😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,456 in Mexico City versus $1,019 in Sidon.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,361 in Mexico City versus $1,708 in Sidon.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,266 in Mexico City versus $2,396 in Sidon.
🌍Living in Mexico City is roughly 43% more expensive than in Sidon, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 9% above, Sidon is 24% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Sidon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.07MX$229
$10.94LBP 978.9K
19.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.8MX$943
$60.6LBP 5.4M
-11.35%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.68MX$170
$7.91LBP 708.3K
22.38%
Cappuccino
$3.74MX$65.6
$3.41LBP 305.5K
9.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$28.34
$1.60LBP 142.9K
1.25%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.16MX$20.37
$0.89LBP 79.5K
30.34%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.23MX$56.6
$3.57LBP 319.1K
-9.52%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.74MX$83.1
$5.07LBP 453.8K
-6.51%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Sidon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.65MX$28.89
$1.70LBP 152.0K
-2.94%
White Bread(500g)
$2.75MX$48.30
$0.80LBP 71.9K
243.75%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.87MX$32.87
$1.82LBP 162.8K
2.75%
Eggs
$2.50MX$43.86
$3.16LBP 283.0K
-20.89%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.20MX$179
$11.08LBP 991.3K
-7.94%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.25MX$145
$9.35LBP 837.2K
-11.76%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.82MX$207
$11.65LBP 1.0M
1.46%
Apples(1kg)
$3.01MX$52.8
$1.74LBP 155.6K
72.99%
Banana(1kg)
$1.81MX$31.77
$1.50LBP 134.6K
20.67%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.00MX$35.07
$1.13LBP 101.4K
76.99%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.00MX$35.00
$1.06LBP 94.8K
88.68%
Potato(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.56
$1.00LBP 89.5K
108.00%
Onion(1kg)
$2.27MX$39.85
$1.03LBP 92.3K
120.39%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.46MX$25.55
$0.82LBP 73.3K
78.05%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08MX$18.88
$0.56LBP 49.7K
92.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.35MX$76.3
$2.51LBP 224.7K
73.31%
Wine(Bottle)
$16.99MX$298
$9.81LBP 878.4K
73.19%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73MX$30.40
$1.29LBP 115.4K
34.11%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.58MX$62.7
$2.13LBP 190.4K
68.08%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Sidon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.39MX$6.79
$2.02LBP 180.8K
-80.69%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.69MX$328
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.33MX$23.25
$4.97LBP 444.5K
-73.24%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28MX$4.91
$1.28LBP 114.7K
-78.13%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.25MX$92.1
$20.17LBP 1.8M
-73.97%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.34MX$23.44
$0.95LBP 85.0K
41.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.4KMX$340.5K
$35.6KLBP 3.2B
-45.50%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.8KMX$418.0K
$28.2KLBP 2.5B
-15.59%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Sidon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.69MX$714
$214LBP 19.2M
-81.00%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.87MX$471
$38.03LBP 3.4M
-29.35%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.51MX$535
$37.53LBP 3.4M
-18.71%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Sidon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.8MX$926
$33.48LBP 3.0M
57.65%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.65MX$467
$9.97LBP 892.6K
167.30%
Cinema Ticket
$6.51MX$114
$6.18LBP 552.8K
5.34%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Sidon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$428MX$7,508
$306LBP 27.4M
39.76%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.5KMX$184.2K
$4,454LBP 398.6M
135.76%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Sidon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.3MX$1,004
$71.1LBP 6.4M
-19.45%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.50MX$798
$44.83LBP 4.0M
1.49%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104MX$1,825
$121LBP 10.9M
-14.28%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108MX$1,891
$96.2LBP 8.6M
12.14%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Sidon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,003MX$17.6K
$253LBP 22.6M
297.25%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$623MX$10.9K
$102LBP 9.1M
512.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,109MX$37.0K
$596LBP 53.4M
253.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,218MX$21.4K
$394LBP 35.2M
209.46%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,885MX$68.1K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,033MX$35.7K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Sidon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,038MX$18.2K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
11.16
1.61%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: July 13, 2026
Last update for Sidon: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,003 in Mexico City and $253 in Sidon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $54.0 in Mexico City vs $61.0 in Sidon. Groceries flip the comparison at $292 vs $233, with Sidon cheaper for home cooking.
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 Sidon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and in Sidon?
Mexico City and Sidon differ by about 43% in total monthly costs ($1,456 vs $1,019 including rent). Sidon 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 Sidon?
You'd need roughly $2,185 in Mexico City and $1,529 in Sidon 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 Sidon?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,003 in Mexico City versus $253 in Sidon. 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 Sidon?
Childcare runs $428 in Mexico City versus $306 in Sidon. 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 Sidon – a meal for two runs $61.0 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 $1,019 in Sidon versus $1,456 in Mexico City, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Sidon but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Sidon the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mexico City and Sidon?
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 Sidon?
Expats usually find Sidon gentler on the wallet – expenses run 43% 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