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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,484 in Mexico City versus $1,320 in Saguenay.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,342 in Mexico City versus $2,369 in Saguenay.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,199 in Mexico City versus $3,418 in Saguenay.

Living in Mexico City is roughly 12% more expensive than Saguenay, driven mainly by Getting Around.

The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 10% above, Saguenay is 2% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Saguenay
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.29 MX$231
$13.38 CA$18.34
-0.67%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.8 MX$933
$44.87 CA$61.5
19.79%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.29 MX$161
$11.13 CA$15.25
-16.53%
Cappuccino
$3.61 MX$62.6
$3.78 CA$5.18
-4.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.56 MX$27.03
$1.52 CA$2.08
2.63%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.12 MX$19.46
$1.30 CA$1.78
-13.85%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.13 MX$54.3
$5.39 CA$7.39
-41.93%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.71 MX$81.7
$5.29 CA$7.25
-10.96%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Saguenay
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.70 MX$29.54
$2.17 CA$2.97
-21.66%
White Bread (500g)
$2.77 MX$48.03
$2.98 CA$4.08
-7.05%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.96 MX$34.05
$4.45 CA$6.09
-55.96%
Eggs
$2.60 MX$45.21
$2.53 CA$3.47
2.77%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.94 MX$173
$12.77 CA$17.50
-22.16%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.10 MX$141
$8.89 CA$12.19
-8.89%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.50 MX$200
$13.86 CA$18.99
-17.03%
Apples (1kg)
$2.87 MX$49.84
$4.15 CA$5.68
-30.84%
Banana (1kg)
$1.73 MX$30.07
$1.32 CA$1.81
31.06%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.00 MX$34.73
$4.13 CA$5.66
-51.57%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.04 MX$35.38
$4.10 CA$5.61
-50.24%
Potato (1kg)
$2.08 MX$36.14
$1.84 CA$2.53
13.04%
Onion (1kg)
$2.20 MX$38.12
$1.65 CA$2.26
33.33%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.45 MX$25.24
$2.61 CA$3.58
-44.44%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07 MX$18.63
$0.84 CA$1.15
27.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27 MX$74.2
$12.16 CA$16.66
-64.88%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.32 MX$249
$11.04 CA$15.13
29.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76 MX$30.62
$3.09 CA$4.23
-43.04%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.70 MX$64.2
$1.97 CA$2.71
87.82%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Saguenay
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.35 MX$6.12
$2.71 CA$3.72
-87.08%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$19.19 MX$333
$56.1 CA$76.8
-65.78%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.34 MX$23.18
$3.64 CA$4.99
-63.19%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.28 MX$4.83
$2.03 CA$2.78
-86.21%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.33 MX$92.6
$30.86 CA$42.28
-82.73%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.34 MX$23.27
$1.16 CA$1.59
15.52%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.1K MX$332.0K
$25.2K CA$34.5K
-24.02%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.9K MX$414.5K
$20.5K CA$28.1K
16.48%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Saguenay
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$39.86 MX$692
$86.1 CA$118
-53.70%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.78 MX$465
$38.78 CA$53.1
-30.94%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.36 MX$510
$43.45 CA$59.5
-32.43%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Saguenay
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$53.4 MX$927
$32.59 CA$44.65
63.95%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.09 MX$453
$14.01 CA$19.20
86.22%
Cinema Ticket
$6.40 MX$111
$9.55 CA$13.09
-32.98%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Saguenay
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$440 MX$7,647
$600 CA$822
-26.56%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.8K MX$186.6K
$6,285 CA$8,611
71.05%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Saguenay
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.6 MX$1,000
$60.5 CA$82.9
-4.74%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.02 MX$781
$52.7 CA$72.2
-14.57%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$104 MX$1,801
$97.1 CA$133
6.80%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 MX$1,874
$129 CA$177
-16.44%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Saguenay
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,013 MX$17.6K
$614 CA$841
65.05%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$630 MX$10.9K
$295 CA$404
113.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,162 MX$37.5K
$1,308 CA$1,792
65.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,222 MX$21.2K
$1,089 CA$1,492
12.15%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,793 MX$65.8K
$5,853 CA$8,019
-35.20%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,332 MX$40.5K
$3,609 CA$4,944
-35.38%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Saguenay
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,075 MX$18.7K
$2,650 CA$3,630
-59.43%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.34
6.87
65.07%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Mexico City: April 11, 2026

Last update for Saguenay: April 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,013 in Mexico City and $614 in Saguenay. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Saguenay pays 147% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $54 in Mexico City vs $45 in Saguenay. Groceries flip the comparison at $285 vs $340, with Mexico City cheaper for home cooking.

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 Saguenay: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and Saguenay?
Mexico City and Saguenay differ by about 12% in total monthly costs ($1,484 vs $1,320 including rent). Saguenay is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Saguenay earns 147% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Mexico City and Saguenay?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,013 in Mexico City versus $614 in Saguenay. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Mexico City and Saguenay?
A monthly transit pass in Saguenay runs roughly 192% 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 Saguenay?
Childcare runs $440 in Mexico City versus $600 in Saguenay. 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 $1,320 in Saguenay versus $1,484 in Mexico City, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Saguenay but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Saguenay the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mexico City and Saguenay?
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.
Where should expats move: Mexico City or Saguenay?
Expats usually find Saguenay gentler on the wallet – expenses run 12% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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