😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,467 in Mexico City versus $750 in Itajubá, MG.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,371 in Mexico City versus $1,087 in Itajubá, MG.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,274 in Mexico City versus $1,425 in Itajubá, MG.
😐Living in Mexico City is roughly 96% more expensive than Itajubá, MG, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 10% above, Itajubá, MG is 44% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Itajubá, MG
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.18MX$228
$3.52R$17.79
274.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.9MX$934
$14.59R$73.8
269.43%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.42MX$163
$5.01R$25.37
88.02%
Cappuccino
$3.55MX$61.5
$0.71R$3.59
400.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$28.03
$0.75R$3.78
116.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.11MX$19.31
$0.38R$1.92
192.11%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.12MX$54.1
$1.77R$8.96
76.27%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.63MX$80.2
$2.64R$13.35
75.38%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Itajubá, MG
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.70MX$29.48
$0.85R$4.30
100.00%
White Bread(500g)
$2.72MX$47.10
$1.49R$7.55
82.55%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.91MX$33.13
$0.89R$4.48
114.61%
Eggs
$2.54MX$43.94
$2.03R$10.28
25.12%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.03MX$174
$7.80R$39.45
28.59%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.09MX$140
$3.07R$15.54
163.52%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.62MX$201
$5.73R$28.97
102.79%
Apples(1kg)
$2.97MX$51.4
$2.42R$12.26
22.73%
Banana(1kg)
$1.81MX$31.30
$1.62R$8.17
11.73%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01MX$34.88
$1.46R$7.39
37.67%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03MX$35.26
$1.54R$7.81
31.82%
Potato(1kg)
$2.12MX$36.82
$0.55R$2.80
285.45%
Onion(1kg)
$2.27MX$39.32
$1.03R$5.20
120.39%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.40MX$24.26
$0.28R$1.43
400.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.13MX$19.59
$0.56R$2.85
101.79%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27MX$74.0
$2.02R$10.24
111.39%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.56MX$270
$9.11R$46.08
70.80%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76MX$30.44
$1.22R$6.19
44.26%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.60MX$62.3
$1.41R$7.13
155.32%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Itajubá, MG
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38MX$6.64
$0.93R$4.68
-59.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.18MX$332
$38.76R$196
-50.52%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.38MX$23.84
$1.07R$5.40
28.97%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28MX$4.79
$0.69R$3.50
-59.42%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.45MX$94.4
$7.57R$38.30
-28.01%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.30MX$22.60
$1.05R$5.30
23.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.7KMX$323.8K
$15.2KR$77.0K
22.77%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.1KMX$400.8K
$27.8KR$140.4K
-16.67%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Itajubá, MG
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.86MX$708
$105R$529
-60.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.81MX$465
$12.03R$60.9
122.86%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.96MX$519
$16.04R$81.1
86.78%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Itajubá, MG
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.0MX$901
$13.83R$70.0
276.14%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.84MX$465
$21.82R$110
23.01%
Cinema Ticket
$6.30MX$109
$6.57R$33.24
-4.11%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Itajubá, MG
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$436MX$7,558
$539R$2,725
-19.03%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.4KMX$180.5K
$11.7KR$59.4K
-11.23%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Itajubá, MG
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.7MX$982
$44.46R$225
27.42%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.38MX$769
$42.31R$214
4.89%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103MX$1,784
$75.0R$379
37.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106MX$1,829
$61.6R$312
71.33%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Itajubá, MG
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,022MX$17.7K
$294R$1,487
247.75%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$631MX$10.9K
$216R$1,093
192.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,136MX$37.0K
$475R$2,403
349.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,243MX$21.5K
$319R$1,612
290.05%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,903MX$67.6K
$934R$4,724
317.98%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,064MX$35.8K
$693R$3,508
197.72%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Itajubá, MG
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,115MX$19.3K
$300R$1,516
272.15%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
11.33
0.09%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: May 31, 2026
Last update for Itajubá, MG: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,022 in Mexico City and $294 in Itajubá, MG. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 272% 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: $54.0 in Mexico City vs $15.00 in Itajubá, MG for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $288 vs $165 per month, with Itajubá, MG 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 Itajubá, MG: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and Itajubá, MG?
Mexico City and Itajubá, MG differ by about 96% in total monthly costs ($1,467 vs $750 including rent). Itajubá, MG is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Mexico City or Itajubá, MG?
Mexico City pays 272% 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 do apartment prices compare in Mexico City and Itajubá, MG?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,022 in Mexico City versus $294 in Itajubá, MG. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Mexico City and Itajubá, MG?
Childcare runs $436 in Mexico City versus $539 in Itajubá, MG. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 75% higher in Mexico City. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $750 in Itajubá, MG versus $1,467 in Mexico City, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Itajubá, MG but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Itajubá, MG the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mexico City and Itajubá, MG?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Mexico City or Itajubá, MG safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Mexico City and Itajubá, MG are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Mexico City or Itajubá, MG?
Expats usually find Itajubá, MG gentler on the wallet – expenses run 96% 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