Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Miguel Hidalgo Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Miguel Hidalgo

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,660 in Mexico City versus $1,207 in Miguel Hidalgo.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,565 in Mexico City versus $2,044 in Miguel Hidalgo.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,470 in Mexico City versus $2,882 in Miguel Hidalgo.

Living in Mexico City is roughly 38% more expensive than in Miguel Hidalgo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 21% above, Miguel Hidalgo is 12% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Miguel Hidalgo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.92 MX$206
$11.72 MX$202
1.71%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$51.6 MX$890
$91.3 MX$1,574
-43.47%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.41 MX$197
$8.79 MX$152
29.81%
Cappuccino
$3.99 MX$68.9
$3.65 MX$62.9
9.32%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66 MX$28.61
$1.43 MX$24.66
16.08%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.33 MX$22.87
$1.10 MX$18.89
20.91%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.47 MX$59.9
$2.52 MX$43.38
37.70%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.90 MX$102
$6.51 MX$112
-9.37%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Miguel Hidalgo
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.88 MX$32.36
$1.69 MX$29.17
11.24%
White Bread (500g)
$3.25 MX$56.1
$2.75 MX$47.46
18.18%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.16 MX$37.26
$1.80 MX$31.09
20.00%
Eggs
$2.90 MX$49.94
$2.55 MX$44.01
13.73%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.86 MX$222
$8.49 MX$146
51.47%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.05 MX$173
$10.06 MX$173
-0.10%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.86 MX$273
$12.41 MX$214
27.80%
Apples (1kg)
$3.29 MX$56.8
$2.94 MX$50.7
11.90%
Banana (1kg)
$2.01 MX$34.60
$1.59 MX$27.44
26.42%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.20 MX$37.93
$2.06 MX$35.51
6.80%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.36 MX$40.63
$1.95 MX$33.57
21.03%
Potato (1kg)
$2.05 MX$35.43
$2.16 MX$37.25
-5.09%
Onion (1kg)
$1.90 MX$32.79
$1.98 MX$34.08
-4.04%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.61 MX$27.68
$1.46 MX$25.14
10.27%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.40 MX$24.09
$1.16 MX$20.00
20.69%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.46 MX$94.2
$4.64 MX$80.0
17.67%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.65 MX$304
$11.44 MX$197
54.28%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.06 MX$35.44
$1.91 MX$33.00
7.85%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.68 MX$80.8
$3.43 MX$59.2
36.44%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Miguel Hidalgo
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.34 MX$5.84
$0.73 MX$12.63
-53.42%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$20.81 MX$359
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.10 MX$36.15
$2.68 MX$46.23
-21.64%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.56 MX$9.64
$2.38 MX$40.96
-76.47%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.81 MX$100
$10.05 MX$173
-42.19%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.61 MX$27.68
$1.51 MX$26.05
6.62%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.8K MX$393.8K
$22.9K MX$395.5K
-0.42%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8K MX$461.2K
$25.4K MX$437.8K
5.36%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Miguel Hidalgo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$65.2 MX$1,124
$33.12 MX$571
96.80%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.09 MX$519
$23.89 MX$412
25.95%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.18 MX$641
$33.27 MX$574
11.75%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Miguel Hidalgo
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$59.8 MX$1,030
$50.1 MX$864
19.28%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.55 MX$458
$21.29 MX$367
24.71%
Cinema Ticket
$7.04 MX$121
$5.46 MX$94.2
28.94%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Miguel Hidalgo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$465 MX$8,012
$243 MX$4,189
91.24%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13.3K MX$228.9K
$4,696 MX$81.0K
182.65%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Miguel Hidalgo
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$75.9 MX$1,308
$80.2 MX$1,382
-5.36%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$56.0 MX$965
$44.32 MX$764
26.24%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$112 MX$1,929
$99.1 MX$1,708
12.91%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121 MX$2,078
$91.9 MX$1,584
31.19%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Miguel Hidalgo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,103 MX$19.0K
$648 MX$11.2K
70.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$721 MX$12.4K
$420 MX$7,245
71.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,530 MX$43.6K
$1,121 MX$19.3K
125.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,293 MX$22.3K
$822 MX$14.2K
57.41%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,991 MX$68.8K
$1,981 MX$34.2K
101.50%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,090 MX$36.0K
$1,223 MX$21.1K
70.81%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Miguel Hidalgo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,037 MX$17.9K
$592 MX$10.2K
75.17%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.3
11.3
-

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

Last update for Mexico City: September 14, 2026

Last update for Miguel Hidalgo: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,103 in Mexico City and $648 in Miguel Hidalgo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Mexico City pays 75% 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 $91.0 in Miguel Hidalgo. Groceries flip the comparison at $345 vs $287, with Miguel Hidalgo cheaper for home cooking.

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 Miguel Hidalgo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and in Miguel Hidalgo?
Mexico City and Miguel Hidalgo differ by about 38% in total monthly costs ($1,660 vs $1,207 including rent). Miguel Hidalgo is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Mexico City or Miguel Hidalgo?
Average pay runs 75% 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.
How do apartment prices compare in Mexico City and in Miguel Hidalgo?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,103 in Mexico City versus $648 in Miguel Hidalgo. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Mexico City and Miguel Hidalgo?
Childcare runs $465 in Mexico City versus $243 in Miguel Hidalgo. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Miguel Hidalgo – a meal for two runs $91.0 versus $52.0 in Mexico City. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,207 in Miguel Hidalgo versus $1,660 in Mexico City, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Miguel Hidalgo but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Miguel Hidalgo the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mexico City and Miguel Hidalgo?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Mexico City or Miguel Hidalgo safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Mexico City and Miguel Hidalgo are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Mexico City or Miguel Hidalgo?
Expats usually find Miguel Hidalgo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 38% 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

Similar cities