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 $1,456 per month in Mexico City vs $767 in Ligao City, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,361 per month in Mexico City vs $1,201 in Ligao City, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,266 per month in Mexico City vs $1,635 in Ligao City, rent included.

Mexico City costs about 90% more than Ligao City, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Mexico City sits 9% 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
$13.07 MX$229
$3.45 ₱212
278.84%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.8 MX$940
$17.76 ₱1,093
202.65%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.68 MX$169
$3.23 ₱199
199.69%
Cappuccino
$3.74 MX$65.4
$2.36 ₱145
58.47%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62 MX$28.25
$0.79 ₱48.39
105.06%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.16 MX$20.31
$0.36 ₱22.26
222.22%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.23 MX$56.4
$1.32 ₱81.1
144.70%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.74 MX$82.9
$2.08 ₱128
127.88%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Ligao City
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.65 MX$28.80
$1.84 ₱113
-10.33%
White Bread (500g)
$2.75 MX$48.15
$1.23 ₱75.6
123.58%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.87 MX$32.77
$0.94 ₱58.2
98.94%
Eggs
$2.50 MX$43.72
$2.08 ₱128
20.19%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.20 MX$178
$8.07 ₱497
26.39%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.25 MX$144
$4.31 ₱265
91.42%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.82 MX$207
$7.87 ₱485
50.19%
Apples (1kg)
$3.01 MX$52.6
$2.94 ₱181
2.38%
Banana (1kg)
$1.81 MX$31.67
$1.52 ₱93.5
19.08%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.00 MX$34.96
$2.71 ₱167
-26.20%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.00 MX$34.89
$1.54 ₱94.7
29.87%
Potato (1kg)
$2.08 MX$36.45
$2.23 ₱137
-6.73%
Onion (1kg)
$2.27 MX$39.72
$2.54 ₱156
-10.63%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.46 MX$25.47
$1.06 ₱65.3
37.74%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08 MX$18.82
$0.77 ₱47.51
40.26%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.35 MX$76.0
$2.87 ₱176
51.57%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.99 MX$297
$8.18 ₱503
107.70%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73 MX$30.31
$1.20 ₱73.8
44.17%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.58 MX$62.5
$1.96 ₱121
82.65%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Ligao City
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.39 MX$6.77
$0.26 ₱15.92
50.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.69 MX$327
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.33 MX$23.18
$0.82 ₱50.3
62.20%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.28 MX$4.89
$0.24 ₱14.81
16.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.25 MX$91.8
$2.07 ₱128
153.62%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.34 MX$23.37
$1.14 ₱70.3
17.54%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.4K MX$339.4K
$26.2K ₱1.6M
-25.79%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.8K MX$416.7K
$20.8K ₱1.3M
14.63%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Ligao City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$40.69 MX$712
$112 ₱6,876
-63.57%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.87 MX$470
$32.40 ₱1,995
-17.07%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.51 MX$534
$27.25 ₱1,678
11.96%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Ligao City
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.8 MX$923
$34.38 ₱2,116
53.52%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.65 MX$466
$4.40 ₱271
505.68%
Cinema Ticket
$6.51 MX$114
$5.87 ₱361
10.90%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Ligao City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$428 MX$7,485
$151 ₱9,289
183.71%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.5K MX$183.6K
$4,269 ₱262.8K
145.93%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Ligao City
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.3 MX$1,001
$45.60 ₱2,807
25.55%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.50 MX$796
$26.15 ₱1,610
74.00%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$104 MX$1,819
$74.9 ₱4,613
38.88%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 MX$1,885
$53.5 ₱3,294
101.50%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Ligao City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,003 MX$17.5K
$270 ₱16.6K
272.14%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$623 MX$10.9K
$179 ₱11.0K
248.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,109 MX$36.9K
$585 ₱36.0K
260.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,218 MX$21.3K
$392 ₱24.1K
210.94%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,885 MX$67.9K
$2,391 ₱147.2K
62.45%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,033 MX$35.5K
$972 ₱59.8K
109.21%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Ligao City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,038 MX$18.1K
$286 ₱17.6K
263.27%
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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Ligao City: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,003 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 263% 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: $292 vs $206 – 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 90%, 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 $2,185 per month in Mexico City and $1,151 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 and in Ligao City?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,456 in Mexico City and $767 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 $428 per month in Mexico City and $151 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 living in Mexico City or in Ligao City?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Ligao City, where all-in costs run around $767, than in Mexico City at $1,456. 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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