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 $1,660 per month in Mexico City vs $717 in Marikina, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,565 per month in Mexico City vs $1,122 in Marikina, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,470 per month in Mexico City vs $1,527 in Marikina, rent included.

Mexico City costs about 132% more than Marikina, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Mexico City sits 21% above the global median, while Marikina is 48% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.92 MX$206

$3.93 ₱246

203.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$51.6 MX$890

$31.72 ₱1,989

62.67%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.41 MX$197

$3.14 ₱197

263.38%

Cappuccino

$3.99 MX$68.9

$2.19 ₱137

82.19%

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

$1.66 MX$28.61

$0.60 ₱37.77

176.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.33 MX$22.87

$0.33 ₱20.84

303.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.47 MX$59.9

$0.94 ₱59.0

269.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.90 MX$102

$2.43 ₱153

142.80%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.88 MX$32.36

$1.90 ₱119

-1.05%

White Bread (500g)

$3.25 MX$56.1

$1.29 ₱81.1

151.94%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.16 MX$37.26

$1.05 ₱65.9

105.71%

Eggs

$2.90 MX$49.94

$2.09 ₱131

38.76%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.86 MX$222

$7.15 ₱448

79.86%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.05 MX$173

$4.34 ₱272

131.57%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.86 MX$273

$7.49 ₱470

111.75%

Apples (1kg)

$3.29 MX$56.8

$2.35 ₱148

40.00%

Banana (1kg)

$2.01 MX$34.60

$1.99 ₱125

1.01%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.20 MX$37.93

$2.32 ₱146

-5.17%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.36 MX$40.63

$2.19 ₱138

7.76%

Potato (1kg)

$2.05 MX$35.43

$3.19 ₱200

-35.74%

Onion (1kg)

$1.90 MX$32.79

$3.43 ₱215

-44.61%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.61 MX$27.68

$1.10 ₱69.1

46.36%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.40 MX$24.09

$0.71 ₱44.60

97.18%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.46 MX$94.2

$2.96 ₱185

84.46%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.65 MX$304

$8.92 ₱560

97.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.06 MX$35.44

$0.96 ₱60.5

114.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.68 MX$80.8

$2.04 ₱128

129.41%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.34 MX$5.84

$0.50 ₱31.09

-32.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.81 MX$359

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.10 MX$36.15

$0.71 ₱44.29

195.77%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.56 MX$9.64

$0.23 ₱14.44

143.48%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.81 MX$100

$1.95 ₱122

197.95%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.61 MX$27.68

$1.19 ₱74.7

35.29%

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

$22.8K MX$393.8K

$21.0K ₱1.3M

8.78%

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

$26.8K MX$461.2K

$19.5K ₱1.2M

37.39%

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

$65.2 MX$1,124

$139 ₱8,706

-53.04%

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

$30.09 MX$519

$16.12 ₱1,011

86.66%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$37.18 MX$641

$27.23 ₱1,708

36.54%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$59.8 MX$1,030

$37.73 ₱2,366

58.39%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.55 MX$458

Cinema Ticket

$7.04 MX$121

$7.11 ₱446

-0.98%

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

$465 MX$8,012

$130 ₱8,151

257.54%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.3K MX$228.9K

$7,413 ₱464.9K

79.07%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$75.9 MX$1,308

$60.2 ₱3,777

25.98%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$56.0 MX$965

$27.54 ₱1,727

103.16%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$112 MX$1,929

$75.6 ₱4,739

48.05%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$121 MX$2,078

$55.8 ₱3,500

115.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,103 MX$19.0K

$181 ₱11.4K

508.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$721 MX$12.4K

$80.5 ₱5,048

795.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,530 MX$43.6K

$314 ₱19.7K

704.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,293 MX$22.3K

$169 ₱10.6K

663.57%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,991 MX$68.8K

$1,117 ₱70.1K

257.29%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,090 MX$36.0K

$485 ₱30.4K

330.69%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,037 MX$17.9K

$394 ₱24.7K

163.05%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.3

6.75

67.41%

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

Last update for Mexico City: September 14, 2026

Last update for Marikina: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,103 in Mexico City versus $181 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 163% 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 $32.00 in Marikina. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $345 vs $210 – 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: $1,660 in Mexico City, $717 in Marikina – roughly 132% apart. Mexico City costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,489 per month in Mexico City and $1,075 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 $1,660 in Mexico City and $717 in Marikina. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $465 per month in Mexico City and $130 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 $717, than in Mexico City at $1,660. 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 $717 in Marikina to $1,660 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.