😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,660 in Mexico City versus $1,295 in Mayaguez.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,565 in Mexico City versus $1,975 in Mayaguez.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,470 in Mexico City versus $2,655 in Mayaguez.
🌍Living in Mexico City is roughly 28% more expensive than in Mayaguez, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 21% above, Mayaguez is 5% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Mayaguez
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.92MX$206
$12.96$12.96
-8.02%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$51.6MX$890
$67.1$67.1
-23.12%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.41MX$197
$9.15$9.15
24.70%
Cappuccino
$3.99MX$68.9
$3.57$3.57
11.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66MX$28.61
$1.23$1.23
34.96%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.33MX$22.87
$1.12$1.12
18.75%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.47MX$59.9
$3.08$3.08
12.66%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.90MX$102
$4.35$4.35
35.63%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Mayaguez
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.88MX$32.36
$2.22$2.22
-15.32%
White Bread(500g)
$3.25MX$56.1
$3.67$3.67
-11.44%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.16MX$37.26
$2.43$2.43
-11.11%
Eggs
$2.90MX$49.94
$7.62$7.62
-61.94%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.86MX$222
$12.46$12.46
3.21%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.05MX$173
$9.51$9.51
5.68%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.86MX$273
$13.23$13.23
19.88%
Apples(1kg)
$3.29MX$56.8
$5.05$5.05
-34.85%
Banana(1kg)
$2.01MX$34.60
$2.64$2.64
-23.86%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.20MX$37.93
$4.81$4.81
-54.26%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.36MX$40.63
$4.67$4.67
-49.46%
Potato(1kg)
$2.05MX$35.43
$3.76$3.76
-45.48%
Onion(1kg)
$1.90MX$32.79
$3.89$3.89
-51.16%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.61MX$27.68
$3.44$3.44
-53.20%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.40MX$24.09
$1.60$1.60
-12.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.46MX$94.2
$12.11$12.11
-54.91%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.65MX$304
$15.78$15.78
11.85%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.06MX$35.44
$3.04$3.04
-32.24%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.68MX$80.8
$4.06$4.06
15.27%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Mayaguez
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.34MX$5.84
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$20.81MX$359
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.10MX$36.15
$2.45$2.45
-14.29%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.56MX$9.64
$1.47$1.47
-61.90%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.81MX$100
$42.71$42.71
-86.40%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.61MX$27.68
$0.93$0.93
73.12%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.8KMX$393.8K
$40.5K$40.5K
-43.57%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8KMX$461.2K
$27.5K$27.5K
-2.63%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Mayaguez
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$65.2MX$1,124
$325$325
-79.97%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.09MX$519
$68.0$68.0
-55.76%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.18MX$641
$69.0$69.0
-46.14%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Mayaguez
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$59.8MX$1,030
$27.56$27.56
116.84%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.55MX$458
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.04MX$121
$10.48$10.48
-32.82%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Mayaguez
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$465MX$8,012
$819$819
-43.30%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.3KMX$228.9K
$12.3K$12.3K
7.68%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Mayaguez
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$75.9MX$1,308
$55.3$55.3
37.24%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$56.0MX$965
$60.6$60.6
-7.63%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$112MX$1,929
$109$109
2.76%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121MX$2,078
$113$113
6.96%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Mayaguez
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,103MX$19.0K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$721MX$12.4K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,530MX$43.6K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,293MX$22.3K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,991MX$68.8K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,090MX$36.0K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Mayaguez
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,037MX$17.9K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.3
6.55
72.52%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: September 14, 2026
Last update for Mayaguez: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $52.0 in Mexico City vs $67.0 in Mayaguez for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $345 vs $414 per month, with Mexico City 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 Mayaguez: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mayaguez cheaper than Mexico City?
Mayaguez is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 28% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $2,489 in Mexico City and $1,942 in Mayaguez to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $465 in Mexico City versus $819 in Mayaguez. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Mexico City or in Mayaguez?
Dining out is cheaper in Mayaguez – a meal for two runs $67.0 versus $52.0 in Mexico City. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Mexico City or in Mayaguez?
At $1,295 in Mayaguez versus $1,660 in Mexico City, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Mayaguez but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Mayaguez the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Mexico City or Mayaguez more family-friendly?
For families, Mayaguez 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 Mayaguez gentler on the wallet – expenses run 28% 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