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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,660 per month in Mexico City vs $559 in Manado, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,565 per month in Mexico City vs $891 in Manado, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,470 per month in Mexico City vs $1,222 in Manado, rent included.

Mexico City costs about 197% more than Manado, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Mexico City sits 21% above the global median, while Manado is 59% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.92 MX$204

$1.38 Rp 24.4K

763.77%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$51.6 MX$885

$17.27 Rp 305.4K

198.78%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.41 MX$196

$2.75 Rp 48.7K

314.91%

Cappuccino

$3.99 MX$68.5

$1.84 Rp 32.6K

116.85%

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

$1.66 MX$28.45

$0.58 Rp 10.2K

186.21%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.33 MX$22.74

$0.24 Rp 4,208

454.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.47 MX$59.5

$3.48 Rp 61.5K

-0.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.90 MX$101

$2.75 Rp 48.6K

114.55%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.88 MX$32.18

$1.42 Rp 25.1K

32.39%

White Bread (500g)

$3.25 MX$55.8

$1.12 Rp 19.8K

190.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.16 MX$37.05

$0.74 Rp 13.1K

191.89%

Eggs

$2.90 MX$49.66

$1.97 Rp 34.8K

47.21%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.86 MX$220

$17.35 Rp 306.7K

-25.88%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.05 MX$172

$2.88 Rp 50.9K

248.96%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.86 MX$272

$6.35 Rp 112.3K

149.76%

Apples (1kg)

$3.29 MX$56.5

$2.31 Rp 40.8K

42.42%

Banana (1kg)

$2.01 MX$34.40

$1.54 Rp 27.2K

30.52%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.20 MX$37.71

$1.35 Rp 23.9K

62.96%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.36 MX$40.40

$0.97 Rp 17.2K

143.30%

Potato (1kg)

$2.05 MX$35.23

$0.80 Rp 14.2K

156.25%

Onion (1kg)

$1.90 MX$32.60

$2.82 Rp 49.9K

-32.62%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.61 MX$27.52

$0.75 Rp 13.2K

114.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.40 MX$23.95

$0.44 Rp 7,706

218.18%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.46 MX$93.7

$2.40 Rp 42.4K

127.50%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.65 MX$303

$20.77 Rp 367.3K

-15.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.06 MX$35.24

$1.83 Rp 32.4K

12.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.68 MX$80.3

$2.95 Rp 52.2K

58.64%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.34 MX$5.80

$0.30 Rp 5,242

13.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.81 MX$357

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.10 MX$35.95

$0.53 Rp 9,348

296.23%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.56 MX$9.59

$0.33 Rp 5,762

69.70%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.81 MX$99.7

$2.91 Rp 51.5K

99.66%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.61 MX$27.53

$0.61 Rp 10.8K

163.93%

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

$22.8K MX$391.6K

$24.2K Rp 428.7M

-5.78%

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

$26.8K MX$458.6K

$31.3K Rp 553.4M

-14.53%

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

$65.2 MX$1,117

$54.2 Rp 958.4K

20.26%

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

$30.09 MX$516

$4.37 Rp 77.3K

588.56%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$37.18 MX$637

$13.92 Rp 246.1K

167.10%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$59.8 MX$1,024

$13.01 Rp 230.1K

359.34%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.55 MX$455

$8.34 Rp 147.4K

218.35%

Cinema Ticket

$7.04 MX$121

$2.51 Rp 44.4K

180.48%

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

$465 MX$7,967

$127 Rp 2.3M

264.70%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.3K MX$227.6K

$4,723 Rp 83.5M

181.03%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$75.9 MX$1,301

$56.8 Rp 1.0M

33.62%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$56.0 MX$959

$20.47 Rp 362.0K

173.33%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$112 MX$1,918

$71.3 Rp 1.3M

57.01%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$121 MX$2,066

$64.8 Rp 1.1M

86.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,103 MX$18.9K

$255 Rp 4.5M

332.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$721 MX$12.4K

$83.5 Rp 1.5M

763.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,530 MX$43.4K

$308 Rp 5.5M

720.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,293 MX$22.2K

$176 Rp 3.1M

634.35%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,991 MX$68.4K

$1,197 Rp 21.2M

233.56%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,090 MX$35.8K

$665 Rp 11.8M

214.30%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,037 MX$17.8K

$213 Rp 3.8M

387.33%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.3

13.00%

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

Last update for Mexico City: September 14, 2026

Last update for Manado: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,103 in Mexico City versus $255 in Manado. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 387% 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 $17.00 in Manado. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $345 vs $226 – making Manado 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 Manado: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Mexico City is pricier by about 197%, 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 $2,489 per month in Mexico City and $839 in Manado. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Manado, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $52.0 in Mexico City and $17.00 in Manado. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 53% 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 $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Manado, where all-in costs run around $559, than in Mexico City at $1,660. In Manado it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mexico City it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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

If budget matters most, go with Manado. 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.