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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,646 per month in Mexico City vs $934 in Manila, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,613 per month in Mexico City vs $1,491 in Manila, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,580 per month in Mexico City vs $2,048 in Manila, rent included.

Mexico City costs about 76% more than Manila, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Mexico City sits 20% above the global median, while Manila is 32% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.11 MX$206

$5.70 ₱355

112.46%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$52.2 MX$887

$25.88 ₱1,615

101.82%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.90 MX$185

$4.11 ₱256

165.21%

Cappuccino

$4.05 MX$68.9

$2.49 ₱155

62.65%

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

$1.72 MX$29.15

$1.37 ₱85.3

25.55%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.38 MX$23.41

$0.84 ₱52.3

64.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.47 MX$58.9

$1.14 ₱71.4

204.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.81 MX$98.8

$2.67 ₱167

117.60%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.85 MX$31.50

$1.89 ₱118

-2.12%

White Bread (500g)

$3.22 MX$54.8

$1.46 ₱91.1

120.55%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.09 MX$35.44

$0.99 ₱61.6

111.11%

Eggs

$2.91 MX$49.44

$2.32 ₱145

25.43%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.49 MX$212

$7.85 ₱490

59.11%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.11 MX$172

$4.96 ₱309

103.83%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.89 MX$270

$7.07 ₱441

124.75%

Apples (1kg)

$3.31 MX$56.3

$3.39 ₱212

-2.36%

Banana (1kg)

$2.13 MX$36.14

$1.93 ₱120

10.36%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.19 MX$37.22

$3.01 ₱188

-27.24%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.45 MX$41.59

$1.78 ₱111

37.64%

Potato (1kg)

$2.19 MX$37.20

$2.24 ₱140

-2.23%

Onion (1kg)

$1.90 MX$32.37

$2.59 ₱161

-26.64%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.62 MX$27.45

$2.12 ₱132

-23.58%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.35 MX$22.94

$0.56 ₱34.82

141.07%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.43 MX$92.2

$3.03 ₱189

79.21%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.59 MX$299

$9.84 ₱614

78.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.07 MX$35.14

$1.28 ₱79.9

61.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.75 MX$80.7

$2.11 ₱132

125.12%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.34 MX$5.78

$0.47 ₱29.17

-27.66%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.58 MX$367

$12.73 ₱794

69.52%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.04 MX$34.67

$0.83 ₱52.0

145.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 MX$9.82

$0.23 ₱14.39

152.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.97 MX$101

$1.98 ₱123

201.52%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.62 MX$27.46

$1.24 ₱77.3

30.65%

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

$22.8K MX$387.6K

$21.8K ₱1.4M

4.83%

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

$26.7K MX$453.1K

$19.7K ₱1.2M

35.40%

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

$65.2 MX$1,109

$121 ₱7,581

-46.30%

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

$29.87 MX$508

$15.06 ₱940

98.34%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.55 MX$621

$23.90 ₱1,492

52.93%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.0 MX$1,037

$43.84 ₱2,736

39.14%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.70 MX$454

$5.97 ₱373

347.24%

Cinema Ticket

$6.85 MX$116

$7.03 ₱439

-2.56%

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

$453 MX$7,705

$629 ₱39.3K

-27.95%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.4K MX$227.2K

$9,036 ₱563.9K

47.98%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$75.0 MX$1,274

$59.1 ₱3,691

26.77%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.3 MX$940

$28.07 ₱1,752

96.97%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$114 MX$1,931

$75.6 ₱4,714

50.38%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$123 MX$2,084

$57.9 ₱3,613

111.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,134 MX$19.3K

$537 ₱33.5K

111.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$712 MX$12.1K

$283 ₱17.6K

151.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,571 MX$43.7K

$1,898 ₱118.4K

35.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,311 MX$22.3K

$671 ₱41.9K

95.51%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,993 MX$67.8K

$4,351 ₱271.5K

-8.24%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,095 MX$35.6K

$2,494 ₱155.6K

-15.99%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,047 MX$17.8K

$484 ₱30.2K

116.43%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.3

7.43

52.09%

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

Last update for Mexico City: August 29, 2026

Last update for Manila: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,134 in Mexico City versus $537 in Manila. 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 116% 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 $26.00 in Manila. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $345 vs $223 – making Manila 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 Manila: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,646 in Mexico City, $934 in Manila – roughly 76% apart. Mexico City costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,469 per month in Mexico City and $1,401 in Manila. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,646 in Mexico City and $934 in Manila. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 70% less in Manila. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Manila, where all-in costs run around $934, than in Mexico City at $1,646. In Manila it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mexico City it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Manila has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $934 in Manila to $1,646 in Mexico City. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 Manila. 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.