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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,484 per month in Mexico City vs $1,254 in Jamestown, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,381 per month in Mexico City vs $1,736 in Jamestown, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,278 per month in Mexico City vs $2,218 in Jamestown, rent included.

Mexico City costs about 18% more than Jamestown, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Mexico City sits 11% above the global median, while Jamestown is 6% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.98 MX$227

$16.07 SHP 11.91

-19.23%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.1 MX$929

$48.49 SHP 35.93

9.45%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.72 MX$170

$8.89 SHP 6.59

9.34%

Cappuccino

$3.75 MX$65.6

$2.98 SHP 2.21

25.84%

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

$1.57 MX$27.46

$1.14 SHP 0.84

37.72%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.13 MX$19.76

$1.21 SHP 0.89

-6.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.18 MX$55.7

$4.69 SHP 3.48

-32.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.66 MX$81.6

$2.64 SHP 1.95

76.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.62 MX$28.37

$1.89 SHP 1.40

-14.29%

White Bread (500g)

$2.71 MX$47.36

$1.64 SHP 1.22

65.24%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.88 MX$32.89

$1.39 SHP 1.03

35.25%

Eggs

$2.51 MX$43.90

$4.32 SHP 3.20

-41.90%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.08 MX$176

$8.07 SHP 5.98

24.91%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.29 MX$145

$10.80 SHP 8.00

-23.24%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.94 MX$209

$10.79 SHP 8.00

10.66%

Apples (1kg)

$2.86 MX$50.1

Banana (1kg)

$1.75 MX$30.62

Oranges (1kg)

$2.08 MX$36.48

Tomato (1kg)

$1.97 MX$34.46

Potato (1kg)

$2.16 MX$37.79

Onion (1kg)

$2.18 MX$38.16

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.39 MX$24.34

$2.78 SHP 2.06

-50.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.12 MX$19.69

$2.25 SHP 1.67

-50.22%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.20 MX$73.5

$11.03 SHP 8.17

-61.92%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.25 MX$249

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 MX$30.85

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.68 MX$64.5

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.39 MX$6.74

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.66 MX$327

$40.62 SHP 30.10

-54.06%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.39 MX$24.26

$2.79 SHP 2.07

-50.18%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.30 MX$5.32

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.42 MX$94.9

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.35 MX$23.63

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

$18.9K MX$330.5K

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

$23.2K MX$405.2K

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

$40.82 MX$714

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

$27.50 MX$481

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.38 MX$532

$109 SHP 80.8

-72.13%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$53.4 MX$935

$6.90 SHP 5.11

674.35%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.30 MX$460

Cinema Ticket

$6.27 MX$110

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

$436 MX$7,632

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.5K MX$183.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.8 MX$993

$41.55 SHP 30.79

36.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.79 MX$784

$20.61 SHP 15.28

117.32%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 MX$1,799

$46.98 SHP 34.81

118.84%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 MX$1,888

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,000 MX$17.5K

$676 SHP 501

47.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$620 MX$10.9K

$623 SHP 461

-0.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,137 MX$37.4K

$700 SHP 519

205.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,235 MX$21.6K

$718 SHP 532

72.05%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,865 MX$67.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,332 MX$40.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,067 MX$18.7K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.34

6.2

82.90%

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

Last update for Mexico City: April 27, 2026

Last update for Jamestown: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,000 in Mexico City versus $676 in Jamestown. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $53.0 in Mexico City versus $48.00 in Jamestown. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $286 vs $207 – making Jamestown 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 Jamestown: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Mexico City is pricier by about 18%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,225 per month in Mexico City and $1,881 in Jamestown. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Public transport costs about 118% less in Jamestown. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Groceries cost about 38% 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 $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Jamestown, where all-in costs run around $1,254, than in Mexico City at $1,484. In Jamestown it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mexico City it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Jamestown. 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.