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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,484 per month in Mexico City vs $428 in Lira, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,381 per month in Mexico City vs $687 in Lira, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,278 per month in Mexico City vs $945 in Lira, rent included.

Mexico City costs about 246% more than Lira, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Mexico City sits 11% above the global median, while Lira is 68% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.98 MX$227

$2.86 UGX 10.6K

353.85%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.1 MX$929

$26.67 UGX 98.9K

98.99%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.72 MX$170

$8.65 UGX 32.1K

12.37%

Cappuccino

$3.75 MX$65.6

$2.72 UGX 10.1K

37.87%

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

$1.57 MX$27.46

$0.27 UGX 997

481.48%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.13 MX$19.76

$0.27 UGX 992

318.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.18 MX$55.7

$0.86 UGX 3,174

269.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.66 MX$81.6

$2.83 UGX 10.5K

64.66%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.62 MX$28.37

$0.70 UGX 2,586

131.43%

White Bread (500g)

$2.71 MX$47.36

$1.24 UGX 4,613

118.55%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.88 MX$32.89

$1.39 UGX 5,162

35.25%

Eggs

$2.51 MX$43.90

$1.75 UGX 6,505

43.43%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.08 MX$176

$4.41 UGX 16.4K

128.57%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.29 MX$145

$5.07 UGX 18.8K

63.51%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.94 MX$209

$4.15 UGX 15.4K

187.71%

Apples (1kg)

$2.86 MX$50.1

$2.82 UGX 10.4K

1.42%

Banana (1kg)

$1.75 MX$30.62

$1.54 UGX 5,714

13.64%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.08 MX$36.48

$1.74 UGX 6,469

19.54%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.97 MX$34.46

$1.55 UGX 5,731

27.10%

Potato (1kg)

$2.16 MX$37.79

$1.57 UGX 5,820

37.58%

Onion (1kg)

$2.18 MX$38.16

$1.87 UGX 6,922

16.58%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.39 MX$24.34

$1.03 UGX 3,815

34.95%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.12 MX$19.69

$0.58 UGX 2,137

93.10%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.20 MX$73.5

$2.94 UGX 10.9K

42.86%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.25 MX$249

$9.62 UGX 35.7K

48.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 MX$30.85

$1.20 UGX 4,446

46.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.68 MX$64.5

$2.12 UGX 7,873

73.58%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.39 MX$6.74

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.66 MX$327

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.39 MX$24.26

$0.55 UGX 2,023

152.73%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.30 MX$5.32

$0.28 UGX 1,040

7.14%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.42 MX$94.9

$4.08 UGX 15.1K

32.84%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.35 MX$23.63

$1.51 UGX 5,606

-10.60%

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

$18.9K MX$330.5K

$9,008 UGX 33.4M

109.62%

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

$23.2K MX$405.2K

$8,897 UGX 33.0M

160.22%

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

$40.82 MX$714

$42.65 UGX 158.1K

-4.29%

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

$27.50 MX$481

$14.12 UGX 52.3K

94.76%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.38 MX$532

$43.11 UGX 159.8K

-29.53%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$53.4 MX$935

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.30 MX$460

Cinema Ticket

$6.27 MX$110

$6.34 UGX 23.5K

-1.10%

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

$436 MX$7,632

$158 UGX 586.3K

175.83%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.5K MX$183.2K

$4,304 UGX 16.0M

143.21%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.8 MX$993

$16.72 UGX 62.0K

239.47%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.79 MX$784

$14.35 UGX 53.2K

212.13%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 MX$1,799

$38.74 UGX 143.7K

165.38%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 MX$1,888

$47.14 UGX 174.8K

128.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,000 MX$17.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$620 MX$10.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,137 MX$37.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,235 MX$21.6K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,865 MX$67.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,332 MX$40.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,067 MX$18.7K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.34

20.8

-45.48%

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

Last update for Mexico City: April 27, 2026

Last update for Lira: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $53.0 in Mexico City versus $27.00 in Lira. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $286 vs $170 – making Lira 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 Lira: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Mexico City is pricier by about 246%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,225 per month in Mexico City and $643 in Lira. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,484 in Mexico City and $428 in Lira. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $436 per month in Mexico City and $158 in Lira. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Lira, where all-in costs run around $428, than in Mexico City at $1,484. In Lira it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mexico City it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Lira – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Lira. 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.