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 $1,447 per month in Mexico City vs $669 in Marikina, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,310 per month in Mexico City vs $1,059 in Marikina, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,174 per month in Mexico City vs $1,448 in Marikina, rent included.

Mexico City costs about 116% more than Marikina, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Mexico City sits 8% above the global median, while Marikina is 50% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.98 MX$223

$3.51 ₱213

269.80%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$52.6 MX$903

$28.06 ₱1,704

87.49%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.43 MX$162

$3.45 ₱209

173.33%

Cappuccino

$3.57 MX$61.3

$2.62 ₱159

36.26%

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

$1.61 MX$27.55

$0.68 ₱41.05

136.76%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.15 MX$19.81

$0.44 ₱26.48

161.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.15 MX$54.0

$1.03 ₱62.6

205.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.86 MX$83.4

$2.62 ₱159

85.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.70 MX$29.17

$2.10 ₱127

-19.05%

White Bread (500g)

$2.64 MX$45.23

$1.51 ₱91.4

74.83%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.90 MX$32.67

$1.07 ₱65.0

77.57%

Eggs

$2.54 MX$43.62

$2.32 ₱141

9.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.08 MX$173

$7.93 ₱482

27.11%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.29 MX$142

$4.53 ₱275

83.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.57 MX$199

$7.70 ₱468

50.26%

Apples (1kg)

$3.03 MX$52.0

$2.67 ₱162

13.48%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 MX$29.35

$1.93 ₱117

-11.40%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.05 MX$35.16

$2.71 ₱164

-24.35%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.06 MX$35.36

$2.25 ₱137

-8.44%

Potato (1kg)

$2.06 MX$35.43

$3.27 ₱198

-37.00%

Onion (1kg)

$2.17 MX$37.25

$2.90 ₱176

-25.17%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.40 MX$24.08

$1.10 ₱66.5

27.27%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.12 MX$19.26

$0.73 ₱44.39

53.42%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.29 MX$73.7

$2.75 ₱167

56.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.41 MX$265

$8.78 ₱533

75.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.67 MX$28.74

$1.21 ₱73.4

38.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.69 MX$63.3

$2.12 ₱128

74.06%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.38 MX$6.55

$0.42 ₱25.43

-9.52%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.06 MX$327

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.38 MX$23.70

$0.79 ₱47.79

74.68%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.28 MX$4.74

$0.11 ₱6.77

154.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.42 MX$92.9

$3.53 ₱215

53.54%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 MX$21.98

$1.09 ₱66.3

17.43%

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

$19.0K MX$325.8K

$33.6K ₱2.0M

-43.57%

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

$23.5K MX$402.7K

$17.8K ₱1.1M

31.46%

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

$41.02 MX$704

$108 ₱6,580

-62.15%

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

$26.92 MX$462

$13.97 ₱849

92.70%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.69 MX$510

$26.53 ₱1,611

11.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.3 MX$898

$41.79 ₱2,538

25.22%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.23 MX$450

Cinema Ticket

$6.18 MX$106

$6.14 ₱373

0.65%

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

$427 MX$7,331

$319 ₱19.3K

34.08%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.7K MX$183.6K

$1,135 ₱68.9K

842.88%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.8 MX$975

$46.37 ₱2,816

22.54%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.83 MX$769

$25.19 ₱1,530

77.97%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$105 MX$1,794

$57.5 ₱3,493

81.73%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 MX$1,819

$26.73 ₱1,623

296.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$995 MX$17.1K

$180 ₱11.0K

451.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$621 MX$10.7K

$88.4 ₱5,368

602.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,126 MX$36.5K

$297 ₱18.0K

616.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,254 MX$21.5K

$168 ₱10.2K

645.62%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,903 MX$67.0K

$1,147 ₱69.7K

240.20%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,096 MX$36.0K

$489 ₱29.7K

328.70%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,107 MX$19.0K

$393 ₱23.9K

181.62%

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Marikina: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $995 in Mexico City versus $180 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 182% 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 $53.0 in Mexico City versus $28.00 in Marikina. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $288 vs $223 – 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: $1,447 in Mexico City, $669 in Marikina – roughly 116% apart. Mexico City costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,171 per month in Mexico City and $1,004 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 $1,447 in Mexico City and $669 in Marikina. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $427 per month in Mexico City and $319 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 $669, than in Mexico City at $1,447. 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 $669 in Marikina to $1,447 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.