๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,466 in Mexico City versus $383 in Port Blair.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,325 in Mexico City versus $607 in Port Blair.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,184 in Mexico City versus $832 in Port Blair.
๐Living in Mexico City is roughly 283% more expensive than Port Blair, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
๐The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 9% above, Port Blair is 71% below.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Mexico City
Port Blair
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.30MX$231
$2.39โน225
456.49%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.8MX$932
$10.68โน1,002
403.65%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.42MX$163
$3.63โน340
159.50%
Cappuccino
$3.59MX$62.3
$1.59โน150
125.79%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$28.13
$0.37โน35.13
337.84%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.12MX$19.49
$0.17โน16.31
558.82%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.25MX$56.3
$1.77โน166
83.62%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.65MX$80.6
$3.00โน282
55.00%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Port Blair
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.64MX$28.37
$0.70โน65.9
134.29%
White Bread(500g)
$2.65MX$46.00
$0.45โน41.96
488.89%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.96MX$33.99
$0.67โน62.6
192.54%
Eggs
$2.54MX$44.08
$0.90โน84.3
182.22%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.97MX$173
$5.10โน479
95.49%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.39MX$145
$2.98โน279
181.54%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.83MX$205
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$2.86MX$49.62
$2.00โน187
43.00%
Banana(1kg)
$1.73MX$30.05
$0.72โน67.3
140.28%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.99MX$34.50
$0.93โน87.8
113.98%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.05MX$35.51
$0.50โน47.37
310.00%
Potato(1kg)
$2.06MX$35.64
$0.38โน36.03
442.11%
Onion(1kg)
$2.28MX$39.54
$0.44โน41.71
418.18%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.45MX$25.05
$0.48โน45.24
202.08%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09MX$18.83
$0.32โน29.57
240.63%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27MX$73.9
$4.03โน379
5.96%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.67MX$254
$7.32โน687
100.41%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76MX$30.58
$1.77โน166
-0.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.57MX$61.8
$2.80โน263
27.50%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
-
$5.05โน474
-
๐ Getting Around
Mexico City
Port Blair
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38MX$6.67
$0.30โน28.37
26.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.73MX$325
$8.74โน820
114.30%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.39MX$24.09
$0.84โน78.8
65.48%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.30MX$5.26
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.41MX$93.8
$1.43โน135
278.32%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.34MX$23.22
$1.22โน115
9.84%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.9KMX$326.7K
$14.1Kโน1.3M
33.48%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.2KMX$402.0K
$21.6Kโน2.0M
7.26%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Port Blair
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.30MX$698
$39.10โน3,669
3.07%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.15MX$471
$3.53โน331
669.12%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.46MX$510
$7.32โน687
302.46%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Port Blair
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.7MX$914
$16.16โน1,517
226.36%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.17MX$454
$6.98โน655
274.93%
Cinema Ticket
$6.18MX$107
$4.35โน408
42.07%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Port Blair
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$441MX$7,637
$50.7โน4,755
769.92%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.7KMX$185.4K
$1,557โน146.2K
586.86%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Port Blair
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.2MX$992
$24.54โน2,303
133.25%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.04MX$781
$25.60โน2,403
75.94%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103MX$1,793
$43.18โน4,053
139.65%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109MX$1,884
$31.87โน2,991
241.17%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Port Blair
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,000MX$17.3K
$96.9โน9,095
931.75%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$632MX$11.0K
$76.0โน7,133
731.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,141MX$37.1K
$278โน26.1K
668.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,253MX$21.7K
$183โน17.2K
584.53%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,745MX$64.9K
$946โน88.8K
295.69%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,381MX$41.3K
$523โน49.1K
355.47%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Port Blair
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,079MX$18.7K
$651โน61.1K
65.89%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
8.67
30.80%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: April 20, 2026
Last update for Port Blair: April 21, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,000 in Mexico City and $97 in Port Blair. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
๐ฐMexico City pays 66% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
๐Dining out: $54 in Mexico City vs $11 in Port Blair for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $286 vs $105 per month, with Port Blair 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 Port Blair: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and Port Blair?
Mexico City and Port Blair differ by about 283% in total monthly costs ($1,466 vs $383 including rent). Port Blair is meaningfully more affordable โ a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Mexico City or Port Blair?
Mexico City pays 66% 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 Port Blair?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,000 in Mexico City versus $96.9 in Port Blair. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Mexico City and Port Blair?
A monthly transit pass in Port Blair runs roughly 114% 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 Port Blair?
Childcare runs $441 in Mexico City versus $50.7 in Port Blair. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $383 in Port Blair versus $1,466 in Mexico City, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Port Blair but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Port Blair the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mexico City and Port Blair?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better โ the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Mexico City or Port Blair safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Mexico City and Port Blair 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 Port Blair?
Expats usually find Port Blair gentler on the wallet โ expenses run 283% 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