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Mexico City makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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