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 $1,447 per month in Mexico City vs $429 in Lira, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,310 per month in Mexico City vs $695 in Lira, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,174 per month in Mexico City vs $961 in Lira, rent included.

Mexico City costs about 237% more than Lira, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Mexico City sits 8% 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$223

$2.86 UGX 10.7K

353.85%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$52.6 MX$903

$26.25 UGX 98.4K

100.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.43 MX$162

$8.54 UGX 32.0K

10.42%

Cappuccino

$3.57 MX$61.3

$2.77 UGX 10.4K

28.88%

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

$1.61 MX$27.55

$0.27 UGX 997

496.30%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.15 MX$19.81

$0.29 UGX 1,098

296.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.15 MX$54.0

$0.86 UGX 3,213

266.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.86 MX$83.4

$2.86 UGX 10.7K

69.93%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.70 MX$29.17

$0.72 UGX 2,696

136.11%

White Bread (500g)

$2.64 MX$45.23

$1.26 UGX 4,707

109.52%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.90 MX$32.67

$1.34 UGX 5,006

41.79%

Eggs

$2.54 MX$43.62

$1.83 UGX 6,849

38.80%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.08 MX$173

$4.34 UGX 16.3K

132.26%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.29 MX$142

$4.98 UGX 18.7K

66.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.57 MX$199

$4.38 UGX 16.4K

164.16%

Apples (1kg)

$3.03 MX$52.0

$2.80 UGX 10.5K

8.21%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 MX$29.35

$1.46 UGX 5,462

17.12%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.05 MX$35.16

$1.74 UGX 6,520

17.82%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.06 MX$35.36

$1.53 UGX 5,741

34.64%

Potato (1kg)

$2.06 MX$35.43

$1.65 UGX 6,200

24.85%

Onion (1kg)

$2.17 MX$37.25

$1.84 UGX 6,907

17.93%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.40 MX$24.08

$1.01 UGX 3,789

38.61%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.12 MX$19.26

$0.59 UGX 2,195

89.83%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.29 MX$73.7

$2.86 UGX 10.7K

50.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.41 MX$265

$8.88 UGX 33.3K

73.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.67 MX$28.74

$1.18 UGX 4,409

41.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.69 MX$63.3

$2.06 UGX 7,707

79.13%

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

$0.59 UGX 2,195

133.90%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.28 MX$4.74

$0.28 UGX 1,052

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.42 MX$92.9

$4.14 UGX 15.5K

30.92%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 MX$21.98

$1.50 UGX 5,637

-14.67%

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

$19.0K MX$325.8K

$9,137 UGX 34.2M

107.72%

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

$23.5K MX$402.7K

$8,852 UGX 33.2M

165.05%

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

$41.02 MX$704

$42.77 UGX 160.3K

-4.09%

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

$26.92 MX$462

$14.59 UGX 54.7K

84.51%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.69 MX$510

$44.32 UGX 166.1K

-33.01%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.3 MX$898

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.23 MX$450

Cinema Ticket

$6.18 MX$106

$6.10 UGX 22.9K

1.31%

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

$427 MX$7,331

$163 UGX 612.6K

161.29%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.7K MX$183.6K

$4,334 UGX 16.2M

146.86%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.8 MX$975

$16.97 UGX 63.6K

234.83%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.83 MX$769

$14.06 UGX 52.7K

218.85%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$105 MX$1,794

$38.25 UGX 143.4K

173.28%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 MX$1,819

$47.56 UGX 178.3K

122.77%

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

20.8

-45.48%

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

Last update for Mexico City: June 7, 2026

Last update for Lira: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $53.0 in Mexico City versus $26.00 in Lira. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $288 vs $168 – 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 237%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,171 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 $1,447 in Mexico City and $429 in Lira. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $427 per month in Mexico City and $163 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 $429, than in Mexico City at $1,447. 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.