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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,467 per month in Mexico City vs $763 in Ligao City, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,371 per month in Mexico City vs $1,207 in Ligao City, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,274 per month in Mexico City vs $1,651 in Ligao City, rent included.

Mexico City costs about 92% more than Ligao City, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Mexico City sits 10% above the global median, while Ligao City is 43% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Ligao City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.18 MX$228
$3.53 ₱218
273.37%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.9 MX$932
$18.05 ₱1,113
198.61%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.42 MX$163
$3.29 ₱203
186.32%
Cappuccino
$3.55 MX$61.4
$2.40 ₱148
47.92%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62 MX$27.98
$0.78 ₱48.05
107.69%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.11 MX$19.27
$0.40 ₱24.59
177.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.12 MX$54.0
$1.31 ₱80.7
138.17%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.63 MX$80.1
$2.08 ₱128
122.60%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Ligao City
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.70 MX$29.43
$1.89 ₱117
-10.05%
White Bread (500g)
$2.72 MX$47.02
$1.22 ₱75.3
122.95%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.91 MX$33.07
$0.94 ₱58.0
103.19%
Eggs
$2.54 MX$43.86
$1.99 ₱123
27.64%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.03 MX$174
$8.12 ₱501
23.52%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.09 MX$140
$4.23 ₱261
91.25%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.62 MX$201
$7.52 ₱463
54.52%
Apples (1kg)
$2.97 MX$51.3
$2.98 ₱184
-0.34%
Banana (1kg)
$1.81 MX$31.24
$1.58 ₱97.4
14.56%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.01 MX$34.82
$2.72 ₱168
-26.10%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.03 MX$35.20
$1.54 ₱94.8
31.82%
Potato (1kg)
$2.12 MX$36.75
$2.32 ₱143
-8.62%
Onion (1kg)
$2.27 MX$39.25
$2.50 ₱154
-9.20%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.40 MX$24.22
$1.10 ₱68.1
27.27%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.13 MX$19.55
$0.72 ₱44.68
56.94%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27 MX$73.9
$2.80 ₱173
52.50%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.56 MX$269
$8.11 ₱500
91.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76 MX$30.39
$1.20 ₱73.8
46.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.60 MX$62.2
$1.99 ₱123
80.90%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Ligao City
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.38 MX$6.62
$0.28 ₱17.33
35.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$19.18 MX$332
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.38 MX$23.79
$0.77 ₱47.20
79.22%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.28 MX$4.78
$0.24 ₱14.87
16.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.45 MX$94.2
$2.08 ₱128
162.02%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.30 MX$22.55
$1.14 ₱70.6
14.04%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.7K MX$323.2K
$26.5K ₱1.6M
-29.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.1K MX$400.1K
$20.3K ₱1.3M
13.87%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Ligao City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$40.86 MX$707
$111 ₱6,864
-63.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.81 MX$464
$32.80 ₱2,022
-18.26%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.96 MX$518
$27.10 ₱1,671
10.55%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Ligao City
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.0 MX$900
$34.11 ₱2,104
52.51%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.84 MX$464
$4.51 ₱278
495.12%
Cinema Ticket
$6.30 MX$109
$5.86 ₱361
7.51%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Ligao City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$436 MX$7,544
$153 ₱9,411
185.74%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.4K MX$180.2K
$4,345 ₱267.9K
139.71%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Ligao City
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.7 MX$980
$46.16 ₱2,846
22.73%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.38 MX$768
$26.66 ₱1,644
66.47%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 MX$1,780
$74.4 ₱4,585
38.43%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106 MX$1,825
$53.2 ₱3,278
98.50%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Ligao City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,022 MX$17.7K
$270 ₱16.6K
278.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$631 MX$10.9K
$177 ₱10.9K
256.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,136 MX$36.9K
$588 ₱36.3K
263.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,243 MX$21.5K
$390 ₱24.1K
218.29%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,903 MX$67.5K
$2,432 ₱150.0K
60.46%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,064 MX$35.7K
$960 ₱59.2K
115.01%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Ligao City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,115 MX$19.3K
$286 ₱17.6K
289.78%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.34
6.67
70.01%

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

Last update for Mexico City: May 31, 2026

Last update for Ligao City: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,022 in Mexico City versus $270 in Ligao City. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 290% higher in Mexico City, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $54.0 in Mexico City versus $18.00 in Ligao City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $288 vs $205 – making Ligao City 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 Ligao City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ligao City cheaper than Mexico City?
Yes – Mexico City is pricier by about 92%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,201 per month in Mexico City and $1,144 in Ligao City. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Ligao City, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Mexico City vs Ligao City?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,467 in Mexico City and $763 in Ligao City. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $436 per month in Mexico City and $153 in Ligao City. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Mexico City or Ligao City?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Ligao City, where all-in costs run around $763, than in Mexico City at $1,467. In Ligao City it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mexico City it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Mexico City or Ligao City more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Ligao City – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Ligao City. 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.

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