😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,447 in Mexico City versus $724 in Irati.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,310 in Mexico City versus $1,184 in Irati.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,174 in Mexico City versus $1,644 in Irati.
😐Living in Mexico City is roughly 100% more expensive than Irati, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 8% above, Irati is 46% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Irati
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.98MX$223
$7.37R$37.29
76.12%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$52.6MX$903
$35.87R$182
46.67%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.43MX$162
$6.15R$31.11
53.33%
Cappuccino
$3.57MX$61.3
$1.34R$6.80
166.42%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.61MX$27.55
$0.98R$4.97
64.29%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.15MX$19.81
$0.66R$3.36
74.24%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.15MX$54.0
$1.23R$6.23
156.10%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.86MX$83.4
$1.86R$9.43
161.29%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Irati
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.70MX$29.17
$0.73R$3.70
132.88%
White Bread(500g)
$2.64MX$45.23
$1.05R$5.32
151.43%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.90MX$32.67
$0.67R$3.41
183.58%
Eggs
$2.54MX$43.62
$1.28R$6.46
98.44%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.08MX$173
$5.88R$29.79
71.43%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.29MX$142
$3.16R$15.97
162.34%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.57MX$199
$7.35R$37.19
57.41%
Apples(1kg)
$3.03MX$52.0
$1.31R$6.65
131.30%
Banana(1kg)
$1.71MX$29.35
$0.70R$3.53
144.29%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.05MX$35.16
$0.73R$3.72
180.82%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.06MX$35.36
$1.21R$6.12
70.25%
Potato(1kg)
$2.06MX$35.43
$0.74R$3.77
178.38%
Onion(1kg)
$2.17MX$37.25
$0.55R$2.80
294.55%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.40MX$24.08
$0.43R$2.15
225.58%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.12MX$19.26
$0.54R$2.72
107.41%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.29MX$73.7
$1.94R$9.82
121.13%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.41MX$265
$7.57R$38.31
103.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.67MX$28.74
$0.99R$5.02
68.69%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.69MX$63.3
$1.47R$7.43
151.02%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Irati
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38MX$6.55
$0.86R$4.37
-55.81%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.06MX$327
$38.30R$194
-50.23%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.38MX$23.70
$1.29R$6.53
6.98%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28MX$4.74
$0.65R$3.30
-56.92%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.42MX$92.9
$5.16R$26.13
5.04%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.28MX$21.98
$1.04R$5.28
23.08%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.0KMX$325.8K
$16.3KR$82.5K
16.53%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.5KMX$402.7K
$23.6KR$119.2K
-0.38%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Irati
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$41.02MX$704
$53.1R$269
-22.76%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.92MX$462
$13.22R$66.9
103.63%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.69MX$510
$15.80R$80.0
87.91%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Irati
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.3MX$898
$22.08R$112
137.00%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.23MX$450
$21.98R$111
19.34%
Cinema Ticket
$6.18MX$106
$6.20R$31.37
-0.32%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Irati
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$427MX$7,331
$268R$1,356
59.50%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.7KMX$183.6K
$5,535R$28.0K
93.28%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Irati
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.8MX$975
$45.38R$230
25.21%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.83MX$769
$44.00R$223
1.89%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$105MX$1,794
$81.1R$411
28.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106MX$1,819
$52.6R$266
101.46%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Irati
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$995MX$17.1K
$315R$1,592
216.23%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$621MX$10.7K
$214R$1,085
189.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,126MX$36.5K
$583R$2,951
264.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,254MX$21.5K
$421R$2,132
197.62%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,903MX$67.0K
$1,511R$7,647
158.37%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,096MX$36.0K
$1,128R$5,709
85.81%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Irati
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,107MX$19.0K
$502R$2,542
120.53%
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: June 7, 2026
Last update for Irati: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $995 in Mexico City and $315 in Irati. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 121% 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 $288 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 100% 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 121% 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: $995 in Mexico City versus $315 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 101% 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 $427 in Mexico City versus $268 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 $724 in Irati versus $1,447 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 $724 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 100% 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