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 $1,447 per month in Mexico City vs $232 in Lihir Island, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,310 per month in Mexico City vs $427 in Lihir Island, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,174 per month in Mexico City vs $622 in Lihir Island, rent included.

Mexico City costs about 523% more than Lihir Island, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Mexico City sits 8% above the global median, while Lihir Island is 83% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.98 MX$223

$4.71 PGK 20.22

175.58%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$52.6 MX$903

$29.29 PGK 126

79.62%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.43 MX$162

$5.85 PGK 25.13

61.20%

Cappuccino

$3.57 MX$61.3

$2.36 PGK 10.14

51.27%

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

$1.61 MX$27.55

$0.73 PGK 3.15

120.55%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.15 MX$19.81

$0.71 PGK 3.04

61.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.15 MX$54.0

$3.65 PGK 15.66

-13.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.86 MX$83.4

$2.35 PGK 10.08

106.81%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.70 MX$29.17

$1.66 PGK 7.13

2.41%

White Bread (500g)

$2.64 MX$45.23

$1.42 PGK 6.09

85.92%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.90 MX$32.67

$1.41 PGK 6.05

34.75%

Eggs

$2.54 MX$43.62

$2.27 PGK 9.77

11.89%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.08 MX$173

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.29 MX$142

$4.38 PGK 18.83

89.27%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.57 MX$199

$2.42 PGK 10.40

378.10%

Apples (1kg)

$3.03 MX$52.0

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 MX$29.35

$1.41 PGK 6.04

21.28%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.05 MX$35.16

Tomato (1kg)

$2.06 MX$35.36

Potato (1kg)

$2.06 MX$35.43

$2.35 PGK 10.08

-12.34%

Onion (1kg)

$2.17 MX$37.25

$0.92 PGK 3.94

135.87%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.40 MX$24.08

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.12 MX$19.26

$0.46 PGK 1.96

143.48%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.29 MX$73.7

$6.01 PGK 25.83

-28.62%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.41 MX$265

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.67 MX$28.74

$2.39 PGK 10.25

-30.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.69 MX$63.3

$2.38 PGK 10.22

55.04%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.38 MX$6.55

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.06 MX$327

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.38 MX$23.70

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.28 MX$4.74

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.42 MX$92.9

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 MX$21.98

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

$19.0K MX$325.8K

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

$23.5K MX$402.7K

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

$41.02 MX$704

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

$26.92 MX$462

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.69 MX$510

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.3 MX$898

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.23 MX$450

Cinema Ticket

$6.18 MX$106

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

$427 MX$7,331

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.7K MX$183.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.8 MX$975

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.83 MX$769

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$105 MX$1,794

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 MX$1,819

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$995 MX$17.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$621 MX$10.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,126 MX$36.5K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,254 MX$21.5K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,903 MX$67.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,096 MX$36.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,107 MX$19.0K

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Lihir Island: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $53.0 in Mexico City versus $29.00 in Lihir Island. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $288 vs $114 – 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: $1,447 in Mexico City, $232 in Lihir Island – roughly 523% apart. Mexico City costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,171 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 $53.0 in Mexico City and $29.00 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 $1,447 in Mexico City and $232 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 $232, than in Mexico City at $1,447. 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 $232 in Lihir Island to $1,447 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.