😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,456 in Mexico City versus $544 in Mariano Roque Alonso.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,361 in Mexico City versus $747 in Mariano Roque Alonso.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,266 in Mexico City versus $950 in Mariano Roque Alonso.
🌍Living in Mexico City is roughly 168% more expensive than in Mariano Roque Alonso, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 9% above, Mariano Roque Alonso is 59% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Mariano Roque Alonso
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.07MX$228
$4.50₲27.1K
190.44%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.8MX$936
$22.41₲135.2K
139.85%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.68MX$169
$3.59₲21.7K
169.64%
Cappuccino
$3.74MX$65.1
$1.49₲9,011
151.01%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$28.13
$0.68₲4,102
138.24%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.16MX$20.23
$0.38₲2,279
205.26%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.23MX$56.2
$1.41₲8,499
129.08%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.74MX$82.5
$0.72₲4,342
558.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Mariano Roque Alonso
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.65MX$28.68
$0.74₲4,446
122.97%
White Bread(500g)
$2.75MX$47.95
$0.90₲5,451
205.56%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.87MX$32.63
$0.81₲4,912
130.86%
Eggs
$2.50MX$43.54
$1.65₲9,960
51.52%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.20MX$178
$5.13₲30.9K
98.83%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.25MX$144
$3.12₲18.8K
164.42%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.82MX$206
$5.38₲32.5K
119.70%
Apples(1kg)
$3.01MX$52.4
$1.54₲9,262
95.45%
Banana(1kg)
$1.81MX$31.54
$0.51₲3,085
254.90%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.00MX$34.81
$0.65₲3,941
207.69%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.00MX$34.74
$1.60₲9,633
25.00%
Potato(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.30
$1.10₲6,640
89.09%
Onion(1kg)
$2.27MX$39.56
$0.52₲3,132
336.54%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.46MX$25.36
$0.53₲3,182
175.47%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08MX$18.74
$0.39₲2,382
176.92%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.35MX$75.7
$1.36₲8,199
219.85%
Wine(Bottle)
$16.99MX$296
$3.93₲23.7K
332.32%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73MX$30.18
$0.66₲3,953
162.12%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.58MX$62.3
$0.84₲5,058
326.19%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Mariano Roque Alonso
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.39MX$6.74
$0.45₲2,714
-13.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.69MX$325
$38.93₲234.8K
-51.99%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.33MX$23.08
$0.65₲3,892
104.62%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28MX$4.87
$0.72₲4,370
-61.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.25MX$91.5
$8.59₲51.8K
-38.88%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.34MX$23.27
$0.81₲4,874
65.43%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.4KMX$338.0K
$13.4K₲80.7M
44.98%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.8KMX$415.0K
$21.6K₲130.1M
10.49%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Mariano Roque Alonso
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.69MX$709
$38.40₲231.6K
5.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.87MX$468
$13.87₲83.6K
93.73%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.51MX$531
$14.82₲89.4K
105.87%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Mariano Roque Alonso
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.8MX$919
$21.05₲127.0K
150.74%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.65MX$464
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.51MX$113
$4.31₲26.0K
51.04%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Mariano Roque Alonso
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$428MX$7,454
$165₲994.8K
159.49%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.5KMX$182.8K
$894₲5.4M
1074.73%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Mariano Roque Alonso
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.3MX$997
$43.88₲264.6K
30.47%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.50MX$792
$31.71₲191.2K
43.49%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104MX$1,812
$63.0₲380.1K
65.11%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108MX$1,878
$51.1₲308.1K
111.08%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Mariano Roque Alonso
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,003MX$17.5K
$187₲1.1M
435.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$623MX$10.8K
$126₲759.8K
394.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,109MX$36.7K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,218MX$21.2K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,885MX$67.6K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,033MX$35.4K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Mariano Roque Alonso
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,038MX$18.1K
$808₲4.9M
28.45%
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: July 13, 2026
Last update for Mariano Roque Alonso: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,003 in Mexico City and $187 in Mariano Roque Alonso. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 28% 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 $292 vs $119 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 168% 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 in Mariano Roque Alonso?
Average pay runs 28% higher in Mexico City, 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 compared to Mariano Roque Alonso?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,003 in Mexico City versus $187 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 compared to Mariano Roque Alonso?
A monthly transit pass in Mariano Roque Alonso runs roughly 108% 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 in Mariano Roque Alonso?
Childcare runs $428 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 in Mariano Roque Alonso?
At $544 in Mariano Roque Alonso versus $1,456 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 $544 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 168% 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