😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,484 in Mexico City versus $755 in Limeira.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,381 in Mexico City versus $1,169 in Limeira.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,278 in Mexico City versus $1,584 in Limeira.
😐Living in Mexico City is roughly 97% more expensive than Limeira, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 11% above, Limeira is 44% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Limeira
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.98MX$227
$4.49R$22.38
189.09%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.1MX$929
$14.68R$73.2
261.51%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.72MX$170
$5.70R$28.43
70.53%
Cappuccino
$3.75MX$65.6
$1.20R$5.98
212.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57MX$27.46
$0.76R$3.78
106.58%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.13MX$19.76
$0.74R$3.70
52.70%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.18MX$55.7
$1.27R$6.34
150.39%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.66MX$81.6
$1.83R$9.14
154.64%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Limeira
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.62MX$28.37
$0.97R$4.84
67.01%
White Bread(500g)
$2.71MX$47.36
$1.40R$6.98
93.57%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.88MX$32.89
$0.99R$4.96
89.90%
Eggs
$2.51MX$43.90
$1.75R$8.73
43.43%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.08MX$176
$8.74R$43.62
15.33%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.29MX$145
$4.24R$21.14
95.52%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.94MX$209
$6.11R$30.48
95.42%
Apples(1kg)
$2.86MX$50.1
$1.63R$8.14
75.46%
Banana(1kg)
$1.75MX$30.62
$1.25R$6.24
40.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.48
$1.55R$7.72
34.19%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.97MX$34.46
$1.54R$7.70
27.92%
Potato(1kg)
$2.16MX$37.79
$1.28R$6.39
68.75%
Onion(1kg)
$2.18MX$38.16
$1.29R$6.44
68.99%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.39MX$24.34
$0.74R$3.68
87.84%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.12MX$19.69
$0.50R$2.48
124.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.20MX$73.5
$2.19R$10.95
91.78%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.25MX$249
$7.95R$39.69
79.25%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76MX$30.85
$1.41R$7.03
24.82%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68MX$64.5
$1.83R$9.12
101.09%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Limeira
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.39MX$6.74
$1.01R$5.02
-61.39%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.66MX$327
$40.45R$202
-53.87%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.39MX$24.26
$1.28R$6.36
8.59%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.30MX$5.32
$0.35R$1.75
-14.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.42MX$94.9
$6.27R$31.29
-13.56%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35MX$23.63
$1.05R$5.24
28.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.9KMX$330.5K
$20.6KR$102.7K
-8.23%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.2KMX$405.2K
$27.3KR$136.1K
-15.11%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Limeira
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.82MX$714
$86.5R$432
-52.80%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.50MX$481
$11.71R$58.5
134.84%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.38MX$532
$14.08R$70.3
115.77%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Limeira
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$53.4MX$935
$17.49R$87.3
205.49%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.30MX$460
$8.44R$42.09
211.61%
Cinema Ticket
$6.27MX$110
$6.45R$32.19
-2.79%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Limeira
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$436MX$7,632
$180R$899
141.96%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.5KMX$183.2K
$8,090R$40.4K
29.39%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Limeira
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.8MX$993
$45.81R$229
23.90%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.79MX$784
$40.13R$200
11.61%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103MX$1,799
$79.2R$395
29.84%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108MX$1,888
$41.15R$205
162.21%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Limeira
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,000MX$17.5K
$300R$1,499
232.88%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$620MX$10.9K
$230R$1,145
170.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,137MX$37.4K
$581R$2,899
267.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,235MX$21.6K
$425R$2,120
190.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,865MX$67.6K
$1,371R$6,843
181.85%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,332MX$40.8K
$1,177R$5,872
98.18%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Limeira
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,067MX$18.7K
$556R$2,774
91.99%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
10
13.40%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: April 27, 2026
Last update for Limeira: April 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,000 in Mexico City and $300 in Limeira. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 92% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $53.0 in Mexico City vs $15.00 in Limeira for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $286 vs $172 per month, with Limeira cheaper across the board.
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 Limeira: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and Limeira?
Mexico City and Limeira differ by about 97% in total monthly costs ($1,484 vs $755 including rent). Limeira is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Mexico City or Limeira?
Mexico City pays 92% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Mexico City and Limeira?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,000 in Mexico City versus $300 in Limeira. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 66% higher in Mexico City. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Limeira – a meal for two runs $15.00 versus $53.0 in Mexico City. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $755 in Limeira versus $1,484 in Mexico City, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Limeira but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Limeira the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mexico City and Limeira?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Where should expats move: Mexico City or Limeira?
Expats usually find Limeira gentler on the wallet – expenses run 97% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Mexico City vs other spots: cost of living compared