Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Puntarenas Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Puntarenas

😐 Solo nomad: Mexico City is 32.1% more expensive than Puntarenas without rent, and 14.2% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Mexico City is 2.3% more expensive than Puntarenas without rent, and 21% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Puntarenas
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.12 MX$232
$7.26 ₡3,413
80.72%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.8 MX$950
$59.9 ₡28.2K
-10.15%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.40 MX$166
$9.24 ₡4,346
1.73%
Cappuccino
$3.56 MX$62.9
$3.82 ₡1,797
-6.81%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.60 MX$28.29
$2.07 ₡972
-22.71%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.15 MX$20.38
$1.66 ₡780
-30.72%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.16 MX$55.7
$2.96 ₡1,394
6.76%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.85 MX$85.5
$4.62 ₡2,171
4.98%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Puntarenas
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.63 MX$28.84
$1.97 ₡925
-17.26%
White Bread (500g)
$2.73 MX$48.26
$2.81 ₡1,322
-2.85%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.88 MX$33.16
$2.03 ₡954
-7.39%
Eggs
$2.63 MX$46.45
$2.27 ₡1,068
15.86%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.89 MX$175
$3.32 ₡1,563
197.89%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.40 MX$148
$7.80 ₡3,670
7.69%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.63 MX$205
$8.75 ₡4,114
32.91%
Apples (1kg)
$2.97 MX$52.5
$3.56 ₡1,676
-16.57%
Banana (1kg)
$1.78 MX$31.50
$0.99 ₡465
79.80%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.06 MX$36.28
$1.17 ₡551
76.07%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.97 MX$34.86
$1.33 ₡627
48.12%
Potato (1kg)
$2.09 MX$36.82
$1.59 ₡749
31.45%
Onion (1kg)
$2.26 MX$39.87
$1.62 ₡760
39.51%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.46 MX$25.74
$0.82 ₡385
78.05%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09 MX$19.24
$1.91 ₡897
-42.93%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.34 MX$76.6
$4.56 ₡2,143
-4.82%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.62 MX$240
$7.66 ₡3,604
77.81%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.67 MX$29.54
$1.63 ₡765
2.45%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.54 MX$62.5
$2.39 ₡1,124
48.12%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Puntarenas
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.36 MX$6.35
$0.95 ₡449
-62.11%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.96 MX$335
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.32 MX$23.36
$1.87 ₡881
-29.41%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.30 MX$5.32
$1.80 ₡846
-83.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.49 MX$96.9
$7.95 ₡3,738
-30.94%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.34 MX$23.59
$1.31 ₡615
2.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.1K MX$337.4K
$38.4K ₡18.1M
-50.23%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.8K MX$419.4K
$16.8K ₡7.9M
41.16%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Puntarenas
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$41.11 MX$726
$50.5 ₡23.7K
-18.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.78 MX$490
$19.56 ₡9,199
42.02%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.00 MX$530
$24.11 ₡11.3K
24.43%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Puntarenas
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$53.5 MX$945
$57.7 ₡27.1K
-7.21%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.13 MX$461
$23.83 ₡11.2K
9.65%
Cinema Ticket
$6.28 MX$111
$10.05 ₡4,724
-37.51%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Puntarenas
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$439 MX$7,755
$579 ₡272.3K
-24.11%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.7K MX$189.6K
$12.9K ₡6.1M
-16.59%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Puntarenas
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.1 MX$1,008
$23.83 ₡11.2K
139.70%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.30 MX$800
$15.94 ₡7,495
184.19%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$104 MX$1,840
$128 ₡60.1K
-18.45%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 MX$1,911
$46.91 ₡22.1K
130.76%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Puntarenas
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$996 MX$17.6K
$766 ₡360.4K
29.98%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$624 MX$11.0K
$588 ₡276.4K
6.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,106 MX$37.2K
$1,488 ₡699.9K
41.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,218 MX$21.5K
$975 ₡458.6K
24.94%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,799 MX$67.0K
$966 ₡454.2K
293.30%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,230 MX$39.4K
$636 ₡298.9K
250.94%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Puntarenas
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,096 MX$19.4K
$934 ₡439.0K
17.45%
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: March 1, 2026

Last update for Puntarenas: March 2, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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