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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,472 in Mexico City versus $353 in Tacna.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,359 in Mexico City versus $465 in Tacna.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,245 in Mexico City versus $577 in Tacna.

Living in Mexico City is roughly 317% more expensive than in Tacna, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 11% above, Tacna is 73% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.14 MX$229

$1.89 PEN 6.42

595.24%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.5 MX$934

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.33 MX$163

Cappuccino

$3.70 MX$64.5

$2.48 PEN 8.44

49.19%

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

$1.60 MX$27.98

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.12 MX$19.49

$0.29 PEN 0.99

286.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.14 MX$54.7

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.85 MX$84.5

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 MX$28.84

$0.92 PEN 3.12

79.35%

White Bread (500g)

$2.71 MX$47.34

$1.38 PEN 4.69

96.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.91 MX$33.29

$0.87 PEN 2.95

119.54%

Eggs

$2.59 MX$45.17

$1.41 PEN 4.81

83.69%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.81 MX$171

$4.19 PEN 14.25

134.13%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.43 MX$147

$3.55 PEN 12.07

137.46%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.93 MX$208

$8.36 PEN 28.41

42.70%

Apples (1kg)

$2.95 MX$51.5

Banana (1kg)

$1.74 MX$30.35

Oranges (1kg)

$2.04 MX$35.66

Tomato (1kg)

$2.06 MX$35.93

Potato (1kg)

$2.15 MX$37.49

$0.54 PEN 1.84

298.15%

Onion (1kg)

$2.26 MX$39.33

$0.44 PEN 1.50

413.64%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.39 MX$24.17

$0.29 PEN 1.00

379.31%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.12 MX$19.47

$0.72 PEN 2.46

55.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.22 MX$73.6

$4.22 PEN 14.34

Wine (Bottle)

$17.51 MX$305

$6.59 PEN 22.40

165.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 MX$29.82

$2.44 PEN 8.29

-29.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 MX$63.4

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.35 MX$6.15

$0.29 PEN 0.99

20.69%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.32 MX$337

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.38 MX$24.00

$1.37 PEN 4.67

0.73%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.28 MX$4.81

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.28 MX$92.0

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 MX$23.69

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

$19.1K MX$333.2K

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

$23.6K MX$411.7K

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

$40.53 MX$707

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

$27.38 MX$478

$19.64 PEN 66.8

39.41%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.38 MX$530

$24.84 PEN 84.5

22.30%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.2 MX$911

$28.28 PEN 96.2

84.65%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.48 MX$462

Cinema Ticket

$6.19 MX$108

$2.46 PEN 8.37

151.63%

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

$425 MX$7,414

$56.3 PEN 191

655.70%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.7K MX$187.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.3 MX$1,017

$19.09 PEN 64.9

205.45%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.57 MX$777

$19.62 PEN 66.7

127.17%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 MX$1,805

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 MX$1,897

$25.17 PEN 85.6

332.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,014 MX$17.7K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$623 MX$10.9K

$65.8 PEN 224

846.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,119 MX$37.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,223 MX$21.3K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,792 MX$66.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,110 MX$36.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,052 MX$18.4K

$462 PEN 1,570

127.93%

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 25, 2026

Last update for Tacna: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Mexico City pays 128% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

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 Tacna: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mexico City and Tacna differ by about 317% in total monthly costs ($1,472 vs $353 including rent). Tacna is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 128% higher in Mexico City, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Childcare runs $425 in Mexico City versus $56.3 in Tacna. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

All in, you'll spend $1,472 per month in Mexico City versus $353 in Tacna – a 317% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $353 in Tacna versus $1,472 in Mexico City, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Tacna but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Tacna 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 Tacna 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 Tacna gentler on the wallet – expenses run 317% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.