😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,467 in Mexico City versus $1,124 in Miguel Hidalgo.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,371 in Mexico City versus $1,885 in Miguel Hidalgo.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,274 in Mexico City versus $2,646 in Miguel Hidalgo.
😐Living in Mexico City is roughly 31% more expensive than Miguel Hidalgo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 10% above, Miguel Hidalgo is 16% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Miguel Hidalgo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.18MX$228
$10.69MX$185
23.29%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.9MX$932
$83.2MX$1,439
-35.22%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.42MX$163
$7.86MX$136
19.85%
Cappuccino
$3.55MX$61.4
$3.33MX$57.7
6.61%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$27.98
$1.23MX$21.33
31.71%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.11MX$19.27
$0.98MX$16.97
13.27%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.12MX$54.0
$2.32MX$40.05
34.48%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.63MX$80.1
$5.70MX$98.6
-18.77%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Miguel Hidalgo
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.70MX$29.43
$1.50MX$25.89
13.33%
White Bread(500g)
$2.72MX$47.02
$2.50MX$43.27
8.80%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.91MX$33.07
$1.57MX$27.12
21.66%
Eggs
$2.54MX$43.86
$2.39MX$41.39
6.28%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.03MX$174
$8.26MX$143
21.43%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.09MX$140
$8.90MX$154
-9.10%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.62MX$201
$10.73MX$186
8.29%
Apples(1kg)
$2.97MX$51.3
$2.58MX$44.60
15.12%
Banana(1kg)
$1.81MX$31.24
$1.46MX$25.30
23.97%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01MX$34.82
$1.73MX$29.87
16.18%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03MX$35.20
$1.60MX$27.64
26.87%
Potato(1kg)
$2.12MX$36.75
$1.86MX$32.10
13.98%
Onion(1kg)
$2.27MX$39.25
$1.92MX$33.23
18.23%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.40MX$24.22
$1.21MX$20.91
15.70%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.13MX$19.55
$1.03MX$17.77
9.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27MX$73.9
$4.29MX$74.2
-0.47%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.56MX$269
$10.71MX$185
45.28%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76MX$30.39
$1.60MX$27.63
10.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.60MX$62.2
$2.73MX$47.19
31.87%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Miguel Hidalgo
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38MX$6.62
$0.66MX$11.40
-42.42%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.18MX$332
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.38MX$23.79
$2.65MX$45.91
-47.92%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28MX$4.78
$1.59MX$27.55
-82.39%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.45MX$94.2
$8.20MX$142
-33.54%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.30MX$22.55
$1.25MX$21.67
4.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.7KMX$323.2K
$21.1KMX$365.4K
-11.53%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.1KMX$400.1K
$22.3KMX$384.9K
3.94%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Miguel Hidalgo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.86MX$707
$29.30MX$507
39.45%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.81MX$464
$22.31MX$386
20.17%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.96MX$518
$30.75MX$532
-2.57%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Miguel Hidalgo
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.0MX$900
$44.80MX$775
16.12%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.84MX$464
$16.15MX$279
66.19%
Cinema Ticket
$6.30MX$109
$4.57MX$79.1
37.86%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Miguel Hidalgo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$436MX$7,544
$207MX$3,588
110.27%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.4KMX$180.2K
$3,640MX$63.0K
186.16%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Miguel Hidalgo
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.7MX$980
$72.7MX$1,257
-22.04%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.38MX$768
$40.35MX$698
9.99%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103MX$1,780
$91.2MX$1,578
12.80%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106MX$1,825
$79.2MX$1,370
33.20%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Miguel Hidalgo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,022MX$17.7K
$510MX$8,813
100.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$631MX$10.9K
$398MX$6,892
58.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,136MX$36.9K
$937MX$16.2K
127.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,243MX$21.5K
$766MX$13.3K
62.21%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,903MX$67.5K
$1,922MX$33.2K
103.09%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,064MX$35.7K
$1,277MX$22.1K
61.71%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Miguel Hidalgo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,115MX$19.3K
$573MX$9,906
94.71%
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: May 31, 2026
Last update for Miguel Hidalgo: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,022 in Mexico City and $510 in Miguel Hidalgo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 95% 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 $83.0 in Miguel Hidalgo. Groceries flip the comparison at $288 vs $255, 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 Miguel Hidalgo?
Mexico City and Miguel Hidalgo differ by about 31% in total monthly costs ($1,467 vs $1,124 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?
Mexico City pays 95% more on average, 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 Miguel Hidalgo?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,022 in Mexico City versus $510 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 $436 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 $83.0 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 $1,124 in Miguel Hidalgo versus $1,467 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 31% 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