😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,484 in Mexico City versus $1,122 in San Andres Tuxtla.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,381 in Mexico City versus $1,769 in San Andres Tuxtla.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,278 in Mexico City versus $2,417 in San Andres Tuxtla.
😐Living in Mexico City is roughly 32% more expensive than San Andres Tuxtla, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 11% above, San Andres Tuxtla is 16% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
San Andres Tuxtla
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.98MX$226
$10.37MX$181
25.17%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.1MX$923
$38.62MX$672
37.42%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.72MX$169
$7.95MX$138
22.26%
Cappuccino
$3.75MX$65.2
$3.39MX$59.0
10.62%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57MX$27.30
$1.27MX$22.18
23.62%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.13MX$19.64
$0.91MX$15.85
24.18%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.18MX$55.3
$2.43MX$42.20
30.86%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.66MX$81.1
$3.99MX$69.4
16.79%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
San Andres Tuxtla
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.62MX$28.21
$1.42MX$24.65
14.08%
White Bread(500g)
$2.71MX$47.09
$2.53MX$44.07
7.11%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.88MX$32.70
$1.62MX$28.17
16.05%
Eggs
$2.51MX$43.65
$2.29MX$39.89
9.61%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.08MX$175
$8.22MX$143
22.63%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.29MX$144
$8.07MX$140
2.73%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.94MX$208
$10.53MX$183
13.39%
Apples(1kg)
$2.86MX$49.77
$2.59MX$44.98
10.42%
Banana(1kg)
$1.75MX$30.45
$1.46MX$25.38
19.86%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.27
$1.71MX$29.80
21.64%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.97MX$34.27
$1.59MX$27.68
23.90%
Potato(1kg)
$2.16MX$37.58
$1.84MX$32.09
17.39%
Onion(1kg)
$2.18MX$37.94
$1.96MX$34.09
11.22%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.39MX$24.20
$1.25MX$21.80
11.20%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.12MX$19.57
$0.97MX$16.89
15.46%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.20MX$73.1
$4.23MX$73.6
-0.71%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.25MX$248
$11.70MX$204
21.79%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76MX$30.68
$1.55MX$26.91
13.55%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68MX$64.1
$2.72MX$47.40
35.29%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
San Andres Tuxtla
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.39MX$6.71
$0.64MX$11.15
-39.06%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.66MX$325
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.39MX$24.12
$2.66MX$46.22
-47.74%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.30MX$5.29
$1.59MX$27.71
-81.13%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.42MX$94.3
$8.36MX$145
-35.17%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35MX$23.50
$1.26MX$21.85
7.14%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.9KMX$328.6K
$20.8KMX$361.5K
-9.11%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.2KMX$402.8K
$22.8KMX$396.2K
1.69%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
San Andres Tuxtla
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.82MX$710
$56.9MX$990
-28.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.50MX$479
$22.23MX$387
23.71%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.38MX$529
$28.57MX$497
6.34%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
San Andres Tuxtla
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$53.4MX$930
$36.49MX$635
46.42%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.30MX$458
$16.13MX$281
63.05%
Cinema Ticket
$6.27MX$109
$4.59MX$79.9
36.60%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
San Andres Tuxtla
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$436MX$7,588
$209MX$3,643
108.33%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.5KMX$182.1K
$3,643MX$63.4K
187.33%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
San Andres Tuxtla
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.8MX$988
$52.9MX$920
7.36%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.79MX$779
$38.95MX$678
14.99%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103MX$1,789
$91.3MX$1,588
12.63%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108MX$1,878
$79.8MX$1,388
35.26%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
San Andres Tuxtla
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,000MX$17.4K
$510MX$8,870
96.10%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$620MX$10.8K
$402MX$6,986
54.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,137MX$37.2K
$938MX$16.3K
127.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,235MX$21.5K
$748MX$13.0K
65.21%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,865MX$67.3K
$2,283MX$39.7K
69.30%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,332MX$40.6K
$1,297MX$22.6K
79.87%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
San Andres Tuxtla
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,067MX$18.6K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
11.48
-1.22%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: April 27, 2026
Last update for San Andres Tuxtla: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,000 in Mexico City and $510 in San Andres Tuxtla. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $53.0 in Mexico City vs $39.00 in San Andres Tuxtla for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $286 vs $251 per month, with San Andres Tuxtla 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 San Andres Tuxtla: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and San Andres Tuxtla?
Mexico City and San Andres Tuxtla differ by about 32% in total monthly costs ($1,484 vs $1,122 including rent). San Andres Tuxtla is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Mexico City compared to San Andres Tuxtla?
You'd need roughly $2,225 in Mexico City and $1,682 in San Andres Tuxtla 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.
How do apartment prices compare in Mexico City and San Andres Tuxtla?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,000 in Mexico City versus $510 in San Andres Tuxtla. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Mexico City and San Andres Tuxtla?
Childcare runs $436 in Mexico City versus $209 in San Andres Tuxtla. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in San Andres Tuxtla – a meal for two runs $39.00 versus $53.0 in Mexico City. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,122 in San Andres Tuxtla versus $1,484 in Mexico City, a $1,500 budget is realistic in San Andres Tuxtla but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes San Andres Tuxtla the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mexico City and San Andres Tuxtla?
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 San Andres Tuxtla safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Mexico City and San Andres Tuxtla 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 San Andres Tuxtla?
Expats usually find San Andres Tuxtla gentler on the wallet – expenses run 32% 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