😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,467 in Mexico City versus $1,110 in San Antonio de Petrel.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,371 in Mexico City versus $1,694 in San Antonio de Petrel.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,274 in Mexico City versus $2,278 in San Antonio de Petrel.
😐Living in Mexico City is roughly 32% more expensive than San Antonio de Petrel, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 10% above, San Antonio de Petrel is 17% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
San Antonio de Petrel
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.18MX$228
$8.73CLP 7,752
50.97%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.9MX$932
$44.22CLP 39.2K
21.89%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.42MX$163
$7.93CLP 7,038
18.79%
Cappuccino
$3.55MX$61.4
$2.86CLP 2,538
24.13%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$27.98
$1.32CLP 1,170
22.73%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.11MX$19.27
$1.02CLP 906
8.82%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.12MX$54.0
$3.15CLP 2,797
-0.95%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.63MX$80.1
$4.25CLP 3,775
8.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
San Antonio de Petrel
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.70MX$29.43
$1.24CLP 1,099
37.10%
White Bread(500g)
$2.72MX$47.02
$1.56CLP 1,385
74.36%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.91MX$33.07
$1.94CLP 1,722
-1.55%
Eggs
$2.54MX$43.86
$3.51CLP 3,116
-27.64%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.03MX$174
$10.68CLP 9,477
-6.09%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.09MX$140
$6.83CLP 6,059
18.45%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.62MX$201
$10.88CLP 9,655
6.80%
Apples(1kg)
$2.97MX$51.3
$1.89CLP 1,678
57.14%
Banana(1kg)
$1.81MX$31.24
$1.56CLP 1,387
16.03%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01MX$34.82
$1.60CLP 1,423
25.62%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03MX$35.20
$1.50CLP 1,330
35.33%
Potato(1kg)
$2.12MX$36.75
$1.29CLP 1,148
64.34%
Onion(1kg)
$2.27MX$39.25
$1.35CLP 1,198
68.15%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.40MX$24.22
$1.22CLP 1,085
14.75%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.13MX$19.55
$1.18CLP 1,043
-4.24%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27MX$73.9
$5.53CLP 4,904
-22.78%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.56MX$269
$6.55CLP 5,817
137.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76MX$30.39
$1.60CLP 1,424
10.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.60MX$62.2
$2.33CLP 2,069
54.51%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
San Antonio de Petrel
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38MX$6.62
$0.59CLP 521
-35.59%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.18MX$332
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.38MX$23.79
$0.51CLP 451
170.59%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28MX$4.78
$3.08CLP 2,732
-90.91%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.45MX$94.2
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.30MX$22.55
$1.42CLP 1,261
-8.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.7KMX$323.2K
$19.6KCLP 17.4M
-4.59%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.1KMX$400.1K
$21.6KCLP 19.2M
6.84%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
San Antonio de Petrel
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.86MX$707
$132CLP 117.0K
-69.01%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.81MX$464
$13.78CLP 12.2K
94.56%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.96MX$518
$22.20CLP 19.7K
34.95%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
San Antonio de Petrel
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.0MX$900
$39.18CLP 34.8K
32.77%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.84MX$464
$21.01CLP 18.6K
27.75%
Cinema Ticket
$6.30MX$109
$5.73CLP 5,089
9.95%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
San Antonio de Petrel
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$436MX$7,544
$434CLP 385.3K
0.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.4KMX$180.2K
$1,228CLP 1.1M
748.51%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
San Antonio de Petrel
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.7MX$980
$49.76CLP 44.2K
13.85%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.38MX$768
$29.82CLP 26.5K
48.83%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103MX$1,780
$61.8CLP 54.8K
66.67%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106MX$1,825
$81.8CLP 72.6K
29.03%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
San Antonio de Petrel
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,022MX$17.7K
$488CLP 433.3K
109.34%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$631MX$10.9K
$380CLP 337.5K
65.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,136MX$36.9K
$890CLP 789.7K
140.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,243MX$21.5K
$587CLP 520.7K
111.82%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,903MX$67.5K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,064MX$35.7K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
San Antonio de Petrel
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,115MX$19.3K
$453CLP 401.7K
146.36%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
5.18
118.92%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: May 31, 2026
Last update for San Antonio de Petrel: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,022 in Mexico City and $488 in San Antonio de Petrel. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 146% 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 $44.00 in San Antonio de Petrel for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $288 vs $233 per month, with San Antonio de Petrel 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 Antonio de Petrel: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and San Antonio de Petrel?
Mexico City and San Antonio de Petrel differ by about 32% in total monthly costs ($1,467 vs $1,110 including rent). San Antonio de Petrel is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Mexico City or San Antonio de Petrel?
Mexico City pays 146% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Mexico City and San Antonio de Petrel?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,022 in Mexico City versus $488 in San Antonio de Petrel. 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 Antonio de Petrel?
Childcare runs $436 in Mexico City versus $434 in San Antonio de Petrel. 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 Antonio de Petrel – a meal for two runs $44.00 versus $54.0 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 $1,110 in San Antonio de Petrel versus $1,467 in Mexico City, a $1,500 budget is realistic in San Antonio de Petrel but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes San Antonio de Petrel the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mexico City and San Antonio de Petrel?
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 San Antonio de Petrel?
Expats usually find San Antonio de Petrel 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