😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,660 in Mexico City versus $1,426 in Saguenay.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,565 in Mexico City versus $2,293 in Saguenay.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,470 in Mexico City versus $3,161 in Saguenay.
🌍Living in Mexico City is roughly 16% more expensive than in Saguenay, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Mexico City21% above, Saguenay4% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Saguenay
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.92MX$206
$15.92CA$22.27
-25.13%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$51.6MX$890
$43.92CA$61.4
17.49%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.41MX$197
$11.45CA$16.02
-0.35%
Cappuccino
$3.99MX$68.9
$3.73CA$5.22
6.97%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66MX$28.61
$1.50CA$2.10
10.67%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.33MX$22.87
$1.24CA$1.73
7.26%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.47MX$59.9
$5.30CA$7.41
-34.53%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.90MX$102
$5.28CA$7.38
11.74%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Saguenay
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.88MX$32.36
$2.09CA$2.93
-10.05%
White Bread(500g)
$3.25MX$56.1
$3.02CA$4.22
7.62%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.16MX$37.26
$4.35CA$6.09
-50.34%
Eggs
$2.90MX$49.94
$2.86CA$4.00
1.40%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.86MX$222
$8.87CA$12.40
44.98%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.05MX$173
$7.34CA$10.26
36.92%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.86MX$273
$10.76CA$15.05
47.40%
Apples(1kg)
$3.29MX$56.8
$4.17CA$5.83
-21.10%
Banana(1kg)
$2.01MX$34.60
$1.47CA$2.06
36.73%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.20MX$37.93
$3.88CA$5.43
-43.30%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.36MX$40.63
$4.17CA$5.83
-43.41%
Potato(1kg)
$2.05MX$35.43
$2.98CA$4.17
-31.21%
Onion(1kg)
$1.90MX$32.79
$2.95CA$4.12
-35.59%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.61MX$27.68
$2.56CA$3.59
-37.11%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.40MX$24.09
$0.81CA$1.13
72.84%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.46MX$94.2
$12.25CA$17.14
-55.43%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.65MX$304
$11.33CA$15.85
55.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.06MX$35.44
$3.22CA$4.51
-36.02%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.68MX$80.8
$3.31CA$4.63
41.39%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Saguenay
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.34MX$5.84
$2.78CA$3.89
-87.77%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$20.81MX$359
$57.3CA$80.2
-63.70%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.10MX$36.15
$3.00CA$4.19
-30.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.56MX$9.64
$1.43CA$2.00
-60.84%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.81MX$100
$28.26CA$39.54
-79.44%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.61MX$27.68
$1.15CA$1.61
40.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.8KMX$393.8K
$28.1KCA$39.3K
-18.63%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8KMX$461.2K
$19.9KCA$27.9K
34.34%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Saguenay
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$65.2MX$1,124
$64.5CA$90.3
1.01%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.09MX$519
$32.01CA$44.77
-6.00%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.18MX$641
$46.44CA$65.0
-19.94%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Saguenay
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$59.8MX$1,030
$25.53CA$35.71
134.08%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.55MX$458
$19.21CA$26.88
38.21%
Cinema Ticket
$7.04MX$121
$9.09CA$12.72
-22.55%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Saguenay
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$465MX$8,012
$704CA$985
-34.04%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.3KMX$228.9K
$9,323CA$13.0K
42.37%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Saguenay
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$75.9MX$1,308
$58.7CA$82.0
29.38%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$56.0MX$965
$36.43CA$51.0
53.58%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$112MX$1,929
$86.2CA$121
29.78%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121MX$2,078
$109CA$152
10.62%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Saguenay
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,103MX$19.0K
$639CA$895
72.42%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$721MX$12.4K
$464CA$650
55.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,530MX$43.6K
$1,202CA$1,681
110.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,293MX$22.3K
$971CA$1,358
33.25%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,991MX$68.8K
$5,685CA$7,952
-29.79%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,090MX$36.0K
$3,518CA$4,922
-40.61%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Saguenay
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,037MX$17.9K
$2,558CA$3,578
-59.45%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.3
4.45
153.93%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: September 14, 2026
Last update for Saguenay: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,103 in Mexico City and $639 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: $52.0 in Mexico City vs $44.00 in Saguenay for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $345 vs $322 per month, with Saguenay 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 Saguenay: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and in Saguenay?
Mexico City and Saguenay differ by about 16% in total monthly costs ($1,660 vs $1,426 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, salaries run 147% lower in Saguenay. 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 in Saguenay?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,103 in Mexico City versus $639 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 in Saguenay?
A monthly transit pass in Saguenay runs roughly 175% 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 $465 in Mexico City versus $704 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 $1,426 in Saguenay versus $1,660 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 16% 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