😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,484 in Mexico City versus $716 in Irati.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,381 in Mexico City versus $1,165 in Irati.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,278 in Mexico City versus $1,615 in Irati.
😐Living in Mexico City is roughly 107% more expensive than Irati, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 11% above, Irati is 47% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Irati
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.98MX$227
$7.23R$36.07
79.53%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.1MX$929
$36.42R$182
45.72%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.72MX$170
$6.18R$30.82
57.28%
Cappuccino
$3.75MX$65.6
$1.36R$6.78
175.74%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57MX$27.46
$0.99R$4.92
58.59%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.13MX$19.76
$0.66R$3.30
71.21%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.18MX$55.7
$1.24R$6.18
156.45%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.66MX$81.6
$1.83R$9.14
154.64%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Irati
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.62MX$28.37
$0.69R$3.43
134.78%
White Bread(500g)
$2.71MX$47.36
$1.06R$5.29
155.66%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.88MX$32.89
$0.67R$3.32
180.60%
Eggs
$2.51MX$43.90
$1.22R$6.07
105.74%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.08MX$176
$5.60R$27.94
80.00%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.29MX$145
$3.14R$15.65
164.01%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.94MX$209
$7.23R$36.09
65.15%
Apples(1kg)
$2.86MX$50.1
$1.36R$6.81
110.29%
Banana(1kg)
$1.75MX$30.62
$0.70R$3.47
150.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.48
$0.75R$3.73
177.33%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.97MX$34.46
$1.20R$6.00
64.17%
Potato(1kg)
$2.16MX$37.79
$0.74R$3.69
191.89%
Onion(1kg)
$2.18MX$38.16
$0.55R$2.76
296.36%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.39MX$24.34
$0.46R$2.28
202.17%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.12MX$19.69
$0.59R$2.93
89.83%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.20MX$73.5
$2.01R$10.03
108.96%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.25MX$249
$7.98R$39.84
78.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76MX$30.85
$0.99R$4.94
77.78%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68MX$64.5
$1.45R$7.24
153.79%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Irati
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.39MX$6.74
$0.94R$4.68
-58.51%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.66MX$327
$38.32R$191
-51.30%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.39MX$24.26
$1.29R$6.46
7.75%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.30MX$5.32
$0.65R$3.25
-53.85%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.42MX$94.9
$4.92R$24.55
10.16%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35MX$23.63
$1.05R$5.22
28.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.9KMX$330.5K
$16.7KR$83.2K
13.24%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.2KMX$405.2K
$23.4KR$116.8K
-1.11%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Irati
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.82MX$714
$53.9R$269
-24.24%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.50MX$481
$12.98R$64.8
111.86%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.38MX$532
$16.21R$80.9
87.42%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Irati
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$53.4MX$935
$22.63R$113
136.10%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.30MX$460
$21.72R$108
21.09%
Cinema Ticket
$6.27MX$110
$6.40R$31.94
-2.03%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Irati
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$436MX$7,632
$274R$1,369
58.91%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.5KMX$183.2K
$5,631R$28.1K
85.88%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Irati
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.8MX$993
$45.87R$229
23.74%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.79MX$784
$42.99R$215
4.19%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103MX$1,799
$80.6R$402
27.52%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108MX$1,888
$52.3R$261
106.51%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Irati
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,000MX$17.5K
$313R$1,561
219.50%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$620MX$10.9K
$216R$1,077
187.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,137MX$37.4K
$583R$2,907
266.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,235MX$21.6K
$437R$2,178
182.91%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,865MX$67.6K
$1,675R$8,357
130.80%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,332MX$40.8K
$1,176R$5,867
98.35%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Irati
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,067MX$18.7K
$515R$2,569
107.27%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
10.2
11.18%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: April 27, 2026
Last update for Irati: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,000 in Mexico City and $313 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: $53.0 in Mexico City vs $36.00 in Irati for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $286 vs $135 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 107% 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 Irati?
Mexico City pays 107% more on average, 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 vs Irati?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,000 in Mexico City versus $313 in Irati. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Mexico City vs Irati?
A monthly transit pass in Irati runs roughly 105% 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 Irati?
Childcare runs $436 in Mexico City versus $274 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 Irati?
At $716 in Irati versus $1,484 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 $716 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 107% 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