Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Saint John's Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Saint John's

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,472 in Mexico City versus $1,730 in Saint John's.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,359 in Mexico City versus $2,728 in Saint John's.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,245 in Mexico City versus $3,727 in Saint John's.

Living in Mexico City costs roughly 15% less than in Saint John's, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Mexico City 11% above, Saint John's 30% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Saint John's
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.14 MX$229
$13.91 EC$37.56
-5.54%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.5 MX$934
$82.6 EC$223
-35.19%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.33 MX$163
$11.28 EC$30.45
-17.29%
Cappuccino
$3.70 MX$64.5
$3.86 EC$10.43
-4.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.60 MX$27.98
$2.10 EC$5.66
-23.81%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.12 MX$19.49
$0.99 EC$2.68
13.13%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.14 MX$54.7
$1.82 EC$4.92
72.53%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.85 MX$84.5
$4.56 EC$12.32
6.36%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Saint John's
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.65 MX$28.84
$2.26 EC$6.11
-26.99%
White Bread (500g)
$2.71 MX$47.34
$2.71 EC$7.31
-
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.91 MX$33.29
$1.82 EC$4.90
4.95%
Eggs
$2.59 MX$45.17
$5.44 EC$14.69
-52.39%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.81 MX$171
$8.12 EC$21.93
20.81%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.43 MX$147
$8.33 EC$22.50
1.20%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.93 MX$208
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$2.95 MX$51.5
$6.51 EC$17.57
-54.69%
Banana (1kg)
$1.74 MX$30.35
$2.42 EC$6.55
-28.10%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.04 MX$35.66
$8.06 EC$21.77
-74.69%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.06 MX$35.93
$8.27 EC$22.34
-75.09%
Potato (1kg)
$2.15 MX$37.49
$2.94 EC$7.94
-26.87%
Onion (1kg)
$2.26 MX$39.33
$2.93 EC$7.92
-22.87%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.39 MX$24.17
$2.52 EC$6.79
-44.84%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.12 MX$19.47
$1.87 EC$5.05
-40.11%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.22 MX$73.6
-
-
Wine (Bottle)
$17.51 MX$305
$9.20 EC$24.84
90.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71 MX$29.82
$2.74 EC$7.40
-37.59%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.63 MX$63.4
$3.60 EC$9.72
0.83%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Saint John's
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.35 MX$6.15
$1.00 EC$2.70
-65.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$19.32 MX$337
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.38 MX$24.00
$5.42 EC$14.63
-74.54%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.28 MX$4.81
$5.69 EC$15.38
-95.08%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.28 MX$92.0
$19.86 EC$53.6
-73.41%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.36 MX$23.69
$1.69 EC$4.57
-19.53%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.1K MX$333.2K
$24.0K EC$64.8K
-20.43%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.6K MX$411.7K
$20.8K EC$56.2K
13.43%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Saint John's
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$40.53 MX$707
$131 EC$353
-69.01%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.38 MX$478
$40.15 EC$108
-31.81%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.38 MX$530
$73.2 EC$198
-58.47%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Saint John's
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.2 MX$911
$65.6 EC$177
-20.35%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.48 MX$462
$36.64 EC$98.9
-27.73%
Cinema Ticket
$6.19 MX$108
$5.93 EC$16.01
4.38%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Saint John's
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$425 MX$7,414
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.7K MX$187.2K
$1,836 EC$4,958
484.60%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Saint John's
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.3 MX$1,017
-
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.57 MX$777
-
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 MX$1,805
$74.2 EC$200
39.47%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109 MX$1,897
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Saint John's
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,014 MX$17.7K
$1,090 EC$2,943
-6.99%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$623 MX$10.9K
$732 EC$1,977
-14.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,119 MX$37.0K
$1,671 EC$4,512
26.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,223 MX$21.3K
$1,487 EC$4,014
-17.71%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,792 MX$66.1K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,110 MX$36.8K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Saint John's
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,052 MX$18.4K
$1,354 EC$3,656
-22.31%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.34
5.5
106.18%

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

Last update for Mexico City: July 25, 2026

Last update for Saint John's: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,014 in Mexico City and $1,090 in Saint John's. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Saint John's pays 29% 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: $54.0 in Mexico City vs $83.0 in Saint John's for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $293 vs $352 per month, with Mexico City 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 Saint John's: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and in Saint John's?
Mexico City and Saint John's differ by about 18% in total monthly costs ($1,472 vs $1,730 including rent). Mexico City 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 29% lower in Saint John's. 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 Saint John's?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,014 in Mexico City versus $1,090 in Saint John's. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Mexico City – a meal for two runs $54.0 versus $83.0 in Saint John's. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Mexico City or Saint John's?
All in, you'll spend $1,472 per month in Mexico City versus $1,730 in Saint John's – a 18% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,472 in Mexico City versus $1,730 in Saint John's, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Mexico City but tight or insufficient in Saint John's. The gap between the two cities makes Mexico City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mexico City and Saint John's?
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 Saint John's safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Mexico City and Saint John's 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 Saint John's?
Expats usually find Mexico City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 18% less than in Saint John's. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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