😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,467 in Mexico City versus $1,199 in Roseau.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,371 in Mexico City versus $2,043 in Roseau.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,274 in Mexico City versus $2,887 in Roseau.
😐Living in Mexico City is roughly 22% more expensive than Roseau, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 10% above, Roseau is 11% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Roseau
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.18MX$228
$7.35EC$19.84
79.32%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.9MX$932
$54.7EC$148
-1.46%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.42MX$163
$6.64EC$17.94
41.87%
Cappuccino
$3.55MX$61.4
$4.06EC$10.96
-12.56%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$27.98
$2.46EC$6.64
-34.15%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.11MX$19.27
$2.24EC$6.05
-50.45%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.12MX$54.0
$1.81EC$4.89
72.38%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.63MX$80.1
$2.57EC$6.95
80.16%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Roseau
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.70MX$29.43
$3.02EC$8.17
-43.71%
White Bread(500g)
$2.72MX$47.02
$1.73EC$4.67
57.23%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.91MX$33.07
$0.89EC$2.40
114.61%
Eggs
$2.54MX$43.86
$5.42EC$14.64
-53.14%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.03MX$174
$2.24EC$6.04
347.77%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.09MX$140
$10.27EC$27.73
-21.23%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.62MX$201
$12.20EC$32.94
-4.75%
Apples(1kg)
$2.97MX$51.3
$6.35EC$17.13
-53.23%
Banana(1kg)
$1.81MX$31.24
$2.20EC$5.95
-17.73%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01MX$34.82
$4.81EC$12.98
-58.21%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03MX$35.20
$5.26EC$14.21
-61.41%
Potato(1kg)
$2.12MX$36.75
$3.28EC$8.85
-35.37%
Onion(1kg)
$2.27MX$39.25
$3.10EC$8.38
-26.77%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.40MX$24.22
$2.14EC$5.79
-34.58%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.13MX$19.55
$2.82EC$7.61
-59.93%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27MX$73.9
-
-
Wine(Bottle)
$15.56MX$269
$11.21EC$30.26
38.80%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76MX$30.39
$2.78EC$7.50
-36.69%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.60MX$62.2
$2.95EC$7.96
22.03%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Roseau
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38MX$6.62
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.18MX$332
$32.06EC$86.6
-40.17%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.38MX$23.79
$3.64EC$9.83
-62.09%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28MX$4.78
$3.74EC$10.10
-92.51%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.45MX$94.2
$10.43EC$28.16
-47.75%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.30MX$22.55
$1.35EC$3.64
-3.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.7KMX$323.2K
$33.5KEC$90.6K
-44.29%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.1KMX$400.1K
$29.8KEC$80.4K
-22.35%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Roseau
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.86MX$707
$140EC$377
-70.73%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.81MX$464
$41.84EC$113
-35.92%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.96MX$518
$56.9EC$154
-47.31%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Roseau
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.0MX$900
$46.52EC$126
11.82%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.84MX$464
$23.13EC$62.5
16.04%
Cinema Ticket
$6.30MX$109
$8.41EC$22.71
-25.09%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Roseau
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$436MX$7,544
$109EC$294
300.59%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.4KMX$180.2K
$3,278EC$8,850
217.78%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Roseau
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.7MX$980
$78.7EC$212
-28.01%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.38MX$768
$46.74EC$126
-5.05%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103MX$1,780
$97.4EC$263
5.69%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106MX$1,825
$90.8EC$245
16.26%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Roseau
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,022MX$17.7K
$281EC$759
263.40%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$631MX$10.9K
$200EC$539
215.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,136MX$36.9K
$901EC$2,432
137.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,243MX$21.5K
$622EC$1,679
99.83%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,903MX$67.5K
$123EC$331
3080.22%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,064MX$35.7K
$57.3EC$155
3504.56%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Roseau
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,115MX$19.3K
$485EC$1,311
129.72%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
7.6
49.21%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: May 31, 2026
Last update for Roseau: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,022 in Mexico City and $281 in Roseau. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 130% 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 $55.0 in Roseau for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $288 vs $359 per month, with Mexico City 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 Roseau: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and Roseau?
Mexico City and Roseau differ by about 22% in total monthly costs ($1,467 vs $1,199 including rent). Roseau is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Mexico City or Roseau?
Mexico City pays 130% 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 Roseau?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,022 in Mexico City versus $281 in Roseau. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Mexico City and Roseau?
A monthly transit pass in Roseau runs roughly 67% 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 Roseau?
Childcare runs $436 in Mexico City versus $109 in Roseau. 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 $1,199 in Roseau versus $1,467 in Mexico City, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Roseau but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Roseau the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mexico City and Roseau?
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 Roseau safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Mexico City and Roseau 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 Roseau?
Expats usually find Roseau gentler on the wallet – expenses run 22% 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