😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,660 in Mexico City versus $1,017 in Sin el Fil.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,565 in Mexico City versus $1,592 in Sin el Fil.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,470 in Mexico City versus $2,168 in Sin el Fil.
🌍Living in Mexico City is roughly 63% more expensive than in Sin el Fil, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 21% above, Sin el Fil is 26% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Sin el Fil
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.92MX$204
$12.12LBP 1.1M
-1.65%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$51.6MX$885
$64.0LBP 5.7M
-19.36%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.41MX$196
$9.97LBP 892.7K
14.44%
Cappuccino
$3.99MX$68.5
$4.57LBP 408.6K
-12.69%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66MX$28.45
$2.40LBP 214.7K
-30.83%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.33MX$22.74
$0.81LBP 72.7K
64.20%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.47MX$59.5
$5.14LBP 460.3K
-32.49%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.90MX$101
$5.06LBP 452.7K
16.60%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Sin el Fil
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.88MX$32.18
$1.96LBP 175.4K
-4.08%
White Bread(500g)
$3.25MX$55.8
$0.88LBP 79.1K
269.32%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.16MX$37.05
$2.24LBP 200.8K
-3.57%
Eggs
$2.90MX$49.66
$3.67LBP 328.2K
-20.98%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.86MX$220
$13.53LBP 1.2M
-4.95%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.05MX$172
$10.76LBP 963.1K
-6.60%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.86MX$272
$14.22LBP 1.3M
11.53%
Apples(1kg)
$3.29MX$56.5
$3.15LBP 282.1K
4.44%
Banana(1kg)
$2.01MX$34.40
$1.63LBP 146.0K
23.31%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.20MX$37.71
$1.63LBP 146.1K
34.97%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.36MX$40.40
$1.48LBP 132.5K
59.46%
Potato(1kg)
$2.05MX$35.23
$1.35LBP 121.1K
51.85%
Onion(1kg)
$1.90MX$32.60
$1.68LBP 150.4K
13.10%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.61MX$27.52
$1.18LBP 105.2K
36.44%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.40MX$23.95
$0.74LBP 66.2K
89.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.46MX$93.7
$2.96LBP 265.0K
84.46%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.65MX$303
$9.98LBP 893.0K
76.85%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.06MX$35.24
$1.32LBP 118.5K
56.06%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.68MX$80.3
$2.55LBP 228.2K
83.53%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Sin el Fil
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.34MX$5.80
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$20.81MX$357
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.10MX$35.95
$5.08LBP 454.6K
-58.66%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.56MX$9.59
$2.26LBP 202.6K
-75.22%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.81MX$99.7
$22.38LBP 2.0M
-74.04%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.61MX$27.53
$1.04LBP 92.9K
54.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.8KMX$391.6K
$54.3KLBP 4.9B
-57.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8KMX$458.6K
$32.7KLBP 2.9B
-18.21%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Sin el Fil
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$65.2MX$1,117
$232LBP 20.8M
-71.94%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.09MX$516
$23.10LBP 2.1M
30.26%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.18MX$637
$38.31LBP 3.4M
-2.95%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Sin el Fil
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$59.8MX$1,024
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.55MX$455
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.04MX$121
$9.86LBP 882.9K
-28.60%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Sin el Fil
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$465MX$7,967
$687LBP 61.5M
-32.38%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.3KMX$227.6K
$10.8KLBP 967.6M
22.78%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Sin el Fil
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$75.9MX$1,301
$68.8LBP 6.2M
10.35%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$56.0MX$959
$48.68LBP 4.4M
14.93%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$112MX$1,918
$137LBP 12.2M
-18.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121MX$2,066
$121LBP 10.8M
-0.28%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Sin el Fil
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,103MX$18.9K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$721MX$12.4K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,530MX$43.4K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,293MX$22.2K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,991MX$68.4K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,090MX$35.8K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Sin el Fil
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,037MX$17.8K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.3
11
2.73%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: September 14, 2026
Last update for Sin el Fil: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $52.0 in Mexico City vs $64.0 in Sin el Fil. Groceries flip the comparison at $345 vs $281, with Sin el Fil 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 Sin el Fil: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and in Sin el Fil?
Mexico City and Sin el Fil differ by about 63% in total monthly costs ($1,660 vs $1,017 including rent). Sin el Fil 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 Sin el Fil?
You'd need roughly $2,489 in Mexico City and $1,525 in Sin el Fil 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.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Mexico City and Sin el Fil?
Childcare runs $465 in Mexico City versus $687 in Sin el Fil. 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 Sin el Fil – a meal for two runs $64.0 versus $52.0 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 $1,017 in Sin el Fil versus $1,660 in Mexico City, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Sin el Fil but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Sin el Fil the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mexico City and Sin el Fil?
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 Sin el Fil?
Expats usually find Sin el Fil gentler on the wallet – expenses run 63% 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