😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,456 in Mexico City versus $1,105 in Miguel Hidalgo.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,361 in Mexico City versus $1,906 in Miguel Hidalgo.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,266 in Mexico City versus $2,707 in Miguel Hidalgo.
🌍Living in Mexico City is roughly 32% more expensive than in Miguel Hidalgo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 9% above, Miguel Hidalgo is 17% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Miguel Hidalgo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.07MX$229
$10.73MX$188
21.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.8MX$943
$82.1MX$1,440
-34.55%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.68MX$170
$7.96MX$140
21.61%
Cappuccino
$3.74MX$65.6
$3.29MX$57.6
13.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$28.34
$1.24MX$21.68
30.65%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.16MX$20.37
$0.99MX$17.28
17.17%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.23MX$56.6
$2.31MX$40.51
39.83%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.74MX$83.1
$5.96MX$105
-20.47%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Miguel Hidalgo
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.65MX$28.89
$1.48MX$26.01
11.49%
White Bread(500g)
$2.75MX$48.30
$2.65MX$46.40
3.77%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.87MX$32.87
$1.56MX$27.44
19.87%
Eggs
$2.50MX$43.86
$2.31MX$40.60
8.23%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.20MX$179
$7.81MX$137
30.60%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.25MX$145
$8.84MX$155
-6.67%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.82MX$207
$10.49MX$184
12.68%
Apples(1kg)
$3.01MX$52.8
$2.56MX$44.97
17.58%
Banana(1kg)
$1.81MX$31.77
$1.40MX$24.61
29.29%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.00MX$35.07
$1.76MX$30.88
13.64%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.00MX$35.00
$1.64MX$28.73
21.95%
Potato(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.56
$1.82MX$32.01
14.29%
Onion(1kg)
$2.27MX$39.85
$1.93MX$33.77
17.62%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.46MX$25.55
$1.25MX$21.96
16.80%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08MX$18.88
$1.02MX$17.95
5.88%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.35MX$76.3
$4.16MX$72.9
4.57%
Wine(Bottle)
$16.99MX$298
$10.67MX$187
59.23%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73MX$30.40
$1.60MX$28.01
8.12%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.58MX$62.7
$2.85MX$50.0
25.61%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Miguel Hidalgo
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.39MX$6.79
$0.66MX$11.57
-40.91%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.69MX$328
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.33MX$23.25
$2.65MX$46.55
-49.81%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28MX$4.91
$1.58MX$27.73
-82.28%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.25MX$92.1
$8.45MX$148
-37.87%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.34MX$23.44
$1.28MX$22.39
4.69%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.4KMX$340.5K
$21.5KMX$377.1K
-9.71%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.8KMX$418.0K
$22.5KMX$395.5K
5.69%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Miguel Hidalgo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.69MX$714
$30.26MX$531
34.47%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.87MX$471
$22.26MX$390
20.71%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.51MX$535
$30.35MX$532
0.53%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Miguel Hidalgo
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.8MX$926
$45.75MX$802
15.37%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.65MX$467
$15.74MX$276
69.31%
Cinema Ticket
$6.51MX$114
$4.53MX$79.4
43.71%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Miguel Hidalgo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$428MX$7,508
$207MX$3,626
107.04%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.5KMX$184.2K
$3,620MX$63.5K
190.08%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Miguel Hidalgo
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.3MX$1,004
$72.3MX$1,269
-20.86%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.50MX$798
$40.31MX$707
12.88%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104MX$1,825
$90.4MX$1,586
15.10%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108MX$1,891
$78.0MX$1,368
38.21%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Miguel Hidalgo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,003MX$17.6K
$515MX$9,035
94.77%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$623MX$10.9K
$403MX$7,064
54.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,109MX$37.0K
$915MX$16.1K
130.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,218MX$21.4K
$755MX$13.2K
61.28%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,885MX$68.1K
$1,860MX$32.6K
108.89%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,033MX$35.7K
$1,240MX$21.7K
63.95%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Miguel Hidalgo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,038MX$18.2K
$559MX$9,813
85.50%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
11.48
-1.22%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: July 13, 2026
Last update for Miguel Hidalgo: July 11, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,003 in Mexico City and $515 in Miguel Hidalgo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 86% 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: $54.0 in Mexico City vs $82.0 in Miguel Hidalgo. Groceries flip the comparison at $292 vs $254, 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 32% in total monthly costs ($1,456 vs $1,105 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 86% 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: $1,003 in Mexico City versus $515 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 $428 in Mexico City versus $207 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 $82.0 versus $54.0 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 $1,105 in Miguel Hidalgo versus $1,456 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 32% 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