Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Maceio - Alagoas Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Maceio - Alagoas

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,660 in Mexico City versus $810 in Maceio - Alagoas.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,565 in Mexico City versus $1,274 in Maceio - Alagoas.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,470 in Mexico City versus $1,737 in Maceio - Alagoas.

Living in Mexico City is roughly 105% more expensive than in Maceio - Alagoas, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 21% above, Maceio - Alagoas is 41% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Maceio - Alagoas
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.92 MX$206
$5.97 R$30.76
99.66%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$51.6 MX$890
$28.73 R$148
79.60%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.41 MX$197
$5.89 R$30.34
93.72%
Cappuccino
$3.99 MX$68.9
$1.75 R$9.02
128.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66 MX$28.61
$1.09 R$5.64
52.29%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.33 MX$22.87
$0.48 R$2.47
177.08%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.47 MX$59.9
$1.55 R$7.98
123.87%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.90 MX$102
$4.11 R$21.16
43.55%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Maceio - Alagoas
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.88 MX$32.36
$1.07 R$5.49
75.70%
White Bread (500g)
$3.25 MX$56.1
$1.94 R$10.01
67.53%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.16 MX$37.26
$1.01 R$5.22
113.86%
Eggs
$2.90 MX$49.94
$1.96 R$10.09
47.96%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.86 MX$222
$9.01 R$46.44
42.73%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.05 MX$173
$4.34 R$22.36
131.57%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.86 MX$273
$7.39 R$38.09
114.61%
Apples (1kg)
$3.29 MX$56.8
$2.81 R$14.47
17.08%
Banana (1kg)
$2.01 MX$34.60
$1.10 R$5.66
82.73%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.20 MX$37.93
$1.37 R$7.07
60.58%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.36 MX$40.63
$1.31 R$6.76
80.15%
Potato (1kg)
$2.05 MX$35.43
$1.44 R$7.42
42.36%
Onion (1kg)
$1.90 MX$32.79
$1.24 R$6.39
53.23%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.61 MX$27.68
$0.53 R$2.73
203.77%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.40 MX$24.09
$0.76 R$3.90
84.21%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.46 MX$94.2
$2.03 R$10.45
168.97%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.65 MX$304
$6.61 R$34.05
167.02%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.06 MX$35.44
$1.50 R$7.70
37.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.68 MX$80.8
$1.42 R$7.31
229.58%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Maceio - Alagoas
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.34 MX$5.84
$0.74 R$3.83
-54.05%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$20.81 MX$359
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.10 MX$36.15
$0.40 R$2.08
425.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.56 MX$9.64
$0.41 R$2.10
36.59%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.81 MX$100
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.61 MX$27.68
$1.19 R$6.12
35.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.8K MX$393.8K
$21.3K R$109.9K
7.11%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8K MX$461.2K
$30.1K R$155.0K
-11.07%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Maceio - Alagoas
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$65.2 MX$1,124
$80.3 R$414
-18.84%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.09 MX$519
$16.07 R$82.8
87.24%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.18 MX$641
$17.73 R$91.4
109.70%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Maceio - Alagoas
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$59.8 MX$1,030
$23.71 R$122
152.05%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.55 MX$458
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.04 MX$121
$5.85 R$30.14
20.34%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Maceio - Alagoas
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$465 MX$8,012
$214 R$1,104
116.83%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13.3K MX$228.9K
$6,930 R$35.7K
91.53%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Maceio - Alagoas
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$75.9 MX$1,308
$53.6 R$276
41.59%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$56.0 MX$965
$75.3 R$388
-25.72%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$112 MX$1,929
$90.6 R$467
23.46%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121 MX$2,078
$77.3 R$398
55.89%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Maceio - Alagoas
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,103 MX$19.0K
$293 R$1,507
276.88%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$721 MX$12.4K
$241 R$1,239
199.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,530 MX$43.6K
$486 R$2,505
420.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,293 MX$22.3K
$464 R$2,391
178.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,991 MX$68.8K
$1,469 R$7,567
171.75%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,090 MX$36.0K
$693 R$3,570
201.53%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Maceio - Alagoas
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,037 MX$17.9K
$586 R$3,018
77.09%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.3
10.17
11.11%

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

Last update for Mexico City: September 14, 2026

Last update for Maceio - Alagoas: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,103 in Mexico City and $293 in Maceio - Alagoas. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Mexico City pays 77% 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: $52.0 in Mexico City vs $29.00 in Maceio - Alagoas for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $345 vs $187 per month, with Maceio - Alagoas 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 Maceio - Alagoas: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Maceio - Alagoas cheaper than Mexico City?
Maceio - Alagoas is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 105% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Mexico City or Maceio - Alagoas?
Average pay runs 77% higher in Mexico City, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Mexico City and Maceio - Alagoas?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,103 in Mexico City versus $293 in Maceio - Alagoas. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Mexico City and in Maceio - Alagoas?
Supermarket bills run roughly 84% higher in Mexico City. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Mexico City and in Maceio - Alagoas?
All in, you'll spend $1,660 per month in Mexico City versus $810 in Maceio - Alagoas – a 105% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Mexico City or in Maceio - Alagoas?
At $810 in Maceio - Alagoas versus $1,660 in Mexico City, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Maceio - Alagoas but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Maceio - Alagoas the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Mexico City or Maceio - Alagoas more family-friendly?
For families, Maceio - Alagoas is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Mexico City, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Maceio - Alagoas gentler on the wallet – expenses run 105% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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