😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,456 in Mexico City versus $667 in Polomolok.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,361 in Mexico City versus $1,034 in Polomolok.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,266 in Mexico City versus $1,401 in Polomolok.
🌍Living in Mexico City is roughly 118% more expensive than in Polomolok, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 9% above, Polomolok is 50% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Polomolok
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.07MX$229
$1.76₱108
642.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.8MX$943
$13.27₱817
305.05%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.68MX$170
$2.33₱144
315.45%
Cappuccino
$3.74MX$65.6
$2.15₱132
73.95%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$28.34
$0.45₱27.79
260.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.16MX$20.37
$0.52₱32.10
123.08%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.23MX$56.6
$1.18₱72.7
173.73%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.74MX$83.1
$1.57₱96.6
201.91%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Polomolok
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.65MX$28.89
$1.68₱104
-1.79%
White Bread(500g)
$2.75MX$48.30
$0.93₱57.3
195.70%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.87MX$32.87
$0.73₱45.16
156.16%
Eggs
$2.50MX$43.86
$1.98₱122
26.26%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.20MX$179
$6.13₱377
66.39%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.25MX$145
$3.03₱187
172.28%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.82MX$207
$6.26₱385
88.82%
Apples(1kg)
$3.01MX$52.8
$2.81₱173
7.12%
Banana(1kg)
$1.81MX$31.77
$0.60₱36.95
201.67%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.00MX$35.07
$2.39₱147
-16.32%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.00MX$35.00
$0.88₱54.0
127.27%
Potato(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.56
$1.34₱82.7
55.22%
Onion(1kg)
$2.27MX$39.85
$3.11₱191
-27.01%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.46MX$25.55
$0.92₱56.8
58.70%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08MX$18.88
$0.56₱34.32
92.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.35MX$76.3
$2.58₱159
68.60%
Wine(Bottle)
$16.99MX$298
$7.47₱460
127.44%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73MX$30.40
$1.10₱67.6
57.27%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.58MX$62.7
$1.49₱91.6
140.27%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Polomolok
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.39MX$6.79
$0.28₱17.26
39.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.69MX$328
$13.98₱861
33.69%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.33MX$23.25
$0.93₱57.3
43.01%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28MX$4.91
$0.23₱14.11
21.74%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.25MX$92.1
$2.15₱132
144.19%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.34MX$23.44
$0.96₱59.2
39.58%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.4KMX$340.5K
$17.8K₱1.1M
8.90%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.8KMX$418.0K
$19.2K₱1.2M
23.86%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Polomolok
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.69MX$714
$58.6₱3,609
-30.59%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.87MX$471
$12.59₱775
113.42%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.51MX$535
$28.91₱1,780
5.53%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Polomolok
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.8MX$926
$33.91₱2,087
55.65%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.65MX$467
$4.45₱274
498.88%
Cinema Ticket
$6.51MX$114
$4.30₱265
51.40%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Polomolok
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$428MX$7,508
$118₱7,272
262.36%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.5KMX$184.2K
$1,485₱91.4K
606.99%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Polomolok
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.3MX$1,004
$45.59₱2,807
25.58%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.50MX$798
$26.46₱1,629
71.96%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104MX$1,825
$72.1₱4,437
44.37%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108MX$1,891
$68.2₱4,198
58.12%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Polomolok
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,003MX$17.6K
$270₱16.6K
272.25%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$623MX$10.9K
$178₱11.0K
249.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,109MX$37.0K
$592₱36.4K
256.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,218MX$21.4K
$402₱24.7K
203.02%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,885MX$68.1K
$2,379₱146.5K
63.28%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,033MX$35.7K
$985₱60.7K
106.29%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Polomolok
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,038MX$18.2K
$246₱15.2K
321.35%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
6
89.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: July 13, 2026
Last update for Polomolok: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,003 in Mexico City and $270 in Polomolok. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 321% 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 $13.00 in Polomolok for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $292 vs $165 per month, with Polomolok 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 Polomolok: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and in Polomolok?
Mexico City and Polomolok differ by about 118% in total monthly costs ($1,456 vs $667 including rent). Polomolok is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Mexico City or Polomolok?
Average pay runs 321% 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 Polomolok?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,003 in Mexico City versus $270 in Polomolok. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Mexico City and in Polomolok?
A monthly transit pass in Polomolok runs roughly 34% less than in Mexico City. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Mexico City and Polomolok?
Childcare runs $428 in Mexico City versus $118 in Polomolok. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $667 in Polomolok versus $1,456 in Mexico City, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Polomolok but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Polomolok the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mexico City and Polomolok?
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 Polomolok?
Expats usually find Polomolok gentler on the wallet – expenses run 118% 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