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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,472 per month in Mexico City vs $671 in Marikina, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,359 per month in Mexico City vs $1,068 in Marikina, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,245 per month in Mexico City vs $1,464 in Marikina, rent included.

Mexico City costs about 119% more than Marikina, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Mexico City sits 11% above the global median, while Marikina is 50% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.14 MX$227

$3.56 ₱218

269.10%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.5 MX$926

$28.33 ₱1,734

88.95%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.33 MX$161

$3.48 ₱213

168.10%

Cappuccino

$3.70 MX$64.0

$2.62 ₱160

41.22%

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

$1.60 MX$27.76

$0.74 ₱45.37

116.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.12 MX$19.34

$0.43 ₱26.58

160.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.14 MX$54.3

$1.05 ₱64.1

199.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.85 MX$83.9

$2.72 ₱166

78.31%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 MX$28.61

$2.05 ₱126

-19.51%

White Bread (500g)

$2.71 MX$46.96

$1.51 ₱92.6

79.47%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.91 MX$33.03

$1.06 ₱64.8

80.19%

Eggs

$2.59 MX$44.81

$2.28 ₱139

13.60%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.81 MX$170

$7.97 ₱488

23.09%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.43 MX$146

$4.41 ₱270

91.16%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.93 MX$206

$7.74 ₱474

54.13%

Apples (1kg)

$2.95 MX$51.1

$2.63 ₱161

12.17%

Banana (1kg)

$1.74 MX$30.10

$1.94 ₱119

-10.31%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.04 MX$35.38

$2.63 ₱161

-22.43%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.06 MX$35.64

$2.16 ₱132

-4.63%

Potato (1kg)

$2.15 MX$37.20

$3.31 ₱203

-35.05%

Onion (1kg)

$2.26 MX$39.02

$2.95 ₱181

-23.39%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.39 MX$23.97

$1.14 ₱69.7

21.93%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.12 MX$19.31

$0.72 ₱44.15

55.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.22 MX$73.0

$2.70 ₱165

56.30%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.51 MX$303

$9.02 ₱552

94.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 MX$29.58

$1.25 ₱76.5

36.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 MX$62.8

$2.12 ₱130

71.23%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.35 MX$6.10

$0.46 ₱28.28

-23.91%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.32 MX$334

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.38 MX$23.80

$0.77 ₱47.09

79.22%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.28 MX$4.77

$0.12 ₱7.59

133.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.28 MX$91.3

$3.52 ₱216

50.00%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 MX$23.50

$1.09 ₱66.7

24.77%

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

$19.1K MX$330.5K

$33.5K ₱2.1M

-42.98%

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

$23.6K MX$408.4K

$17.6K ₱1.1M

34.08%

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

$40.53 MX$701

$109 ₱6,665

-62.78%

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

$27.38 MX$474

$13.78 ₱843

98.69%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.38 MX$526

$26.46 ₱1,620

14.81%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.2 MX$903

$42.28 ₱2,588

23.51%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.48 MX$458

Cinema Ticket

$6.19 MX$107

$6.04 ₱370

2.48%

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

$425 MX$7,355

$328 ₱20.1K

29.46%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.7K MX$185.7K

$1,142 ₱69.9K

839.72%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.3 MX$1,009

$45.36 ₱2,777

28.55%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.57 MX$771

$25.75 ₱1,576

73.09%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 MX$1,791

$57.4 ₱3,511

80.45%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 MX$1,881

$26.66 ₱1,632

307.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,014 MX$17.5K

$177 ₱10.9K

471.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$623 MX$10.8K

$86.9 ₱5,319

616.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,119 MX$36.7K

$288 ₱17.6K

636.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,223 MX$21.2K

$170 ₱10.4K

618.78%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,792 MX$65.6K

$1,162 ₱71.1K

226.32%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,110 MX$36.5K

$495 ₱30.3K

326.29%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,052 MX$18.2K

$393 ₱24.0K

168.05%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.34

6.25

81.44%

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

Last update for Mexico City: July 25, 2026

Last update for Marikina: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,014 in Mexico City versus $177 in Marikina. 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 168% 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 $54.0 in Mexico City versus $28.00 in Marikina. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $293 vs $222 – making Marikina 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 Marikina: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,472 in Mexico City, $671 in Marikina – roughly 119% apart. Mexico City costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,208 per month in Mexico City and $1,006 in Marikina. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Marikina, 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 $1,472 in Mexico City and $671 in Marikina. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $425 per month in Mexico City and $328 in Marikina. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Marikina, where all-in costs run around $671, than in Mexico City at $1,472. In Marikina it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mexico City it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Mexico City has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $671 in Marikina to $1,472 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 Marikina. 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.