😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,472 in Mexico City versus $710 in Old Harbour.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,359 in Mexico City versus $1,170 in Old Harbour.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,245 in Mexico City versus $1,630 in Old Harbour.
🌍Living in Mexico City is roughly 107% more expensive than in Old Harbour, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 11% above, Old Harbour is 47% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Old Harbour
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.14MX$227
$6.28JMD 989
109.24%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.5MX$926
$30.89JMD 4,864
73.29%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.33MX$161
$5.13JMD 807
81.87%
Cappuccino
$3.70MX$64.0
$4.33JMD 681
-14.55%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.60MX$27.76
$0.90JMD 142
77.78%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.12MX$19.34
$0.61JMD 96.4
83.61%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.14MX$54.3
$2.43JMD 383
29.22%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.85MX$83.9
$3.17JMD 499
53.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Old Harbour
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.65MX$28.61
$4.33JMD 681
-61.89%
White Bread(500g)
$2.71MX$46.96
$3.53JMD 555
-23.23%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.91MX$33.03
$1.62JMD 256
17.90%
Eggs
$2.59MX$44.81
$3.48JMD 549
-25.57%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.81MX$170
$3.48JMD 548
181.90%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.43MX$146
$6.51JMD 1,026
29.49%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.93MX$206
$7.53JMD 1,186
58.43%
Apples(1kg)
$2.95MX$51.1
$5.85JMD 921
-49.57%
Banana(1kg)
$1.74MX$30.10
$3.05JMD 480
-42.95%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.04MX$35.38
$4.30JMD 677
-52.56%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.06MX$35.64
$2.12JMD 333
-2.83%
Potato(1kg)
$2.15MX$37.20
$2.02JMD 318
6.44%
Onion(1kg)
$2.26MX$39.02
$1.94JMD 306
16.49%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.39MX$23.97
$2.99JMD 472
-53.51%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.12MX$19.31
$1.45JMD 228
-22.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.22MX$73.0
$8.85JMD 1,394
-52.32%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.51MX$303
$11.56JMD 1,820
51.47%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71MX$29.58
$2.76JMD 435
-38.04%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.63MX$62.8
$3.10JMD 489
17.10%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Old Harbour
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.35MX$6.10
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.32MX$334
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.38MX$23.80
$1.12JMD 176
23.21%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28MX$4.77
$3.28JMD 516
-91.46%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.28MX$91.3
$6.20JMD 977
-14.84%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.36MX$23.50
$1.09JMD 171
24.77%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.1KMX$330.5K
$42.9KJMD 6.7M
-55.42%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.6KMX$408.4K
$33.1KJMD 5.2M
-28.78%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Old Harbour
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.53MX$701
$49.51JMD 7,797
-18.14%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.38MX$474
$21.97JMD 3,460
24.62%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.38MX$526
$44.48JMD 7,006
-31.70%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Old Harbour
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.2MX$903
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.48MX$458
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.19MX$107
$13.23JMD 2,083
-53.21%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Old Harbour
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$425MX$7,355
$225JMD 35.4K
88.92%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.7KMX$185.7K
$2,493JMD 392.7K
330.59%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Old Harbour
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.3MX$1,009
$26.25JMD 4,135
122.13%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.57MX$771
$25.31JMD 3,986
76.10%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103MX$1,791
$70.6JMD 11.1K
46.57%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109MX$1,881
$75.3JMD 11.9K
44.43%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Old Harbour
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,014MX$17.5K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$623MX$10.8K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,119MX$36.7K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,223MX$21.2K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,792MX$65.6K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,110MX$36.5K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Old Harbour
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,052MX$18.2K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
9.15
23.93%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: July 25, 2026
Last update for Old Harbour: July 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $54.0 in Mexico City vs $31.00 in Old Harbour. Groceries flip the comparison at $293 vs $322, with Mexico City 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 Old Harbour: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and in Old Harbour?
Mexico City and Old Harbour differ by about 107% in total monthly costs ($1,472 vs $710 including rent). Old Harbour is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Mexico City compared to Old Harbour?
You'd need roughly $2,208 in Mexico City and $1,065 in Old Harbour 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 difference in childcare costs between Mexico City and Old Harbour?
Childcare runs $425 in Mexico City versus $225 in Old Harbour. 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 Old Harbour – a meal for two runs $31.00 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 $2,000 per month?
At $710 in Old Harbour versus $1,472 in Mexico City, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Old Harbour but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Old Harbour the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mexico City and Old Harbour?
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.
Where should expats move: Mexico City or Old Harbour?
Expats usually find Old Harbour gentler on the wallet – expenses run 107% 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