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 $1,660 per month in Mexico City vs $425 in Lira, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,565 per month in Mexico City vs $679 in Lira, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,470 per month in Mexico City vs $934 in Lira, rent included.

Mexico City costs about 290% more than Lira, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Mexico City sits 21% above the global median, while Lira is 69% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.92 MX$205

$2.58 UGX 10.2K

362.02%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$51.6 MX$889

$26.40 UGX 104.0K

95.45%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.41 MX$197

$7.71 UGX 30.3K

47.99%

Cappuccino

$3.99 MX$68.8

$2.61 UGX 10.3K

52.87%

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

$1.66 MX$28.57

$0.25 UGX 983

564.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.33 MX$22.84

$0.25 UGX 982

432.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.47 MX$59.8

$0.77 UGX 3,034

350.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.90 MX$102

$1.81 UGX 7,117

225.97%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.88 MX$32.31

$0.85 UGX 3,359

121.18%

White Bread (500g)

$3.25 MX$56.0

$1.03 UGX 4,043

215.53%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.16 MX$37.21

$1.39 UGX 5,478

55.40%

Eggs

$2.90 MX$49.87

$1.53 UGX 6,034

89.54%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.86 MX$221

$4.67 UGX 18.4K

175.37%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.05 MX$173

$5.05 UGX 19.9K

99.01%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.86 MX$273

$5.13 UGX 20.2K

209.16%

Apples (1kg)

$3.29 MX$56.7

$2.18 UGX 8,585

50.92%

Banana (1kg)

$2.01 MX$34.55

$1.22 UGX 4,811

64.75%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.20 MX$37.88

$1.39 UGX 5,457

58.27%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.36 MX$40.57

$1.25 UGX 4,917

88.80%

Potato (1kg)

$2.05 MX$35.38

$1.26 UGX 4,974

62.70%

Onion (1kg)

$1.90 MX$32.75

$1.40 UGX 5,508

35.71%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.61 MX$27.64

$0.86 UGX 3,379

87.21%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.40 MX$24.05

$0.52 UGX 2,067

169.23%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.46 MX$94.1

$2.64 UGX 10.4K

106.82%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.65 MX$304

$8.00 UGX 31.5K

120.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.06 MX$35.39

$1.04 UGX 4,106

98.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.68 MX$80.7

$2.08 UGX 8,178

125.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.34 MX$5.83

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.81 MX$358

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.10 MX$36.11

$0.50 UGX 1,984

320.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.56 MX$9.63

$0.32 UGX 1,243

75.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.81 MX$100

$3.36 UGX 13.2K

72.92%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.61 MX$27.65

$1.40 UGX 5,527

15.00%

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

$22.8K MX$393.3K

$7,911 UGX 31.2M

188.73%

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

$26.8K MX$460.6K

$7,925 UGX 31.2M

237.55%

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

$65.2 MX$1,122

$75.9 UGX 298.9K

-14.11%

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

$30.09 MX$518

$12.34 UGX 48.6K

143.84%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$37.18 MX$640

$38.06 UGX 149.9K

-2.31%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$59.8 MX$1,029

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.55 MX$457

Cinema Ticket

$7.04 MX$121

$7.77 UGX 30.6K

-9.40%

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

$465 MX$8,001

$262 UGX 1.0M

77.22%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.3K MX$228.6K

$8,518 UGX 33.5M

55.84%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$75.9 MX$1,307

$14.93 UGX 58.8K

408.24%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$56.0 MX$963

$13.82 UGX 54.4K

304.85%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$112 MX$1,926

$34.96 UGX 137.7K

219.99%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$121 MX$2,075

$46.61 UGX 183.6K

158.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,103 MX$19.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$721 MX$12.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,530 MX$43.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,293 MX$22.3K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,991 MX$68.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,090 MX$36.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,037 MX$17.9K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.3

20.75

-45.54%

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

Last update for Mexico City: September 14, 2026

Last update for Lira: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $52.0 in Mexico City versus $26.00 in Lira. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $345 vs $157 – 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 290%, 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 $2,489 per month in Mexico City and $638 in Lira. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,660 in Mexico City and $425 in Lira. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $465 per month in Mexico City and $262 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 $425, than in Mexico City at $1,660. 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.