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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,472 per month in Mexico City vs $620 in Iquitos, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,359 per month in Mexico City vs $1,145 in Iquitos, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,245 per month in Mexico City vs $1,670 in Iquitos, rent included.

Mexico City costs about 138% more than Iquitos, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Mexico City sits 11% above the global median, while Iquitos is 53% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.14 MX$227

$4.22 PEN 14.31

211.37%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.5 MX$926

$36.59 PEN 124

46.30%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.33 MX$161

$6.99 PEN 23.72

33.48%

Cappuccino

$3.70 MX$64.0

$3.34 PEN 11.35

10.78%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.60 MX$27.76

$0.79 PEN 2.70

102.53%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.12 MX$19.34

$0.99 PEN 3.36

13.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.14 MX$54.3

$2.71 PEN 9.18

15.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.85 MX$83.9

$6.85 PEN 23.26

-29.20%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 MX$28.61

$1.70 PEN 5.77

-2.94%

White Bread (500g)

$2.71 MX$46.96

$2.25 PEN 7.63

20.44%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.91 MX$33.03

Eggs

$2.59 MX$44.81

$2.42 PEN 8.23

7.02%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.81 MX$170

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.43 MX$146

$2.97 PEN 10.10

183.84%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.93 MX$206

Apples (1kg)

$2.95 MX$51.1

Banana (1kg)

$1.74 MX$30.10

Oranges (1kg)

$2.04 MX$35.38

Tomato (1kg)

$2.06 MX$35.64

Potato (1kg)

$2.15 MX$37.20

Onion (1kg)

$2.26 MX$39.02

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.39 MX$23.97

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.12 MX$19.31

$0.80 PEN 2.70

40.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.22 MX$73.0

Wine (Bottle)

$17.51 MX$303

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 MX$29.58

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 MX$62.8

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.35 MX$6.10

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.32 MX$334

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.38 MX$23.80

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.28 MX$4.77

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.28 MX$91.3

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 MX$23.50

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$19.1K MX$330.5K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$23.6K MX$408.4K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$40.53 MX$701

$33.54 PEN 114

20.84%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$27.38 MX$474

$11.00 PEN 37.35

148.91%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.38 MX$526

$8.30 PEN 28.18

266.02%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.2 MX$903

$27.67 PEN 93.9

88.72%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.48 MX$458

$8.47 PEN 28.76

212.63%

Cinema Ticket

$6.19 MX$107

$5.73 PEN 19.44

8.03%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$425 MX$7,355

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.7K MX$185.7K

$2,648 PEN 8,989

305.46%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.3 MX$1,009

$84.4 PEN 286

-30.89%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.57 MX$771

$33.22 PEN 113

34.17%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 MX$1,791

$49.61 PEN 168

108.61%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 MX$1,881

$25.12 PEN 85.3

332.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,014 MX$17.5K

$328 PEN 1,114

209.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$623 MX$10.8K

$246 PEN 834

153.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,119 MX$36.7K

$830 PEN 2,819

155.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,223 MX$21.2K

$694 PEN 2,355

76.37%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,792 MX$65.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,110 MX$36.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,052 MX$18.2K

$591 PEN 2,008

77.90%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.34

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

Last update for Mexico City: July 25, 2026

Last update for Iquitos: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,014 in Mexico City versus $328 in Iquitos. 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 78% 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 $54.0 in Mexico City versus $37.00 in Iquitos. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $293 vs $74.0 – making Iquitos 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 Iquitos: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Mexico City is pricier by about 138%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,208 per month in Mexico City and $930 in Iquitos. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Iquitos, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 299% 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $54.0 in Mexico City and $37.00 in Iquitos. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Iquitos, where all-in costs run around $620, than in Mexico City at $1,472. In Iquitos it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mexico City it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Iquitos – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Iquitos. 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.