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 $1,472 per month in Mexico City vs $430 in Lira, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,359 per month in Mexico City vs $686 in Lira, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,245 per month in Mexico City vs $943 in Lira, rent included.

Mexico City costs about 243% more than Lira, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

$13.14 MX$227

$2.73 UGX 10.2K

381.32%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.5 MX$926

$26.88 UGX 100.6K

99.14%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.33 MX$161

$8.54 UGX 32.0K

9.25%

Cappuccino

$3.70 MX$64.0

$2.72 UGX 10.2K

36.03%

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

$1.60 MX$27.76

$0.27 UGX 1,008

492.59%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.12 MX$19.34

$0.27 UGX 1,006

314.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.14 MX$54.3

$0.84 UGX 3,158

273.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.85 MX$83.9

$2.71 UGX 10.1K

78.97%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 MX$28.61

$0.72 UGX 2,678

129.17%

White Bread (500g)

$2.71 MX$46.96

$1.19 UGX 4,473

127.73%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.91 MX$33.03

$1.33 UGX 4,985

43.61%

Eggs

$2.59 MX$44.81

$1.81 UGX 6,795

43.09%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.81 MX$170

$4.20 UGX 15.7K

133.57%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.43 MX$146

$5.07 UGX 19.0K

66.27%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.93 MX$206

$4.35 UGX 16.3K

174.25%

Apples (1kg)

$2.95 MX$51.1

$2.71 UGX 10.2K

8.86%

Banana (1kg)

$1.74 MX$30.10

$1.49 UGX 5,566

16.78%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.04 MX$35.38

$1.75 UGX 6,547

16.57%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.06 MX$35.64

$1.58 UGX 5,922

30.38%

Potato (1kg)

$2.15 MX$37.20

$1.57 UGX 5,865

36.94%

Onion (1kg)

$2.26 MX$39.02

$1.93 UGX 7,218

17.10%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.39 MX$23.97

$1.05 UGX 3,949

32.38%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.12 MX$19.31

$0.54 UGX 2,032

107.41%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.22 MX$73.0

$2.90 UGX 10.9K

45.52%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.51 MX$303

$8.12 UGX 30.4K

115.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 MX$29.58

$1.24 UGX 4,644

37.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 MX$62.8

$2.06 UGX 7,708

76.21%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.35 MX$6.10

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.32 MX$334

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.38 MX$23.80

$0.57 UGX 2,135

142.11%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.28 MX$4.77

$0.26 UGX 964

7.69%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.28 MX$91.3

$4.13 UGX 15.5K

27.85%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 MX$23.50

$1.50 UGX 5,599

-9.33%

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

$19.1K MX$330.5K

$9,050 UGX 33.9M

111.08%

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

$23.6K MX$408.4K

$8,631 UGX 32.3M

173.52%

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

$40.53 MX$701

$42.95 UGX 160.8K

-5.63%

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

$27.38 MX$474

$14.30 UGX 53.5K

91.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.38 MX$526

$43.05 UGX 161.2K

-29.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.2 MX$903

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.48 MX$458

Cinema Ticket

$6.19 MX$107

$6.41 UGX 24.0K

-3.43%

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

$425 MX$7,355

$161 UGX 601.9K

164.45%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.7K MX$185.7K

$4,383 UGX 16.4M

144.93%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.3 MX$1,009

$17.24 UGX 64.6K

238.23%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.57 MX$771

$14.40 UGX 53.9K

209.51%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 MX$1,791

$39.05 UGX 146.2K

165.02%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 MX$1,881

$47.91 UGX 179.4K

126.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,014 MX$17.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$623 MX$10.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,119 MX$36.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,223 MX$21.2K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,792 MX$65.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,110 MX$36.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,052 MX$18.2K

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: July 25, 2026

Last update for Lira: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $54.0 in Mexico City versus $27.00 in Lira. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $293 vs $166 – 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 243%, 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 $2,208 per month in Mexico City and $644 in Lira. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,472 in Mexico City and $430 in Lira. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $425 per month in Mexico City and $161 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 $430, than in Mexico City at $1,472. 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.