😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,467 in Mexico City versus $555 in Mariano Roque Alonso.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,371 in Mexico City versus $765 in Mariano Roque Alonso.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,274 in Mexico City versus $976 in Mariano Roque Alonso.
😐Living in Mexico City is roughly 165% more expensive than Mariano Roque Alonso, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 10% above, Mariano Roque Alonso is 59% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Mariano Roque Alonso
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.18MX$228
$4.33₲26.4K
204.39%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.9MX$932
$22.38₲136.4K
140.84%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.42MX$163
$3.68₲22.4K
155.98%
Cappuccino
$3.55MX$61.4
$1.48₲9,015
139.86%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$27.98
$0.65₲3,931
149.23%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.11MX$19.27
$0.37₲2,280
200.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.12MX$54.0
$1.42₲8,653
119.72%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.63MX$80.1
$0.77₲4,669
501.30%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Mariano Roque Alonso
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.70MX$29.43
$0.81₲4,920
109.88%
White Bread(500g)
$2.72MX$47.02
$0.95₲5,818
186.32%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.91MX$33.07
$0.83₲5,064
130.12%
Eggs
$2.54MX$43.86
$1.59₲9,685
59.75%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.03MX$174
$4.92₲30.0K
103.86%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.09MX$140
$3.26₲19.9K
148.16%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.62MX$201
$5.47₲33.4K
112.43%
Apples(1kg)
$2.97MX$51.3
$1.55₲9,466
91.61%
Banana(1kg)
$1.81MX$31.24
$0.50₲3,048
262.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01MX$34.82
$0.65₲3,984
209.23%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03MX$35.20
$1.54₲9,378
31.82%
Potato(1kg)
$2.12MX$36.75
$1.11₲6,785
90.99%
Onion(1kg)
$2.27MX$39.25
$0.51₲3,121
345.10%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.40MX$24.22
$0.52₲3,186
169.23%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.13MX$19.55
$0.36₲2,200
213.89%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27MX$73.9
$1.35₲8,228
216.30%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.56MX$269
$6.20₲37.8K
150.97%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76MX$30.39
$0.70₲4,241
151.43%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.60MX$62.2
$0.85₲5,178
323.53%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Mariano Roque Alonso
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38MX$6.62
$0.41₲2,502
-7.32%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.18MX$332
$38.53₲234.8K
-50.22%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.38MX$23.79
$0.66₲4,004
109.09%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28MX$4.78
$0.74₲4,500
-62.16%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.45MX$94.2
$8.92₲54.3K
-38.90%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.30MX$22.55
$0.82₲4,984
58.54%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.7KMX$323.2K
$13.8K₲84.1M
35.46%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.1KMX$400.1K
$22.3K₲135.8M
3.83%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Mariano Roque Alonso
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.86MX$707
$38.44₲234.3K
6.30%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.81MX$464
$13.89₲84.6K
93.02%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.96MX$518
$14.80₲90.2K
102.43%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Mariano Roque Alonso
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.0MX$900
$21.14₲128.8K
146.07%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.84MX$464
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.30MX$109
$4.29₲26.1K
46.85%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Mariano Roque Alonso
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$436MX$7,544
$165₲1.0M
164.30%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.4KMX$180.2K
$913₲5.6M
1040.75%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Mariano Roque Alonso
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.7MX$980
$44.06₲268.5K
28.57%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.38MX$768
$30.96₲188.7K
43.35%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103MX$1,780
$63.5₲386.7K
62.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106MX$1,825
$50.1₲305.1K
110.79%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Mariano Roque Alonso
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,022MX$17.7K
$189₲1.2M
439.88%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$631MX$10.9K
$126₲769.3K
399.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,136MX$36.9K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,243MX$21.5K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,903MX$67.5K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,064MX$35.7K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Mariano Roque Alonso
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,115MX$19.3K
$822₲5.0M
35.57%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
10.17
11.50%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: May 31, 2026
Last update for Mariano Roque Alonso: May 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,022 in Mexico City and $189 in Mariano Roque Alonso. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 36% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $54.0 in Mexico City vs $22.00 in Mariano Roque Alonso for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $288 vs $124 per month, with Mariano Roque Alonso cheaper across the board.
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 Mariano Roque Alonso: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Mexico City or Mariano Roque Alonso?
Mariano Roque Alonso wins on cost – living expenses run 165% lower than in Mexico City. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Mariano Roque Alonso the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Mexico City or Mariano Roque Alonso?
Mexico City pays 36% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Mexico City vs Mariano Roque Alonso?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,022 in Mexico City versus $189 in Mariano Roque Alonso. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Mexico City vs Mariano Roque Alonso?
A monthly transit pass in Mariano Roque Alonso runs roughly 101% less than in Mexico City. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Mexico City and Mariano Roque Alonso?
Childcare runs $436 in Mexico City versus $165 in Mariano Roque Alonso. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Mexico City or Mariano Roque Alonso?
At $555 in Mariano Roque Alonso versus $1,467 in Mexico City, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Mariano Roque Alonso but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Mariano Roque Alonso the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Mexico City or Mariano Roque Alonso?
Both work as nomad bases, but Mariano Roque Alonso delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $555 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Mariano Roque Alonso hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Mariano Roque Alonso gentler on the wallet – expenses run 165% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Mexico City vs other spots: cost of living compared