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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,484 per month in Mexico City vs $539 in Madang, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,381 per month in Mexico City vs $1,213 in Madang, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,278 per month in Mexico City vs $1,887 in Madang, rent included.

Mexico City costs about 175% more than Madang, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Mexico City sits 11% above the global median, while Madang is 60% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.98 MX$227

$6.86 PGK 29.77

89.21%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.1 MX$929

$37.85 PGK 164

40.21%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.72 MX$170

$10.79 PGK 46.81

-9.92%

Cappuccino

$3.75 MX$65.6

$2.47 PGK 10.70

51.82%

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

$1.57 MX$27.46

$1.18 PGK 5.11

33.05%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.13 MX$19.76

$0.73 PGK 3.19

54.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.18 MX$55.7

$2.82 PGK 12.24

12.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.66 MX$81.6

$4.33 PGK 18.81

7.62%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.62 MX$28.37

$1.89 PGK 8.21

-14.29%

White Bread (500g)

$2.71 MX$47.36

$1.46 PGK 6.33

85.62%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.88 MX$32.89

$1.45 PGK 6.30

29.66%

Eggs

$2.51 MX$43.90

$3.31 PGK 14.36

-24.17%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.08 MX$176

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.29 MX$145

$5.72 PGK 24.84

44.93%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.94 MX$209

$8.38 PGK 36.36

42.48%

Apples (1kg)

$2.86 MX$50.1

$5.24 PGK 22.75

-45.42%

Banana (1kg)

$1.75 MX$30.62

$2.33 PGK 10.12

-24.89%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.08 MX$36.48

$0.94 PGK 4.06

121.28%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.97 MX$34.46

$1.93 PGK 8.38

2.07%

Potato (1kg)

$2.16 MX$37.79

$4.70 PGK 20.42

-54.04%

Onion (1kg)

$2.18 MX$38.16

$2.95 PGK 12.80

-26.10%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.39 MX$24.34

$6.14 PGK 26.65

-77.36%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.12 MX$19.69

$0.47 PGK 2.03

138.30%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.20 MX$73.5

$5.04 PGK 21.87

-16.67%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.25 MX$249

$11.32 PGK 49.15

25.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 MX$30.85

$2.10 PGK 9.12

-16.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.68 MX$64.5

$2.46 PGK 10.66

49.59%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.39 MX$6.74

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.66 MX$327

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.39 MX$24.26

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.30 MX$5.32

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.42 MX$94.9

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.35 MX$23.63

$1.10 PGK 4.76

22.73%

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

$18.9K MX$330.5K

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

$23.2K MX$405.2K

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

$40.82 MX$714

$66.2 PGK 287

-38.35%

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

$27.50 MX$481

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.38 MX$532

$24.19 PGK 105

25.59%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$53.4 MX$935

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.30 MX$460

Cinema Ticket

$6.27 MX$110

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

$436 MX$7,632

$80.2 PGK 348

443.51%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.5K MX$183.2K

$5,987 PGK 26.0K

74.85%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.8 MX$993

$19.42 PGK 84.3

192.28%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.79 MX$784

$14.64 PGK 63.5

205.94%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 MX$1,799

$66.5 PGK 288

54.69%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 MX$1,888

$29.18 PGK 127

269.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,000 MX$17.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$620 MX$10.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,137 MX$37.4K

$971 PGK 4,214

120.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,235 MX$21.6K

$606 PGK 2,631

103.71%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,865 MX$67.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,332 MX$40.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,067 MX$18.7K

$234 PGK 1,016

356.04%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.34

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

Last update for Mexico City: April 27, 2026

Last update for Madang: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 356% higher in Mexico City, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $53.0 in Mexico City versus $38.00 in Madang. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $286 vs $248 – making Madang 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 Madang: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mexico City costs about 175% more than Madang, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,225 per month in Mexico City and $808 in Madang. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $53.0 in Mexico City and $38.00 in Madang. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 15% more in Mexico City, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Madang, where all-in costs run around $539, than in Mexico City at $1,484. In Madang it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mexico City it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Madang costs $539 versus $1,484 in Mexico City. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

If budget matters most, go with Madang. 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.