Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and San Salvador Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and San Salvador

😐 Solo nomad: Mexico City is 13.2% more expensive than San Salvador without rent, and 4.9% cheaper with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Mexico City is 14.4% more expensive than San Salvador without rent, and 9.9% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
San Salvador
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.12 MX$235
$8.09 $8.09
62.18%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.8 MX$963
$35.46 $35.46
51.75%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.40 MX$168
$6.92 $6.92
35.84%
Cappuccino
$3.56 MX$63.8
$3.24 $3.24
9.88%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.60 MX$28.69
$1.11 $1.11
44.14%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.15 MX$20.67
$0.87 $0.87
32.18%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.16 MX$56.5
$1.98 $1.98
59.60%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.85 MX$86.7
$3.06 $3.06
58.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
San Salvador
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.63 MX$29.25
$1.81 $1.81
-9.94%
White Bread (500g)
$2.73 MX$48.94
$2.07 $2.07
31.88%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.88 MX$33.63
$1.54 $1.54
22.08%
Eggs
$2.63 MX$47.10
$2.89 $2.89
-9.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.89 MX$177
$6.91 $6.91
43.13%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.40 MX$150
$6.65 $6.65
26.32%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.63 MX$208
$11.01 $11.01
5.63%
Apples (1kg)
$2.97 MX$53.2
$3.21 $3.21
-7.48%
Banana (1kg)
$1.78 MX$31.94
$1.65 $1.65
7.88%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.06 MX$36.79
$2.58 $2.58
-20.16%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.97 MX$35.35
$2.66 $2.66
-25.94%
Potato (1kg)
$2.09 MX$37.34
$2.18 $2.18
-4.13%
Onion (1kg)
$2.26 MX$40.44
$2.11 $2.11
7.11%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.46 MX$26.10
$1.02 $1.02
43.14%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09 MX$19.51
$1.03 $1.03
5.83%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.34 MX$77.7
$4.08 $4.08
6.37%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.62 MX$244
$10.83 $10.83
25.76%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.67 MX$29.96
$1.76 $1.76
-5.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.54 MX$63.4
$2.43 $2.43
45.68%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
San Salvador
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.36 MX$6.44
$0.33 $0.33
9.09%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.96 MX$339
$25.37 $25.37
-25.27%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.32 MX$23.69
$5.41 $5.41
-75.60%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.30 MX$5.39
$3.03 $3.03
-90.10%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.49 MX$98.2
$20.30 $20.30
-72.96%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.34 MX$23.93
$1.05 $1.05
27.62%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.1K MX$342.2K
$25.4K $25.4K
-24.84%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.8K MX$425.4K
$28.3K $28.3K
-15.97%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
San Salvador
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$41.11 MX$736
$103 $103
-60.03%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.78 MX$497
$18.83 $18.83
47.53%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.00 MX$537
$42.45 $42.45
-29.33%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
San Salvador
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$53.5 MX$958
$31.15 $31.15
71.85%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.13 MX$468
$19.96 $19.96
30.91%
Cinema Ticket
$6.28 MX$112
$5.22 $5.22
20.31%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
San Salvador
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$439 MX$7,865
$144 $144
204.26%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.7K MX$192.3K
$6,036 $6,036
77.94%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
San Salvador
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.1 MX$1,022
$67.0 $67.0
-14.78%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.30 MX$811
$43.02 $43.02
5.30%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$104 MX$1,866
$114 $114
-8.40%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 MX$1,938
$104 $104
3.73%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
San Salvador
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$996 MX$17.8K
$855 $855
16.56%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$624 MX$11.2K
$689 $689
-9.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,106 MX$37.7K
$1,465 $1,465
43.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,218 MX$21.8K
$1,081 $1,081
12.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,799 MX$68.0K
$2,818 $2,818
34.79%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,230 MX$39.9K
$1,826 $1,826
22.11%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
San Salvador
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,096 MX$19.6K
$384 $384
185.76%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.34
8.58
32.17%

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

Last update for Mexico City: March 1, 2026

Last update for San Salvador: March 2, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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