Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Lihir Island Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Lihir Island

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,472 per month in Mexico City vs $233 in Lihir Island, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,359 per month in Mexico City vs $428 in Lihir Island, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,245 per month in Mexico City vs $623 in Lihir Island, rent included.

Mexico City costs about 532% more than Lihir Island, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Mexico City sits 11% above the global median, while Lihir Island is 83% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.14 MX$227

$4.86 PGK 21.44

170.37%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.5 MX$926

$28.36 PGK 125

88.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.33 MX$161

$6.18 PGK 27.27

50.97%

Cappuccino

$3.70 MX$64.0

$2.43 PGK 10.72

52.26%

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

$1.60 MX$27.76

$0.75 PGK 3.30

113.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.12 MX$19.34

$0.73 PGK 3.22

53.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.14 MX$54.3

$3.63 PGK 16.00

-13.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.85 MX$83.9

$2.45 PGK 10.80

97.96%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 MX$28.61

$1.73 PGK 7.63

-4.62%

White Bread (500g)

$2.71 MX$46.96

$1.42 PGK 6.26

90.85%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.91 MX$33.03

$1.48 PGK 6.52

29.05%

Eggs

$2.59 MX$44.81

$2.31 PGK 10.20

12.12%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.81 MX$170

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.43 MX$146

$4.21 PGK 18.56

100.24%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.93 MX$206

$2.33 PGK 10.28

412.02%

Apples (1kg)

$2.95 MX$51.1

Banana (1kg)

$1.74 MX$30.10

$1.46 PGK 6.46

19.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.04 MX$35.38

Tomato (1kg)

$2.06 MX$35.64

Potato (1kg)

$2.15 MX$37.20

$2.44 PGK 10.78

-11.89%

Onion (1kg)

$2.26 MX$39.02

$0.98 PGK 4.32

130.61%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.39 MX$23.97

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.12 MX$19.31

$0.50 PGK 2.22

124.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.22 MX$73.0

$5.98 PGK 26.38

-29.43%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.51 MX$303

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 MX$29.58

$2.35 PGK 10.37

-27.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 MX$62.8

$2.43 PGK 10.70

49.38%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.35 MX$6.10

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.32 MX$334

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.38 MX$23.80

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.28 MX$4.77

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.28 MX$91.3

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 MX$23.50

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

$19.1K MX$330.5K

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

$23.6K MX$408.4K

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

$40.53 MX$701

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

$27.38 MX$474

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.38 MX$526

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.2 MX$903

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.48 MX$458

Cinema Ticket

$6.19 MX$107

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

$425 MX$7,355

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.7K MX$185.7K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.3 MX$1,009

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.57 MX$771

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 MX$1,791

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 MX$1,881

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,014 MX$17.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$623 MX$10.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,119 MX$36.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,223 MX$21.2K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,792 MX$65.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,110 MX$36.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,052 MX$18.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.34

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

Last update for Mexico City: July 25, 2026

Last update for Lihir Island: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $54.0 in Mexico City versus $28.00 in Lihir Island. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $293 vs $115 – making Lihir Island 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 Lihir Island: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,472 in Mexico City, $233 in Lihir Island – roughly 532% apart. Mexico City costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,208 per month in Mexico City and $349 in Lihir Island. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $54.0 in Mexico City and $28.00 in Lihir Island. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,472 in Mexico City and $233 in Lihir Island. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Lihir Island, where all-in costs run around $233, than in Mexico City at $1,472. In Lihir Island it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mexico City it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Mexico City has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $233 in Lihir Island to $1,472 in Mexico City. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Lihir Island. 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.