😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,660 in Mexico City versus $766 in Irati.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,565 in Mexico City versus $1,199 in Irati.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,470 in Mexico City versus $1,631 in Irati.
🌍Living in Mexico City is roughly 117% more expensive than in Irati, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 21% above, Irati is 44% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Irati
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.92MX$205
$5.80R$29.84
105.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$51.6MX$889
$22.91R$118
125.23%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.41MX$197
$6.66R$34.26
71.32%
Cappuccino
$3.99MX$68.8
$1.42R$7.31
180.99%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66MX$28.58
$0.61R$3.12
172.13%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.33MX$22.85
$0.51R$2.60
160.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.47MX$59.8
$1.38R$7.09
151.45%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.90MX$102
$2.00R$10.30
195.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Irati
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.88MX$32.32
$0.76R$3.92
147.37%
White Bread(500g)
$3.25MX$56.1
$1.10R$5.67
195.45%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.16MX$37.23
$0.78R$4.03
176.92%
Eggs
$2.90MX$49.89
$1.33R$6.82
118.05%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.86MX$221
$6.12R$31.47
110.13%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.05MX$173
$3.08R$15.82
226.30%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.86MX$273
$6.61R$33.99
139.94%
Apples(1kg)
$3.29MX$56.8
$1.64R$8.41
100.61%
Banana(1kg)
$2.01MX$34.56
$0.76R$3.92
164.47%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.20MX$37.89
$0.82R$4.19
168.29%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.36MX$40.58
$1.29R$6.65
82.95%
Potato(1kg)
$2.05MX$35.39
$0.76R$3.89
169.74%
Onion(1kg)
$1.90MX$32.76
$0.60R$3.07
216.67%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.61MX$27.65
$0.50R$2.55
222.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.40MX$24.06
$0.58R$2.98
141.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.46MX$94.1
$2.12R$10.93
157.55%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.65MX$304
$8.77R$45.08
101.25%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.06MX$35.40
$1.09R$5.60
88.99%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.68MX$80.7
$1.54R$7.91
203.90%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Irati
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.34MX$5.83
$0.95R$4.91
-64.21%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$20.81MX$358
$42.26R$217
-50.76%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.10MX$36.12
$1.32R$6.81
59.09%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.56MX$9.63
$1.52R$7.84
-63.16%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.81MX$100
$5.59R$28.75
3.94%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.61MX$27.66
$1.22R$6.28
31.97%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.8KMX$393.4K
$17.4KR$89.5K
31.17%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8KMX$460.8K
$25.2KR$129.8K
5.97%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Irati
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$65.2MX$1,123
$58.9R$303
10.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.09MX$518
$11.02R$56.7
173.05%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.18MX$640
$17.46R$89.8
112.94%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Irati
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$59.8MX$1,029
$25.71R$132
132.44%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.55MX$457
$27.31R$140
-2.78%
Cinema Ticket
$7.04MX$121
$6.73R$34.62
4.61%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Irati
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$465MX$8,003
$309R$1,587
50.53%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.3KMX$228.6K
$6,461R$33.2K
105.44%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Irati
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$75.9MX$1,307
$45.16R$232
68.02%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$56.0MX$964
$47.38R$244
18.09%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$112MX$1,927
$87.2R$448
28.36%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121MX$2,076
$56.6R$291
112.82%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Irati
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,103MX$19.0K
$341R$1,753
223.48%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$721MX$12.4K
$232R$1,194
210.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,530MX$43.6K
$645R$3,317
292.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,293MX$22.3K
$451R$2,318
186.96%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,991MX$68.7K
$1,620R$8,332
146.31%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,090MX$36.0K
$1,128R$5,801
85.23%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Irati
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,037MX$17.9K
$501R$2,578
106.89%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.3
10
13.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: September 14, 2026
Last update for Irati: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,103 in Mexico City and $341 in Irati. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 107% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $52.0 in Mexico City vs $23.00 in Irati for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $345 vs $142 per month, with Irati 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 Irati: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Mexico City or Irati?
Irati wins on cost – living expenses run 117% lower than in Mexico City. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Irati the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Mexico City or in Irati?
Average pay runs 107% higher in Mexico City, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Mexico City compared to Irati?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,103 in Mexico City versus $341 in Irati. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Mexico City compared to Irati?
A monthly transit pass in Irati runs roughly 103% less than in Mexico City. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Mexico City and in Irati?
Childcare runs $465 in Mexico City versus $309 in Irati. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Mexico City or in Irati?
At $766 in Irati versus $1,660 in Mexico City, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Irati but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Irati the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Mexico City or Irati?
Both work as nomad bases, but Irati delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $766 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Irati hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Irati gentler on the wallet – expenses run 117% 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