😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,472 in Mexico City versus $618 in San Francisco de Macoris.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,359 in Mexico City versus $979 in San Francisco de Macoris.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,245 in Mexico City versus $1,341 in San Francisco de Macoris.
🌍Living in Mexico City is roughly 138% more expensive than in San Francisco de Macoris, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 11% above, San Francisco de Macoris is 54% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
San Francisco de Macoris
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.14MX$227
$3.71DOP 216
254.18%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.5MX$926
$13.61DOP 791
293.31%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.33MX$161
$6.67DOP 387
39.88%
Cappuccino
$3.70MX$64.0
$2.54DOP 148
45.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.60MX$27.76
$0.58DOP 33.68
175.86%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.12MX$19.34
$0.53DOP 31.00
111.32%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.14MX$54.3
$2.14DOP 124
46.73%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.85MX$83.9
$2.48DOP 144
95.56%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
San Francisco de Macoris
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.65MX$28.61
$1.19DOP 68.9
38.66%
White Bread(500g)
$2.71MX$46.96
$1.74DOP 101
55.75%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.91MX$33.03
$1.10DOP 63.8
73.64%
Eggs
$2.59MX$44.81
$1.40DOP 81.3
85.00%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.81MX$170
$4.01DOP 233
144.64%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.43MX$146
$3.50DOP 204
140.86%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.93MX$206
$6.66DOP 387
79.13%
Apples(1kg)
$2.95MX$51.1
$2.60DOP 151
13.46%
Banana(1kg)
$1.74MX$30.10
$0.77DOP 44.99
125.97%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.04MX$35.38
$1.29DOP 74.9
58.14%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.06MX$35.64
$0.86DOP 50.2
139.53%
Potato(1kg)
$2.15MX$37.20
$1.16DOP 67.4
85.34%
Onion(1kg)
$2.26MX$39.02
$1.24DOP 71.8
82.26%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.39MX$23.97
$0.58DOP 33.61
139.66%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.12MX$19.31
$0.98DOP 56.7
14.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.22MX$73.0
$3.47DOP 202
21.61%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.51MX$303
$10.60DOP 616
65.19%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71MX$29.58
$2.65DOP 154
-35.47%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.63MX$62.8
$3.12DOP 181
16.35%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
San Francisco de Macoris
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.35MX$6.10
$0.61DOP 35.32
-42.62%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.32MX$334
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.38MX$23.80
$3.35DOP 195
-58.81%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28MX$4.77
$2.02DOP 117
-86.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.28MX$91.3
$5.84DOP 340
-9.59%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.36MX$23.50
$1.12DOP 65.2
21.43%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.1KMX$330.5K
$26.7KDOP 1.6M
-28.52%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.6KMX$408.4K
$31.5KDOP 1.8M
-25.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
San Francisco de Macoris
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.53MX$701
$39.55DOP 2,298
2.48%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.38MX$474
$8.35DOP 485
227.90%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.38MX$526
$35.88DOP 2,085
-15.33%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
San Francisco de Macoris
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.2MX$903
$16.84DOP 979
210.10%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.48MX$458
$8.41DOP 489
214.86%
Cinema Ticket
$6.19MX$107
$4.34DOP 252
42.63%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
San Francisco de Macoris
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$425MX$7,355
$169DOP 9,823
151.47%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.7KMX$185.7K
$2,003DOP 116.4K
435.88%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
San Francisco de Macoris
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.3MX$1,009
$25.10DOP 1,458
132.31%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.57MX$771
$52.0DOP 3,020
-14.22%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103MX$1,791
$67.2DOP 3,904
54.03%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109MX$1,881
$68.5DOP 3,979
58.79%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
San Francisco de Macoris
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,014MX$17.5K
$161DOP 9,363
529.24%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$623MX$10.8K
$107DOP 6,215
482.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,119MX$36.7K
$339DOP 19.7K
524.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,223MX$21.2K
$261DOP 15.2K
368.78%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,792MX$65.6K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,110MX$36.5K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
San Francisco de Macoris
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,052MX$18.2K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
12.9
-12.09%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: July 25, 2026
Last update for San Francisco de Macoris: July 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,014 in Mexico City and $161 in San Francisco de Macoris. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $54.0 in Mexico City vs $14.00 in San Francisco de Macoris for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $293 vs $177 per month, with San Francisco de Macoris 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 Francisco de Macoris: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and in San Francisco de Macoris?
Mexico City and San Francisco de Macoris differ by about 138% in total monthly costs ($1,472 vs $618 including rent). San Francisco de Macoris 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 Francisco de Macoris?
You'd need roughly $2,208 in Mexico City and $927 in San Francisco de Macoris 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 in San Francisco de Macoris?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,014 in Mexico City versus $161 in San Francisco de Macoris. 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 Francisco de Macoris?
Childcare runs $425 in Mexico City versus $169 in San Francisco de Macoris. 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 Francisco de Macoris – a meal for two runs $14.00 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 $1,000 per month?
At $618 in San Francisco de Macoris versus $1,472 in Mexico City, a $1,000 budget is realistic in San Francisco de Macoris but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes San Francisco de Macoris the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mexico City and San Francisco de Macoris?
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 Francisco de Macoris?
Expats usually find San Francisco de Macoris gentler on the wallet – expenses run 138% 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