😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,447 in Mexico City versus $615 in Roxas.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,310 in Mexico City versus $968 in Roxas.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,174 in Mexico City versus $1,322 in Roxas.
😐Living in Mexico City is roughly 135% more expensive than Roxas, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 8% above, Roxas is 54% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Roxas
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.98MX$223
$2.74₱166
373.72%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$52.6MX$903
$21.55₱1,309
144.13%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.43MX$162
$3.52₱214
167.90%
Cappuccino
$3.57MX$61.3
$1.97₱119
81.22%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.61MX$27.55
$0.56₱34.23
187.50%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.15MX$19.81
$0.21₱12.95
447.62%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.15MX$54.0
$0.95₱57.9
231.58%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.86MX$83.4
$1.80₱109
170.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Roxas
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.70MX$29.17
$1.18₱71.5
44.07%
White Bread(500g)
$2.64MX$45.23
$1.07₱64.8
146.73%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.90MX$32.67
$0.80₱48.46
137.50%
Eggs
$2.54MX$43.62
$2.24₱136
13.39%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.08MX$173
$5.93₱360
69.98%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.29MX$142
$1.92₱116
331.77%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.57MX$199
$6.82₱414
69.65%
Apples(1kg)
$3.03MX$52.0
$1.30₱78.8
133.08%
Banana(1kg)
$1.71MX$29.35
$1.12₱68.2
52.68%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.05MX$35.16
$1.41₱85.4
45.39%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.06MX$35.36
$1.12₱68.0
83.93%
Potato(1kg)
$2.06MX$35.43
$1.04₱63.2
98.08%
Onion(1kg)
$2.17MX$37.25
$0.82₱50.0
164.63%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.40MX$24.08
$1.06₱64.5
32.08%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.12MX$19.26
$0.45₱27.50
148.89%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.29MX$73.7
$2.99₱181
43.48%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.41MX$265
$5.57₱338
176.66%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.67MX$28.74
$1.26₱76.4
32.54%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.69MX$63.3
$1.43₱86.9
158.04%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Roxas
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38MX$6.55
$0.28₱17.14
35.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.06MX$327
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.38MX$23.70
$0.68₱41.17
102.94%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28MX$4.74
$0.24₱14.62
16.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.42MX$92.9
$2.58₱157
110.08%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.28MX$21.98
$1.14₱69.0
12.28%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.0KMX$325.8K
$23.6K₱1.4M
-19.55%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.5KMX$402.7K
$19.9K₱1.2M
18.11%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Roxas
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$41.02MX$704
$64.9₱3,941
-36.80%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.92MX$462
$9.09₱552
196.15%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.69MX$510
$28.50₱1,730
4.18%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Roxas
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.3MX$898
$33.61₱2,041
55.70%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.23MX$450
$4.35₱264
502.99%
Cinema Ticket
$6.18MX$106
$5.47₱332
12.98%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Roxas
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$427MX$7,331
$34.93₱2,121
1122.73%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.7KMX$183.6K
$4,368₱265.2K
144.91%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Roxas
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.8MX$975
$45.86₱2,784
23.90%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.83MX$769
$22.66₱1,376
97.84%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$105MX$1,794
$62.5₱3,794
67.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106MX$1,819
$26.72₱1,623
296.52%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Roxas
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$995MX$17.1K
$359₱21.8K
177.00%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$621MX$10.7K
$175₱10.6K
255.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,126MX$36.5K
$576₱35.0K
268.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,254MX$21.5K
$392₱23.8K
219.72%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,903MX$67.0K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,096MX$36.0K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Roxas
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,107MX$19.0K
$586₱35.6K
88.87%
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: June 7, 2026
Last update for Roxas: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $995 in Mexico City and $359 in Roxas. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 89% 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 $22.00 in Roxas for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $288 vs $142 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 135% in total monthly costs ($1,447 vs $615 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 89% 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: $995 in Mexico City versus $359 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 $427 in Mexico City versus $34.93 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 $22.00 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 $615 in Roxas versus $1,447 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 135% 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