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: $1,484 in Mexico City versus $1,671 in Saint John's.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,381 in Mexico City versus $2,722 in Saint John's.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,278 in Mexico City versus $3,772 in Saint John's.

Living in Mexico City costs roughly 11% 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 25% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Saint John's
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.98 MX$226
$13.82 EC$37.32
-6.08%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.1 MX$923
$83.1 EC$224
-36.11%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.72 MX$169
$10.94 EC$29.55
-11.15%
Cappuccino
$3.75 MX$65.2
$4.00 EC$10.81
-6.25%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57 MX$27.30
$2.05 EC$5.53
-23.41%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.13 MX$19.64
$0.91 EC$2.47
24.18%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.18 MX$55.3
$1.83 EC$4.95
73.77%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.66 MX$81.1
$4.35 EC$11.76
7.13%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Saint John's
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.62 MX$28.21
$2.24 EC$6.05
-27.68%
White Bread (500g)
$2.71 MX$47.09
$2.83 EC$7.64
-4.24%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.88 MX$32.70
$1.90 EC$5.12
-1.05%
Eggs
$2.51 MX$43.65
$5.35 EC$14.44
-53.08%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.08 MX$175
$8.24 EC$22.25
22.33%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.29 MX$144
$8.21 EC$22.17
0.97%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.94 MX$208
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$2.86 MX$49.77
$6.51 EC$17.57
-56.07%
Banana (1kg)
$1.75 MX$30.45
$2.40 EC$6.49
-27.08%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.08 MX$36.27
$8.06 EC$21.77
-74.19%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.97 MX$34.27
$8.21 EC$22.17
-76.00%
Potato (1kg)
$2.16 MX$37.58
$2.88 EC$7.78
-25.00%
Onion (1kg)
$2.18 MX$37.94
$2.93 EC$7.92
-25.60%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.39 MX$24.20
$2.62 EC$7.06
-46.95%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.12 MX$19.57
$1.80 EC$4.87
-37.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.20 MX$73.1
-
-
Wine (Bottle)
$14.25 MX$248
$9.17 EC$24.77
55.40%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76 MX$30.68
$2.68 EC$7.24
-34.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68 MX$64.1
$3.77 EC$10.18
-2.39%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Saint John's
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.39 MX$6.71
$1.04 EC$2.80
-62.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.66 MX$325
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.39 MX$24.12
$5.43 EC$14.67
-74.40%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.30 MX$5.29
$5.70 EC$15.39
-94.74%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.42 MX$94.3
$19.66 EC$53.1
-72.43%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.35 MX$23.50
$1.75 EC$4.72
-22.86%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.9K MX$328.6K
$24.1K EC$65.2K
-21.77%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.2K MX$402.8K
$20.7K EC$55.9K
11.91%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Saint John's
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$40.82 MX$710
$130 EC$352
-68.70%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.50 MX$479
$40.98 EC$111
-32.89%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.38 MX$529
$72.1 EC$195
-57.88%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Saint John's
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$53.4 MX$930
$64.4 EC$174
-17.09%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.30 MX$458
$36.92 EC$99.7
-28.76%
Cinema Ticket
$6.27 MX$109
$6.05 EC$16.34
3.64%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Saint John's
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$436 MX$7,588
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.5K MX$182.1K
$1,831 EC$4,945
471.59%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Saint John's
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.8 MX$988
-
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.79 MX$779
-
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 MX$1,789
$73.4 EC$198
40.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 MX$1,878
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Saint John's
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,000 MX$17.4K
$1,108 EC$2,992
-9.78%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$620 MX$10.8K
$752 EC$2,030
-17.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,137 MX$37.2K
$1,645 EC$4,442
29.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,235 MX$21.5K
$1,494 EC$4,035
-17.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,865 MX$67.3K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,332 MX$40.6K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Saint John's
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,067 MX$18.6K
$1,361 EC$3,675
-21.59%
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: April 27, 2026

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

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,000 in Mexico City and $1,108 in Saint John's. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Saint John's pays 28% 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: $53.0 in Mexico City vs $83.0 in Saint John's for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $286 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 Saint John's?
Mexico City and Saint John's differ by about 13% in total monthly costs ($1,484 vs $1,671 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, Saint John's earns 28% 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 Saint John's?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,000 in Mexico City versus $1,108 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 $53.0 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 $1,484 per month in Mexico City versus $1,671 in Saint John's – a 13% 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 $1,484 in Mexico City versus $1,671 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 13% 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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