Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Saint Croix Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Saint Croix

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,682 in Mexico City versus $837 in Saint Croix.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,599 in Mexico City versus $1,690 in Saint Croix.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,516 in Mexico City versus $2,544 in Saint Croix.

Living in Mexico City is roughly 101% more expensive than in Saint Croix, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 23% above, Saint Croix is 39% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.83 MX$200

$39.79 $39.79

-70.27%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$52.2 MX$884

$149 $149

-65.04%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.87 MX$184

$10.07 $10.07

7.94%

Cappuccino

$4.03 MX$68.2

$7.48 $7.48

-46.12%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.71 MX$28.99

$3.16 $3.16

-45.89%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.34 MX$22.70

$3.07 $3.07

-56.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.39 MX$57.5

$6.03 $6.03

-43.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.74 MX$97.3

$7.99 $7.99

-28.16%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 MX$31.99

$2.48 $2.48

-23.79%

White Bread (500g)

$3.17 MX$53.8

$7.08 $7.08

-55.23%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.05 MX$34.74

$11.18 $11.18

-81.66%

Eggs

$3.01 MX$51.1

$8.32 $8.32

-63.82%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.61 MX$214

$21.68 $21.68

-41.84%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.94 MX$169

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.00 MX$271

Apples (1kg)

$3.28 MX$55.6

$11.06 $11.06

-70.34%

Banana (1kg)

$2.06 MX$34.87

Oranges (1kg)

$2.09 MX$35.36

Tomato (1kg)

$2.50 MX$42.44

Potato (1kg)

$2.05 MX$34.76

Onion (1kg)

$1.87 MX$31.70

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.57 MX$26.66

$6.16 $6.16

-74.51%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.39 MX$23.64

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.38 MX$91.2

Wine (Bottle)

$17.95 MX$304

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.02 MX$34.31

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.76 MX$80.7

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 MX$6.13

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.80 MX$353

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.06 MX$34.92

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.56 MX$9.55

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.82 MX$98.6

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.54 MX$26.05

$1.02 $1.02

50.98%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$22.5K MX$380.6K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.5K MX$448.7K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$66.0 MX$1,118

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$30.98 MX$525

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.20 MX$613

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.5 MX$975

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.75 MX$453

Cinema Ticket

$7.13 MX$121

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$457 MX$7,738

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.2K MX$224.5K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$75.8 MX$1,285

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.1 MX$917

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$116 MX$1,974

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 MX$2,063

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,147 MX$19.4K

$2,511 $2,511

-54.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$726 MX$12.3K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,503 MX$42.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,331 MX$22.6K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,895 MX$66.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,149 MX$36.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,069 MX$18.1K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.35

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

Last update for Mexico City: August 17, 2026

Last update for Saint Croix: August 16, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,147 in Mexico City and $2,511 in Saint Croix. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $52.0 in Mexico City vs $149 in Saint Croix. Groceries flip the comparison at $344 vs $319, with Saint Croix 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 Saint Croix: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mexico City and Saint Croix differ by about 101% in total monthly costs ($1,682 vs $837 including rent). Saint Croix is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $2,523 in Mexico City and $1,255 in Saint Croix to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,147 in Mexico City versus $2,511 in Saint Croix. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Saint Croix – a meal for two runs $149 versus $52.0 in Mexico City. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $1,682 per month in Mexico City versus $837 in Saint Croix – a 101% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $837 in Saint Croix versus $1,682 in Mexico City, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Saint Croix but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Saint Croix the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Expats usually find Saint Croix gentler on the wallet – expenses run 101% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.