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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,660 in Mexico City versus $646 in Machala.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,565 in Mexico City versus $1,018 in Machala.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,470 in Mexico City versus $1,389 in Machala.

Living in Mexico City is roughly 157% more expensive than in Machala, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 21% above, Machala is 53% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.92 MX$205

$2.74 $2.74

335.04%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$51.6 MX$889

$25.50 $25.50

102.35%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.41 MX$197

$5.17 $5.17

120.70%

Cappuccino

$3.99 MX$68.8

$2.64 $2.64

51.14%

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

$1.66 MX$28.57

$0.86 $0.86

93.02%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.33 MX$22.84

$0.68 $0.68

95.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.47 MX$59.8

$2.05 $2.05

69.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.90 MX$102

$3.86 $3.86

52.85%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.88 MX$32.31

$1.05 $1.05

79.05%

White Bread (500g)

$3.25 MX$56.0

$1.04 $1.04

212.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.16 MX$37.21

$0.96 $0.96

125.00%

Eggs

$2.90 MX$49.87

$1.49 $1.49

94.63%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.86 MX$221

$3.20 $3.20

301.88%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.05 MX$173

$4.01 $4.01

150.62%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.86 MX$273

$4.69 $4.69

238.17%

Apples (1kg)

$3.29 MX$56.7

$1.54 $1.54

113.64%

Banana (1kg)

$2.01 MX$34.55

$0.60 $0.60

235.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.20 MX$37.88

$0.76 $0.76

189.47%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.36 MX$40.57

$0.54 $0.54

337.04%

Potato (1kg)

$2.05 MX$35.38

$0.42 $0.42

388.10%

Onion (1kg)

$1.90 MX$32.75

$0.52 $0.52

265.38%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.61 MX$27.64

$0.36 $0.36

347.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.40 MX$24.05

$0.96 $0.96

45.83%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.46 MX$94.1

$4.33 $4.33

26.10%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.65 MX$304

$7.45 $7.45

136.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.06 MX$35.39

$1.56 $1.56

32.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.68 MX$80.7

$2.14 $2.14

118.69%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.34 MX$5.83

$0.34 $0.34

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.81 MX$358

$17.79 $17.79

16.98%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.10 MX$36.11

$1.37 $1.37

53.28%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.56 MX$9.63

$1.78 $1.78

-68.54%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.81 MX$100

$7.78 $7.78

-25.32%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.61 MX$27.65

$0.61 $0.61

163.93%

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

$22.8K MX$393.3K

$18.3K $18.3K

24.90%

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

$26.8K MX$460.6K

$21.8K $21.8K

22.73%

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

$65.2 MX$1,122

$37.83 $37.83

72.30%

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

$30.09 MX$518

$14.60 $14.60

106.10%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$37.18 MX$640

$25.57 $25.57

45.40%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$59.8 MX$1,029

$43.16 $43.16

38.46%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.55 MX$457

$16.47 $16.47

61.20%

Cinema Ticket

$7.04 MX$121

$4.86 $4.86

44.86%

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

$465 MX$8,001

$133 $133

248.53%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.3K MX$228.6K

$6,083 $6,083

118.21%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$75.9 MX$1,307

$64.7 $64.7

17.24%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$56.0 MX$963

$40.21 $40.21

39.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$112 MX$1,926

$79.0 $79.0

41.63%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$121 MX$2,075

$67.7 $67.7

77.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,103 MX$19.0K

$187 $187

489.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$721 MX$12.4K

$132 $132

448.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,530 MX$43.6K

$357 $357

609.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,293 MX$22.3K

$258 $258

401.04%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,991 MX$68.7K

$1,343 $1,343

197.19%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,090 MX$36.0K

$829 $829

152.15%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,037 MX$17.9K

$452 $452

129.46%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.3

126.00%

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

Last update for Mexico City: September 14, 2026

Last update for Machala: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,103 in Mexico City and $187 in Machala. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Mexico City pays 129% 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 $25.00 in Machala for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $345 vs $134 per month, with Machala 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 Machala: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Machala is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 157% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 129% 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,103 in Mexico City versus $187 in Machala. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Machala – a meal for two runs $25.00 versus $52.0 in Mexico City. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $1,660 per month in Mexico City versus $646 in Machala – a 157% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $646 in Machala versus $1,660 in Mexico City, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Machala but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Machala the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Machala 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.

Expats usually find Machala gentler on the wallet – expenses run 157% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.