🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,447 in Mexico City versus $1,531 in Mayaguez.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,310 in Mexico City versus $2,223 in Mayaguez.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,174 in Mexico City versus $2,914 in Mayaguez.
🙂Living in Mexico City costs roughly 6% less than in Mayaguez, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Mexico City8% above, Mayaguez14% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Mayaguez
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.98MX$223
$12.78$12.78
1.56%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$52.6MX$903
$59.0$59.0
-10.77%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.43MX$162
$8.78$8.78
7.40%
Cappuccino
$3.57MX$61.3
$3.57$3.57
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.61MX$27.55
$1.31$1.31
22.90%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.15MX$19.81
$1.23$1.23
-6.50%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.15MX$54.0
$3.09$3.09
1.94%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.86MX$83.4
$4.02$4.02
20.90%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Mayaguez
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.70MX$29.17
$1.63$1.63
4.29%
White Bread(500g)
$2.64MX$45.23
$2.32$2.32
13.79%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.90MX$32.67
$2.23$2.23
-14.80%
Eggs
$2.54MX$43.62
$2.78$2.78
-8.63%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.08MX$173
$8.67$8.67
16.26%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.29MX$142
$8.58$8.58
-3.38%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.57MX$199
$8.88$8.88
30.29%
Apples(1kg)
$3.03MX$52.0
$5.21$5.21
-41.84%
Banana(1kg)
$1.71MX$29.35
$2.72$2.72
-37.13%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.05MX$35.16
$1.30$1.30
57.69%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.06MX$35.36
$4.10$4.10
-49.76%
Potato(1kg)
$2.06MX$35.43
$1.61$1.61
27.95%
Onion(1kg)
$2.17MX$37.25
$1.12$1.12
93.75%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.40MX$24.08
$2.26$2.26
-38.05%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.12MX$19.26
$1.97$1.97
-43.15%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.29MX$73.7
$10.02$10.02
-57.19%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.41MX$265
$15.63$15.63
-1.41%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.67MX$28.74
$2.55$2.55
-34.51%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.69MX$63.3
$3.16$3.16
16.77%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Mayaguez
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38MX$6.55
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.06MX$327
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.38MX$23.70
-
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28MX$4.74
$1.47$1.47
-80.95%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.42MX$92.9
$15.13$15.13
-64.18%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.28MX$21.98
$0.95$0.95
34.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.0KMX$325.8K
$29.9K$29.9K
-36.45%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.5KMX$402.7K
$25.5K$25.5K
-7.92%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Mayaguez
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$41.02MX$704
$271$271
-84.87%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.92MX$462
$79.3$79.3
-66.04%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.69MX$510
$64.5$64.5
-54.00%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Mayaguez
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.3MX$898
$36.39$36.39
43.80%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.23MX$450
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.18MX$106
$8.09$8.09
-23.61%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Mayaguez
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$427MX$7,331
$468$468
-8.80%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.7KMX$183.6K
$10.3K$10.3K
4.12%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Mayaguez
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.8MX$975
$45.20$45.20
25.71%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.83MX$769
$57.4$57.4
-21.86%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$105MX$1,794
$66.2$66.2
57.90%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106MX$1,819
$69.0$69.0
53.64%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Mayaguez
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$995MX$17.1K
$610$610
62.97%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$621MX$10.7K
$393$393
58.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,126MX$36.5K
$1,787$1,787
18.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,254MX$21.5K
$633$633
97.90%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,903MX$67.0K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,096MX$36.0K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Mayaguez
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,107MX$19.0K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
3.25
248.92%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: June 7, 2026
Last update for Mayaguez: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $995 in Mexico City and $610 in Mayaguez. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $53.0 in Mexico City vs $59.0 in Mayaguez for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $288 vs $313 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?
Mexico City is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 6% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $2,171 in Mexico City and $2,297 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.
What is the rent difference between Mexico City and Mayaguez?
Rent for a central apartment: $995 in Mexico City versus $610 in Mayaguez. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $427 in Mexico City versus $468 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 Mayaguez?
Dining out is cheaper in Mexico City – a meal for two runs $53.0 versus $59.0 in Mayaguez. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for Mexico City or Mayaguez?
At $1,447 in Mexico City versus $1,531 in Mayaguez, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Mexico City but tight or insufficient in Mayaguez. The gap between the two cities makes Mexico City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Mexico City or Mayaguez more family-friendly?
For families, Mexico City is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Mayaguez, 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 Mexico City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 6% less than in Mayaguez. 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