😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,682 in Mexico City versus $727 in Roxas.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,599 in Mexico City versus $1,124 in Roxas.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,516 in Mexico City versus $1,521 in Roxas.
🌍Living in Mexico City is roughly 131% more expensive than in Roxas, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 23% above, Roxas is 47% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Roxas
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.83MX$200
$3.81₱235
210.50%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$52.2MX$884
$16.51₱1,018
215.87%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.87MX$184
$2.42₱149
349.17%
Cappuccino
$4.03MX$68.2
$2.19₱135
84.02%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.71MX$28.99
$0.49₱30.38
248.98%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.34MX$22.70
$0.35₱21.71
282.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.39MX$57.5
$1.08₱66.8
213.89%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.74MX$97.3
$1.72₱106
233.72%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Roxas
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.89MX$31.99
$1.83₱113
3.28%
White Bread(500g)
$3.17MX$53.8
$1.20₱74.3
164.17%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.05MX$34.74
$0.95₱58.4
115.79%
Eggs
$3.01MX$51.1
$2.00₱123
50.50%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.61MX$214
$5.50₱339
129.27%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.94MX$169
$3.78₱233
162.96%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.00MX$271
$8.26₱509
93.70%
Apples(1kg)
$3.28MX$55.6
$2.31₱143
41.99%
Banana(1kg)
$2.06MX$34.87
$1.53₱94.6
34.64%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.09MX$35.36
$2.39₱147
-12.55%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.50MX$42.44
$1.23₱75.6
103.25%
Potato(1kg)
$2.05MX$34.76
$2.10₱129
-2.38%
Onion(1kg)
$1.87MX$31.70
$2.04₱125
-8.33%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.57MX$26.66
$0.72₱44.10
118.06%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.39MX$23.64
$0.62₱38.41
124.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.38MX$91.2
$2.84₱175
89.44%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.95MX$304
$9.10₱561
97.25%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.02MX$34.31
$0.88₱54.4
129.55%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.76MX$80.7
$1.73₱107
175.14%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Roxas
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.36MX$6.13
$0.28₱17.56
28.57%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$20.80MX$353
$10.32₱636
101.55%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.06MX$34.92
$0.75₱46.34
174.67%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.56MX$9.55
$0.26₱16.26
115.38%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.82MX$98.6
$2.13₱131
173.24%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.54MX$26.05
$1.20₱74.1
28.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.5KMX$380.6K
$21.9K₱1.4M
2.49%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5KMX$448.7K
$17.8K₱1.1M
48.57%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Roxas
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$66.0MX$1,118
$106₱6,528
-37.71%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.98MX$525
$15.35₱946
101.82%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.20MX$613
$21.67₱1,336
67.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Roxas
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.5MX$975
$28.18₱1,737
104.15%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.75MX$453
$4.80₱296
457.29%
Cinema Ticket
$7.13MX$121
$4.83₱298
47.62%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Roxas
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$457MX$7,738
$133₱8,181
244.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.2KMX$224.5K
$7,021₱432.8K
88.67%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Roxas
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$75.8MX$1,285
$28.46₱1,754
166.44%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$54.1MX$917
$18.38₱1,133
194.40%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$116MX$1,974
$70.2₱4,330
65.82%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122MX$2,063
$59.6₱3,673
104.28%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Roxas
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,147MX$19.4K
$270₱16.7K
324.64%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$726MX$12.3K
$194₱12.0K
274.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,503MX$42.4K
$483₱29.8K
418.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,331MX$22.6K
$406₱25.1K
227.39%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,895MX$66.0K
$2,527₱155.8K
54.10%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,149MX$36.4K
$1,032₱63.6K
108.30%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Roxas
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,069MX$18.1K
$590₱36.3K
81.32%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.35
6.75
68.15%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: August 17, 2026
Last update for Roxas: August 16, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,147 in Mexico City and $270 in Roxas. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 81% 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: $52.0 in Mexico City vs $17.00 in Roxas for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $344 vs $186 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 in Roxas?
Mexico City and Roxas differ by about 131% in total monthly costs ($1,682 vs $727 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?
Average pay runs 81% higher in Mexico City, 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 in Roxas?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,147 in Mexico City versus $270 in Roxas. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Mexico City and in Roxas?
A monthly transit pass in Roxas runs roughly 102% 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 Roxas?
Childcare runs $457 in Mexico City versus $133 in Roxas. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $727 in Roxas versus $1,682 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 131% 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