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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,447 per month in Mexico City vs $463 in Maharagama, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,310 per month in Mexico City vs $796 in Maharagama, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,174 per month in Mexico City vs $1,130 in Maharagama, rent included.

Mexico City costs about 213% more than Maharagama, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Mexico City sits 8% above the global median, while Maharagama is 66% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.98 MX$223

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$52.6 MX$903

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.43 MX$162

Cappuccino

$3.57 MX$61.3

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

$1.61 MX$27.55

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.15 MX$19.81

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.15 MX$54.0

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.86 MX$83.4

Milk (1 liter)

$1.70 MX$29.17

$1.87 LKR 623

-9.09%

White Bread (500g)

$2.64 MX$45.23

$0.52 LKR 173

407.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.90 MX$32.67

$0.78 LKR 262

143.59%

Eggs

$2.54 MX$43.62

$2.11 LKR 704

20.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.08 MX$173

$16.26 LKR 5,423

-38.01%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.29 MX$142

$5.96 LKR 1,987

39.09%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.57 MX$199

$10.99 LKR 3,667

5.28%

Apples (1kg)

$3.03 MX$52.0

$11.75 LKR 3,920

-74.21%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 MX$29.35

$1.24 LKR 415

37.90%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.05 MX$35.16

$10.12 LKR 3,376

-79.74%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.06 MX$35.36

$1.82 LKR 608

13.19%

Potato (1kg)

$2.06 MX$35.43

$1.19 LKR 396

73.11%

Onion (1kg)

$2.17 MX$37.25

$1.16 LKR 388

87.07%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.40 MX$24.08

$1.56 LKR 520

-10.26%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.12 MX$19.26

$0.58 LKR 192

93.10%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.29 MX$73.7

$9.69 LKR 3,233

-55.73%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.41 MX$265

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.67 MX$28.74

$2.06 LKR 688

-18.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.69 MX$63.3

$3.16 LKR 1,055

16.77%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.38 MX$6.55

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.06 MX$327

$3.37 LKR 1,125

465.58%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.38 MX$23.70

$0.32 LKR 106

331.25%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.28 MX$4.74

$0.29 LKR 96.7

-3.45%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.42 MX$92.9

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 MX$21.98

$1.37 LKR 459

-6.57%

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

$19.0K MX$325.8K

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

$23.5K MX$402.7K

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

$41.02 MX$704

$54.2 LKR 18.1K

-24.37%

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

$26.92 MX$462

$3.30 LKR 1,101

715.76%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.69 MX$510

$12.75 LKR 4,254

132.86%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.3 MX$898

$13.52 LKR 4,510

287.06%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.23 MX$450

Cinema Ticket

$6.18 MX$106

$5.04 LKR 1,680

22.62%

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

$427 MX$7,331

$67.7 LKR 22.6K

531.34%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.7K MX$183.6K

$504 LKR 168.0K

2024.38%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.8 MX$975

$24.76 LKR 8,258

129.48%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.83 MX$769

$13.58 LKR 4,529

230.12%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$105 MX$1,794

$55.8 LKR 18.6K

87.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 MX$1,819

$57.4 LKR 19.2K

84.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$995 MX$17.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$621 MX$10.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,126 MX$36.5K

$167 LKR 55.8K

1170.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,254 MX$21.5K

$119 LKR 39.5K

957.84%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,903 MX$67.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,096 MX$36.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,107 MX$19.0K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.34

-33.29%

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

Last update for Mexico City: June 7, 2026

Last update for Maharagama: June 6, 2026

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 Maharagama: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Mexico City is pricier by about 213%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,171 per month in Mexico City and $694 in Maharagama. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Public transport costs about 466% less in Maharagama. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Interestingly, groceries are about 4% cheaper in Mexico City – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Maharagama, where all-in costs run around $463, than in Mexico City at $1,447. In Maharagama it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mexico City it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Maharagama – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Maharagama. 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.