Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and St John Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and St John

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,677 in Mexico City versus $322 in St John.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,608 in Mexico City versus $929 in St John.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,540 in Mexico City versus $1,536 in St John.

Living in Mexico City is roughly 421% more expensive than in St John, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 22% above, St John is 77% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.14 MX$206

$19.94 $19.94

-39.12%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.9 MX$914

$177 $177

-69.47%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.09 MX$188

Cappuccino

$4.10 MX$69.5

$6.87 $6.87

-40.32%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.68 MX$28.53

$2.91 $2.91

-42.27%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.39 MX$23.55

$2.03 $2.03

-31.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.33 MX$56.5

$8.15 $8.15

-59.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.88 MX$99.7

$8.18 $8.18

-28.12%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.85 MX$31.41

White Bread (500g)

$3.17 MX$53.8

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.07 MX$35.13

Eggs

$2.93 MX$49.67

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.59 MX$214

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.11 MX$172

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.09 MX$273

Apples (1kg)

$3.39 MX$57.5

Banana (1kg)

$2.08 MX$35.26

Oranges (1kg)

$2.12 MX$35.97

Tomato (1kg)

$2.41 MX$40.95

Potato (1kg)

$2.13 MX$36.11

Onion (1kg)

$2.01 MX$34.02

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.55 MX$26.21

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.36 MX$23.15

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.77 MX$97.8

Wine (Bottle)

$17.74 MX$301

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.07 MX$35.11

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.61 MX$78.3

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.37 MX$6.21

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.18 MX$359

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.05 MX$34.84

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 MX$9.79

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.07 MX$103

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.55 MX$26.34

$1.57 $1.57

-1.27%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$22.9K MX$388.1K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$27.2K MX$462.0K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$67.4 MX$1,144

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$30.62 MX$520

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$37.24 MX$632

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.5 MX$1,043

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.12 MX$460

Cinema Ticket

$7.11 MX$121

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$456 MX$7,739

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.7K MX$232.3K

$13.8K $13.8K

-0.46%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$74.2 MX$1,259

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$57.0 MX$967

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 MX$1,958

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 MX$2,061

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,148 MX$19.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$709 MX$12.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,577 MX$43.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,295 MX$22.0K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,005 MX$67.9K

$12.8K $12.8K

-68.63%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,130 MX$36.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,082 MX$18.4K

$5,178 $5,178

-79.10%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.3

7.05

60.28%

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

Last update for Mexico City: September 6, 2026

Last update for St John: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

St John pays 379% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out at a mid-range restaurant: $54.0 in Mexico City vs $177 in St John for two.

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 St John: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mexico City and St John differ by about 421% in total monthly costs ($1,677 vs $322 including rent). St John is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 379% lower in St John. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Dining out is cheaper in St John – a meal for two runs $177 versus $54.0 in Mexico City. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $1,677 per month in Mexico City versus $322 in St John – a 421% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $322 in St John versus $1,677 in Mexico City, a $2,000 budget is realistic in St John but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes St John the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Safety-wise, Mexico City and St John are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find St John gentler on the wallet – expenses run 421% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.