😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,447 in Mexico City versus $770 in Naga.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,310 in Mexico City versus $1,117 in Naga.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,174 in Mexico City versus $1,463 in Naga.
😐Living in Mexico City is roughly 88% more expensive than Naga, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 8% above, Naga is 43% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Naga
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.98MX$223
$3.65₱222
255.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$52.6MX$903
$17.76₱1,078
196.23%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.43MX$162
$3.40₱206
177.35%
Cappuccino
$3.57MX$61.3
$2.44₱148
46.31%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.61MX$27.55
$0.77₱46.49
109.09%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.15MX$19.81
$0.40₱24.15
187.50%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.15MX$54.0
$1.37₱83.0
129.93%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.86MX$83.4
$2.15₱131
126.05%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Naga
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.70MX$29.17
$1.90₱115
-10.53%
White Bread(500g)
$2.64MX$45.23
$1.27₱76.9
107.87%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.90MX$32.67
$0.85₱51.4
123.53%
Eggs
$2.54MX$43.62
$1.70₱103
49.41%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.08MX$173
$8.00₱486
26.00%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.29MX$142
$4.19₱255
97.85%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.57MX$199
$7.87₱478
47.01%
Apples(1kg)
$3.03MX$52.0
$2.86₱174
5.94%
Banana(1kg)
$1.71MX$29.35
$1.54₱93.7
11.04%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.05MX$35.16
$2.58₱157
-20.54%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.06MX$35.36
$1.55₱93.9
32.90%
Potato(1kg)
$2.06MX$35.43
$2.31₱140
-10.82%
Onion(1kg)
$2.17MX$37.25
$2.50₱152
-13.20%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.40MX$24.08
$1.06₱64.3
32.08%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.12MX$19.26
$0.73₱44.19
53.42%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.29MX$73.7
$2.52₱153
70.24%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.41MX$265
$3.80₱230
305.53%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.67MX$28.74
$1.15₱69.8
45.22%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.69MX$63.3
$2.04₱124
80.88%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Naga
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38MX$6.55
$0.26₱15.58
46.15%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.06MX$327
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.38MX$23.70
$0.84₱51.0
64.29%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28MX$4.74
$0.22₱13.27
27.27%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.42MX$92.9
$2.07₱126
161.84%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.28MX$21.98
$1.15₱69.9
11.30%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.0KMX$325.8K
$27.0K₱1.6M
-29.62%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.5KMX$402.7K
$20.2K₱1.2M
16.24%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Naga
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$41.02MX$704
$110₱6,701
-62.83%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.92MX$462
$32.14₱1,951
-16.24%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.69MX$510
$26.84₱1,630
10.62%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Naga
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.3MX$898
$33.57₱2,038
55.88%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.23MX$450
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.18MX$106
$5.92₱359
4.39%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Naga
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$427MX$7,331
$152₱9,242
180.60%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.7KMX$183.6K
$4,349₱264.1K
145.99%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Naga
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.8MX$975
$46.62₱2,831
21.88%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.83MX$769
$26.17₱1,589
71.30%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$105MX$1,794
$74.8₱4,544
39.69%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106MX$1,819
$53.3₱3,236
98.78%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Naga
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$995MX$17.1K
$262₱15.9K
279.69%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$621MX$10.7K
$174₱10.6K
256.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,126MX$36.5K
$326₱19.8K
551.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,254MX$21.5K
$268₱16.3K
367.06%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,903MX$67.0K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,096MX$36.0K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Naga
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,107MX$19.0K
$145₱8,823
662.04%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
6.67
70.01%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: June 7, 2026
Last update for Naga: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $995 in Mexico City and $262 in Naga. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 662% 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: $53.0 in Mexico City vs $18.00 in Naga for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $288 vs $194 per month, with Naga 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 Naga: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and Naga?
Mexico City and Naga differ by about 88% in total monthly costs ($1,447 vs $770 including rent). Naga is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Mexico City or Naga?
Mexico City pays 662% 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 Naga?
Rent for a central apartment: $995 in Mexico City versus $262 in Naga. 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 Naga?
Childcare runs $427 in Mexico City versus $152 in Naga. 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 Naga – a meal for two runs $18.00 versus $53.0 in Mexico City. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $770 in Naga versus $1,447 in Mexico City, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Naga but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Naga the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mexico City and Naga?
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 Naga safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Mexico City and Naga 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 Naga?
Expats usually find Naga gentler on the wallet – expenses run 88% 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