😐A single person spends $1,447 per month in Mexico City vs $422 in Imbabah, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,310 per month in Mexico City vs $686 in Imbabah, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,174 per month in Mexico City vs $950 in Imbabah, rent included.
😐Mexico City costs about 243% more than Imbabah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Mexico City sits 8% above the global median, while Imbabah is 69% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Imbabah
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.98MX$223
$3.62E£185
258.56%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$52.6MX$903
$15.60E£797
237.24%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.43MX$162
$4.73E£242
99.37%
Cappuccino
$3.57MX$61.3
$1.51E£77.0
136.42%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.61MX$27.55
$0.29E£14.57
455.17%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.15MX$19.81
$0.10E£5.05
1050.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.15MX$54.0
$1.21E£62.0
160.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.86MX$83.4
$2.98E£152
63.09%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Imbabah
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.70MX$29.17
$0.60E£30.86
183.33%
White Bread(500g)
$2.64MX$45.23
$0.19E£9.45
1289.47%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.90MX$32.67
$0.67E£34.18
183.58%
Eggs
$2.54MX$43.62
$1.46E£74.6
73.97%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.08MX$173
$1.45E£74.1
595.17%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.29MX$142
$3.14E£160
164.01%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.57MX$199
$6.84E£349
69.15%
Apples(1kg)
$3.03MX$52.0
$1.43E£73.0
111.89%
Banana(1kg)
$1.71MX$29.35
$0.51E£26.05
235.29%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.05MX$35.16
$0.39E£19.73
425.64%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.06MX$35.36
$0.22E£11.28
836.36%
Potato(1kg)
$2.06MX$35.43
$0.41E£20.72
402.44%
Onion(1kg)
$2.17MX$37.25
$0.41E£20.86
429.27%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.40MX$24.08
$0.11E£5.80
1172.73%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.12MX$19.26
$0.19E£9.95
489.47%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.29MX$73.7
$1.74E£89.1
146.55%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.41MX$265
$1.93E£98.7
698.45%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.67MX$28.74
$1.33E£68.0
25.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.69MX$63.3
$1.93E£98.6
91.19%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Imbabah
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38MX$6.55
$0.19E£9.66
100.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.06MX$327
$14.53E£742
31.18%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.38MX$23.70
$0.25E£12.82
452.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28MX$4.74
$0.45E£23.11
-37.78%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.42MX$92.9
$2.04E£104
165.69%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.28MX$21.98
$0.25E£12.80
412.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.0KMX$325.8K
$35.2KE£1.8M
-46.10%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.5KMX$402.7K
$33.2KE£1.7M
-29.32%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Imbabah
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$41.02MX$704
$11.33E£578
262.05%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.92MX$462
$5.84E£298
360.96%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.69MX$510
$10.19E£520
191.36%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Imbabah
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.3MX$898
$22.01E£1,124
137.76%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.23MX$450
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.18MX$106
$2.87E£147
115.33%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Imbabah
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$427MX$7,331
$24.00E£1,226
1679.58%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.7KMX$183.6K
$974E£49.7K
998.73%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Imbabah
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.8MX$975
$15.78E£806
260.08%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.83MX$769
$19.89E£1,016
125.39%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$105MX$1,794
$111E£5,650
-5.52%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106MX$1,819
$50.8E£2,595
108.48%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Imbabah
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$995MX$17.1K
$193E£9,852
415.57%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$621MX$10.7K
$101E£5,174
513.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,126MX$36.5K
$308E£15.7K
591.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,254MX$21.5K
$177E£9,034
608.66%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,903MX$67.0K
$785E£40.1K
397.01%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,096MX$36.0K
$362E£18.5K
479.39%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Imbabah
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,107MX$19.0K
$94.3E£4,814
1074.55%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
17
-33.29%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: June 7, 2026
Last update for Imbabah: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $995 in Mexico City versus $193 in Imbabah. 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 1075% 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 $53.0 in Mexico City versus $16.00 in Imbabah. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $288 vs $89.0 – making Imbabah 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 Imbabah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Mexico City and Imbabah compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,447 in Mexico City, $422 in Imbabah – roughly 243% 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 Imbabah?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,171 per month in Mexico City and $633 in Imbabah. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Mexico City and Imbabah?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Imbabah, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 223% more in Mexico City, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $53.0 in Mexico City and $16.00 in Imbabah. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Imbabah, where all-in costs run around $422, than in Mexico City at $1,447. In Imbabah 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 Imbabah?
It depends on your priorities. Mexico City has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $422 in Imbabah to $1,447 in Mexico City. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How do I decide between Mexico City and Imbabah?
If budget matters most, go with Imbabah. 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.
Mexico City vs other spots: cost of living compared