😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,660 in Mexico City versus $656 in Marilia.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,565 in Mexico City versus $1,019 in Marilia.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,470 in Mexico City versus $1,382 in Marilia.
🌍Living in Mexico City is roughly 153% more expensive than in Marilia, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 21% above, Marilia is 52% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Marilia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.92MX$206
$4.87R$25.10
144.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$51.6MX$890
$13.60R$70.1
279.41%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.41MX$197
$8.24R$42.44
38.47%
Cappuccino
$3.99MX$68.9
$1.96R$10.10
103.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66MX$28.61
$1.20R$6.20
38.33%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.33MX$22.87
$0.80R$4.10
66.25%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.47MX$59.9
$1.00R$5.15
247.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.90MX$102
$2.68R$13.79
120.15%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Marilia
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.88MX$32.36
$1.11R$5.72
69.37%
White Bread(500g)
$3.25MX$56.1
$1.48R$7.60
119.59%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.16MX$37.26
$1.01R$5.19
113.86%
Eggs
$2.90MX$49.94
$1.94R$10.00
49.48%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.86MX$222
$9.84R$50.7
30.69%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.05MX$173
$3.74R$19.28
168.72%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.86MX$273
$6.72R$34.64
136.01%
Apples(1kg)
$3.29MX$56.8
$1.83R$9.43
79.78%
Banana(1kg)
$2.01MX$34.60
$0.99R$5.09
103.03%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.20MX$37.93
$0.76R$3.92
189.47%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.36MX$40.63
$0.80R$4.12
195.00%
Potato(1kg)
$2.05MX$35.43
$0.92R$4.76
122.83%
Onion(1kg)
$1.90MX$32.79
$0.95R$4.88
100.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.61MX$27.68
$0.57R$2.93
182.46%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.40MX$24.09
$0.40R$2.07
250.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.46MX$94.2
$1.92R$9.88
184.38%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.65MX$304
$8.66R$44.62
103.81%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.06MX$35.44
$0.60R$3.07
243.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.68MX$80.8
$1.99R$10.28
135.18%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Marilia
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.34MX$5.84
$1.13R$5.83
-69.91%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$20.81MX$359
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.10MX$36.15
$1.30R$6.67
61.54%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.56MX$9.64
$0.86R$4.42
-34.88%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.81MX$100
$3.85R$19.82
50.91%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.61MX$27.68
$1.02R$5.26
57.84%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.8KMX$393.8K
$35.2KR$181.4K
-35.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8KMX$461.2K
$25.3KR$130.5K
5.60%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Marilia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$65.2MX$1,124
$48.73R$251
33.76%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.09MX$519
$11.04R$56.9
172.55%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.18MX$641
$22.11R$114
68.16%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Marilia
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$59.8MX$1,030
$23.17R$119
157.92%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.55MX$458
$13.65R$70.3
94.51%
Cinema Ticket
$7.04MX$121
$5.73R$29.53
22.86%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Marilia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$465MX$8,012
$231R$1,192
100.78%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.3KMX$228.9K
$7,368R$38.0K
80.17%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Marilia
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$75.9MX$1,308
$41.32R$213
83.64%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$56.0MX$965
$57.8R$298
-3.25%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$112MX$1,929
$83.3R$429
34.31%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121MX$2,078
$59.1R$304
104.03%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Marilia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,103MX$19.0K
$288R$1,482
283.22%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$721MX$12.4K
$154R$794
367.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,530MX$43.6K
$584R$3,010
332.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,293MX$22.3K
$286R$1,475
351.70%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,991MX$68.8K
$986R$5,078
304.98%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,090MX$36.0K
$481R$2,478
334.43%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Marilia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,037MX$17.9K
$385R$1,986
169.10%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.3
10.5
7.62%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: September 14, 2026
Last update for Marilia: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,103 in Mexico City and $288 in Marilia. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 169% 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: $52.0 in Mexico City vs $14.00 in Marilia for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $345 vs $164 per month, with Marilia 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 Marilia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Marilia cheaper than Mexico City?
Marilia is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 153% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Mexico City or Marilia?
Average pay runs 169% 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.
What is the rent difference between Mexico City and Marilia?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,103 in Mexico City versus $288 in Marilia. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Mexico City and in Marilia?
Supermarket bills run roughly 110% higher in Mexico City. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Mexico City and in Marilia?
All in, you'll spend $1,660 per month in Mexico City versus $656 in Marilia – a 153% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Mexico City or in Marilia?
At $656 in Marilia versus $1,660 in Mexico City, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Marilia but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Marilia the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Mexico City or Marilia more family-friendly?
For families, Marilia is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Mexico City, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Marilia gentler on the wallet – expenses run 153% 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