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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,456 per month in Mexico City vs $520 in Kelachay, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,361 per month in Mexico City vs $818 in Kelachay, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,266 per month in Mexico City vs $1,117 in Kelachay, rent included.

Mexico City costs about 180% more than Kelachay, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Mexico City sits 9% above the global median, while Kelachay is 61% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.07 MX$228

$3.89 $3.89

235.99%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.8 MX$936

$17.16 $17.16

213.23%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.68 MX$169

$4.53 $4.53

113.69%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.67 $0.67

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.01 $1.01

Cappuccino

$3.74 MX$65.1

$1.11 $1.11

236.94%

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

$1.62 MX$28.13

$0.45 $0.45

260.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.16 MX$20.23

$0.94 $0.94

23.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.23 MX$56.2

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.74 MX$82.5

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 MX$28.68

$0.60 $0.60

175.00%

White Bread (500g)

$2.75 MX$47.95

$0.53 $0.53

418.87%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.87 MX$32.63

$1.93 $1.93

-3.11%

Eggs

$2.50 MX$43.54

$1.13 $1.13

121.24%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.20 MX$178

$3.48 $3.48

193.10%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.25 MX$144

$3.32 $3.32

148.49%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.82 MX$206

$9.85 $9.85

20.00%

Apples (1kg)

$3.01 MX$52.4

$0.84 $0.84

258.33%

Banana (1kg)

$1.81 MX$31.54

$1.37 $1.37

32.12%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.00 MX$34.81

$0.84 $0.84

138.10%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.00 MX$34.74

$0.53 $0.53

277.36%

Potato (1kg)

$2.08 MX$36.30

$0.52 $0.52

300.00%

Onion (1kg)

$2.27 MX$39.56

$0.46 $0.46

393.48%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.46 MX$25.36

$0.58 $0.58

151.72%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 MX$18.74

$0.25 $0.25

332.00%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.62 $0.62

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.46 $0.46

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.41 $1.41

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.35 MX$75.7

$2.16 $2.16

101.39%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.99 MX$296

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.73 MX$30.18

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.58 MX$62.3

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.39 MX$6.74

$0.22 $0.22

77.27%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.69 MX$325

$9.87 $9.87

89.36%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.33 MX$23.08

$0.34 $0.34

291.18%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.28 MX$4.87

$0.27 $0.27

3.70%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.25 MX$91.5

$1.97 $1.97

166.50%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 MX$23.27

$0.77 $0.77

74.03%

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

$19.4K MX$338.0K

$73.9K $73.9K

-73.74%

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

$23.8K MX$415.0K

$55.0K $55.0K

-56.70%

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

$40.69 MX$709

$15.99 $15.99

154.47%

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

$26.87 MX$468

$2.11 $2.11

1173.46%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.51 MX$531

$5.66 $5.66

439.05%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.8 MX$919

$15.94 $15.94

231.12%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.65 MX$464

$12.45 $12.45

114.06%

Cinema Ticket

$6.51 MX$113

$1.46 $1.46

345.89%

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

$428 MX$7,454

$117 $117

266.87%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.5K MX$182.8K

$1,974 $1,974

431.91%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.3 MX$997

$22.53 $22.53

154.11%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.50 MX$792

$24.85 $24.85

83.10%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$104 MX$1,812

$110 $110

-5.53%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 MX$1,878

$71.3 $71.3

51.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,003 MX$17.5K

$284 $284

253.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$623 MX$10.8K

$199 $199

212.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,109 MX$36.7K

$645 $645

227.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,218 MX$21.2K

$323 $323

276.68%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,885 MX$67.6K

$1,248 $1,248

211.27%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,033 MX$35.4K

$500 $500

306.21%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,038 MX$18.1K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.34

22.24

-49.01%

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

Last update for Mexico City: July 13, 2026

Last update for Kelachay: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,003 in Mexico City versus $284 in Kelachay. 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 $54.0 in Mexico City versus $17.00 in Kelachay. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $292 vs $106 – making Kelachay 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 Kelachay: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Mexico City is pricier by about 180%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,185 per month in Mexico City and $780 in Kelachay. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Public transport costs about 89% less in Kelachay. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $428 per month in Mexico City and $117 in Kelachay. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Kelachay, where all-in costs run around $520, than in Mexico City at $1,456. In Kelachay it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mexico City it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Kelachay – 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 Kelachay. 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.