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 $1,472 per month in Mexico City vs $473 in Maharagama, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,359 per month in Mexico City vs $789 in Maharagama, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,245 per month in Mexico City vs $1,105 in Maharagama, rent included.

Mexico City costs about 211% more than Maharagama, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Mexico City sits 11% above the global median, while Maharagama is 64% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.14 MX$227

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.5 MX$926

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.33 MX$161

Cappuccino

$3.70 MX$64.0

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

$1.60 MX$27.76

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.12 MX$19.34

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.14 MX$54.3

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.85 MX$83.9

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 MX$28.61

$1.92 LKR 644

-14.06%

White Bread (500g)

$2.71 MX$46.96

$0.49 LKR 164

453.06%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.91 MX$33.03

$0.73 LKR 246

161.64%

Eggs

$2.59 MX$44.81

$2.07 LKR 694

25.12%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.81 MX$170

$16.11 LKR 5,405

-39.11%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.43 MX$146

$5.95 LKR 1,995

41.68%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.93 MX$206

$10.91 LKR 3,661

9.35%

Apples (1kg)

$2.95 MX$51.1

$11.62 LKR 3,898

-74.61%

Banana (1kg)

$1.74 MX$30.10

$1.25 LKR 419

39.20%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.04 MX$35.38

$10.10 LKR 3,389

-79.80%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.06 MX$35.64

$1.83 LKR 613

12.57%

Potato (1kg)

$2.15 MX$37.20

$1.19 LKR 400

80.67%

Onion (1kg)

$2.26 MX$39.02

$1.21 LKR 407

86.78%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.39 MX$23.97

$1.61 LKR 541

-13.66%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.12 MX$19.31

$0.62 LKR 208

80.65%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.22 MX$73.0

$9.84 LKR 3,303

-57.11%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.51 MX$303

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 MX$29.58

$2.06 LKR 691

-16.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 MX$62.8

$3.25 LKR 1,090

11.69%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.35 MX$6.10

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.32 MX$334

$3.44 LKR 1,154

461.63%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.38 MX$23.80

$0.34 LKR 115

305.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.28 MX$4.77

$0.31 LKR 105

-9.68%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.28 MX$91.3

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 MX$23.50

$1.43 LKR 478

-4.90%

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

$19.1K MX$330.5K

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

$23.6K MX$408.4K

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

$40.53 MX$701

$53.5 LKR 18.0K

-24.24%

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

$27.38 MX$474

$3.28 LKR 1,101

734.76%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.38 MX$526

$12.46 LKR 4,182

143.82%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.2 MX$903

$13.51 LKR 4,534

286.53%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.48 MX$458

Cinema Ticket

$6.19 MX$107

$5.09 LKR 1,706

21.61%

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

$425 MX$7,355

$68.3 LKR 22.9K

522.74%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.7K MX$185.7K

$500 LKR 167.8K

2047.23%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.3 MX$1,009

$24.80 LKR 8,321

135.12%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.57 MX$771

$13.30 LKR 4,464

235.11%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 MX$1,791

$56.2 LKR 18.9K

84.11%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 MX$1,881

$58.1 LKR 19.5K

87.13%

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

$165 LKR 55.5K

1181.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,223 MX$21.2K

$115 LKR 38.6K

964.66%

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

-33.29%

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

Last update for Mexico City: July 25, 2026

Last update for Maharagama: July 27, 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 211%, 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 $2,208 per month in Mexico City and $709 in Maharagama. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Public transport costs about 462% less in Maharagama. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Interestingly, groceries are about 2% 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 $473, than in Mexico City at $1,472. 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.