😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,484 in Mexico City versus $621 in Roxas.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,381 in Mexico City versus $977 in Roxas.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,278 in Mexico City versus $1,333 in Roxas.
😐Living in Mexico City is roughly 139% more expensive than Roxas, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 11% above, Roxas is 54% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Roxas
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.98MX$227
$2.73₱169
375.46%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.1MX$929
$20.98₱1,294
152.96%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.72MX$170
$3.51₱216
176.92%
Cappuccino
$3.75MX$65.6
$1.96₱121
91.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57MX$27.46
$0.57₱35.23
175.44%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.13MX$19.76
$0.17₱10.65
564.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.18MX$55.7
$0.94₱58.2
238.30%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.66MX$81.6
$1.81₱112
157.46%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Roxas
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.62MX$28.37
$1.18₱72.8
37.29%
White Bread(500g)
$2.71MX$47.36
$1.11₱68.2
144.14%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.88MX$32.89
$0.85₱52.5
121.18%
Eggs
$2.51MX$43.90
$2.27₱140
10.57%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.08MX$176
$6.00₱370
68.00%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.29MX$145
$1.94₱120
327.32%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.94MX$209
$6.87₱423
73.80%
Apples(1kg)
$2.86MX$50.1
$1.30₱80.3
120.00%
Banana(1kg)
$1.75MX$30.62
$1.18₱73.0
48.31%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.48
$1.45₱89.4
43.45%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.97MX$34.46
$1.17₱72.0
68.38%
Potato(1kg)
$2.16MX$37.79
$1.05₱64.7
105.71%
Onion(1kg)
$2.18MX$38.16
$0.81₱50.1
169.14%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.39MX$24.34
$1.11₱68.5
25.23%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.12MX$19.69
$0.42₱25.94
166.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.20MX$73.5
$2.96₱182
41.89%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.25MX$249
$8.31₱512
71.48%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76MX$30.85
$1.25₱77.2
40.80%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68MX$64.5
$1.39₱85.9
164.75%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Roxas
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.39MX$6.74
$0.26₱16.00
50.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.66MX$327
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.39MX$24.26
$0.68₱41.91
104.41%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.30MX$5.32
$0.24₱14.82
25.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.42MX$94.9
$2.65₱163
104.53%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35MX$23.63
$1.09₱67.1
23.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.9KMX$330.5K
$24.3K₱1.5M
-22.25%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.2KMX$405.2K
$19.4K₱1.2M
19.12%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Roxas
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.82MX$714
$66.6₱4,108
-38.70%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.50MX$481
$8.97₱553
206.58%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.38MX$532
$28.72₱1,772
5.78%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Roxas
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$53.4MX$935
$33.41₱2,061
59.92%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.30MX$460
$4.30₱265
511.63%
Cinema Ticket
$6.27MX$110
$5.20₱321
20.58%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Roxas
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$436MX$7,632
$35.53₱2,191
1127.44%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.5KMX$183.2K
$4,274₱263.6K
144.89%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Roxas
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.8MX$993
$45.05₱2,779
25.99%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.79MX$784
$23.27₱1,435
92.48%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103MX$1,799
$62.0₱3,826
65.77%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108MX$1,888
$26.78₱1,652
302.91%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Roxas
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,000MX$17.5K
$360₱22.2K
177.92%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$620MX$10.9K
$175₱10.8K
254.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,137MX$37.4K
$583₱36.0K
266.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,235MX$21.6K
$397₱24.5K
211.11%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,865MX$67.6K
$2,089₱128.9K
85.01%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,332MX$40.8K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Roxas
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,067MX$18.7K
$598₱36.9K
78.46%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
8
41.75%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: April 27, 2026
Last update for Roxas: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,000 in Mexico City and $360 in Roxas. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 78% 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: $53.0 in Mexico City vs $21.00 in Roxas for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $286 vs $149 per month, with Roxas 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 Roxas: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and Roxas?
Mexico City and Roxas differ by about 139% in total monthly costs ($1,484 vs $621 including rent). Roxas is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Mexico City or Roxas?
Mexico City pays 78% 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 Roxas?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,000 in Mexico City versus $360 in Roxas. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Mexico City and Roxas?
Childcare runs $436 in Mexico City versus $35.53 in Roxas. 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 Roxas – a meal for two runs $21.00 versus $53.0 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 $621 in Roxas versus $1,484 in Mexico City, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Roxas but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Roxas the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mexico City and Roxas?
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 Roxas safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Mexico City and Roxas 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 Roxas?
Expats usually find Roxas gentler on the wallet – expenses run 139% 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