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 $1,660 per month in Mexico City vs $132 in Maharagama, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,565 per month in Mexico City vs $246 in Maharagama, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,470 per month in Mexico City vs $360 in Maharagama, rent included.

Mexico City costs about 1160% more than Maharagama, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Mexico City sits 21% above the global median, while Maharagama is 90% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.92 MX$205

$5.20 LKR 1,719

129.23%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$51.6 MX$889

$20.09 LKR 6,642

156.84%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.41 MX$197

$7.02 LKR 2,321

62.54%

Cappuccino

$3.99 MX$68.8

$2.13 LKR 705

87.32%

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

$1.66 MX$28.57

$0.61 LKR 201

172.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.33 MX$22.84

$0.29 LKR 94.3

358.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.47 MX$59.8

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.90 MX$102

Milk (1 liter)

$1.88 MX$32.31

$0.90 LKR 297

108.89%

White Bread (500g)

$3.25 MX$56.0

$0.25 LKR 82.7

1200.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.16 MX$37.21

$0.51 LKR 168

323.53%

Eggs

$2.90 MX$49.87

$1.44 LKR 476

101.39%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.86 MX$221

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.05 MX$173

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.86 MX$273

Apples (1kg)

$3.29 MX$56.7

Banana (1kg)

$2.01 MX$34.55

Oranges (1kg)

$2.20 MX$37.88

Tomato (1kg)

$2.36 MX$40.57

Potato (1kg)

$2.05 MX$35.38

Onion (1kg)

$1.90 MX$32.75

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.61 MX$27.64

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.40 MX$24.05

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.46 MX$94.1

Wine (Bottle)

$17.65 MX$304

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.06 MX$35.39

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.68 MX$80.7

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.34 MX$5.83

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.81 MX$358

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.10 MX$36.11

$0.45 LKR 148

366.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.56 MX$9.63

$0.48 LKR 159

16.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.81 MX$100

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.61 MX$27.65

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

$22.8K MX$393.3K

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

$26.8K MX$460.6K

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

$65.2 MX$1,122

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

$30.09 MX$518

$4.69 LKR 1,549

541.58%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$37.18 MX$640

$13.87 LKR 4,587

168.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$59.8 MX$1,029

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.55 MX$457

Cinema Ticket

$7.04 MX$121

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

$465 MX$8,001

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.3K MX$228.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$75.9 MX$1,307

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$56.0 MX$963

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$112 MX$1,926

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$121 MX$2,075

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,103 MX$19.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$721 MX$12.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,530 MX$43.6K

$200 LKR 66.1K

1165.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,293 MX$22.3K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,991 MX$68.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,090 MX$36.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,037 MX$17.9K

$248 LKR 81.9K

319.01%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.3

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

Last update for Mexico City: September 14, 2026

Last update for Maharagama: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 319% 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 $52.0 in Mexico City versus $20.00 in Maharagama. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $345 vs $19.00 – making Maharagama 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 Maharagama: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Mexico City is pricier by about 1160%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,489 per month in Mexico City and $198 in Maharagama. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Groceries cost about 1691% 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 mid-range dinner for two costs $52.0 in Mexico City and $20.00 in Maharagama. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Maharagama, where all-in costs run around $132, than in Mexico City at $1,660. 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.