Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Sumba Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Sumba

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,456 in Mexico City versus $218 in Sumba.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,361 in Mexico City versus $295 in Sumba.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,266 in Mexico City versus $372 in Sumba.

Living in Mexico City is roughly 569% more expensive than in Sumba, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 9% above, Sumba is 84% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.07 MX$228

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.8 MX$936

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.68 MX$169

Cappuccino

$3.74 MX$65.1

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

$1.62 MX$28.13

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.16 MX$20.23

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.23 MX$56.2

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.74 MX$82.5

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 MX$28.68

$2.36 FOK 15.41

-30.08%

White Bread (500g)

$2.75 MX$47.95

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.87 MX$32.63

Eggs

$2.50 MX$43.54

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.20 MX$178

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.25 MX$144

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.82 MX$206

Apples (1kg)

$3.01 MX$52.4

Banana (1kg)

$1.81 MX$31.54

Oranges (1kg)

$2.00 MX$34.81

Tomato (1kg)

$2.00 MX$34.74

Potato (1kg)

$2.08 MX$36.30

Onion (1kg)

$2.27 MX$39.56

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.46 MX$25.36

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 MX$18.74

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.35 MX$75.7

$10.72 FOK 70.0

-59.42%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.99 MX$296

$12.02 FOK 78.5

41.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.73 MX$30.18

$2.38 FOK 15.55

-27.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.58 MX$62.3

$1.91 FOK 12.48

87.43%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.39 MX$6.74

$4.60 FOK 30.05

-91.52%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.69 MX$325

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.33 MX$23.08

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.28 MX$4.87

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.25 MX$91.5

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 MX$23.27

$2.03 FOK 13.27

-33.99%

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

$19.4K MX$338.0K

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

$23.8K MX$415.0K

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

$40.69 MX$709

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

$26.87 MX$468

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.51 MX$531

$61.4 FOK 401

-50.27%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.8 MX$919

$39.51 FOK 258

33.59%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.65 MX$464

Cinema Ticket

$6.51 MX$113

$15.47 FOK 101

-57.92%

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

$428 MX$7,454

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.5K MX$182.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.3 MX$997

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.50 MX$792

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$104 MX$1,812

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 MX$1,878

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,003 MX$17.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$623 MX$10.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,109 MX$36.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,218 MX$21.2K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,885 MX$67.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,033 MX$35.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,038 MX$18.1K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.34

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

Last update for Mexico City: July 13, 2026

Last update for Sumba: July 11, 2026

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 Sumba: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mexico City and Sumba differ by about 569% in total monthly costs ($1,456 vs $218 including rent). Sumba is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $2,185 in Mexico City and $327 in Sumba 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.

Supermarket bills run roughly 361% higher in Mexico City. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,456 per month in Mexico City versus $218 in Sumba – a 569% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $218 in Sumba versus $1,456 in Mexico City, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Sumba but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Sumba 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 Sumba 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 Sumba gentler on the wallet – expenses run 569% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.