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: $1,484 in Mexico City versus $350 in Tacna.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,381 in Mexico City versus $458 in Tacna.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,278 in Mexico City versus $567 in Tacna.

Living in Mexico City is roughly 324% more expensive than Tacna, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 11% above, Tacna is 74% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.98 MX$227

$1.88 PEN 6.63

590.43%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.1 MX$929

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.72 MX$170

Cappuccino

$3.75 MX$65.6

$2.57 PEN 9.06

45.91%

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

$1.57 MX$27.46

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.13 MX$19.76

$0.27 PEN 0.94

318.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.18 MX$55.7

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.66 MX$81.6

Milk (1 liter)

$1.62 MX$28.37

$0.87 PEN 3.07

86.21%

White Bread (500g)

$2.71 MX$47.36

$1.36 PEN 4.80

99.26%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.88 MX$32.89

$0.91 PEN 3.20

106.59%

Eggs

$2.51 MX$43.90

$1.36 PEN 4.80

84.56%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.08 MX$176

$4.07 PEN 14.33

147.67%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.29 MX$145

$3.59 PEN 12.65

130.92%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.94 MX$209

$8.55 PEN 30.10

39.65%

Apples (1kg)

$2.86 MX$50.1

Banana (1kg)

$1.75 MX$30.62

Oranges (1kg)

$2.08 MX$36.48

Tomato (1kg)

$1.97 MX$34.46

Potato (1kg)

$2.16 MX$37.79

$0.53 PEN 1.88

307.55%

Onion (1kg)

$2.18 MX$38.16

$0.44 PEN 1.54

395.45%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.39 MX$24.34

$0.27 PEN 0.94

414.81%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.12 MX$19.69

$0.71 PEN 2.48

57.75%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.20 MX$73.5

$4.14 PEN 14.58

1.45%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.25 MX$249

$6.13 PEN 21.59

132.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 MX$30.85

$2.43 PEN 8.55

-27.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.68 MX$64.5

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.39 MX$6.74

$0.27 PEN 0.95

44.44%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.66 MX$327

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.39 MX$24.26

$1.43 PEN 5.03

-2.80%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.30 MX$5.32

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.42 MX$94.9

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.35 MX$23.63

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

$18.9K MX$330.5K

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

$23.2K MX$405.2K

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

$40.82 MX$714

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

$27.50 MX$481

$19.53 PEN 68.7

40.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.38 MX$532

$24.59 PEN 86.6

23.55%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$53.4 MX$935

$28.76 PEN 101

85.78%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.30 MX$460

Cinema Ticket

$6.27 MX$110

$2.53 PEN 8.89

147.83%

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

$436 MX$7,632

$54.5 PEN 192

699.61%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.5K MX$183.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.8 MX$993

$19.58 PEN 68.9

189.89%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.79 MX$784

$19.48 PEN 68.6

129.93%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 MX$1,799

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 MX$1,888

$24.75 PEN 87.1

335.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,000 MX$17.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$620 MX$10.9K

$67.2 PEN 237

823.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,137 MX$37.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,235 MX$21.6K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,865 MX$67.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,332 MX$40.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,067 MX$18.7K

$455 PEN 1,601

134.60%

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Tacna: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Mexico City pays 135% 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 324% in total monthly costs ($1,484 vs $350 including rent). Tacna is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Mexico City pays 135% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Childcare runs $436 in Mexico City versus $54.5 in Tacna. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

All in, you'll spend $1,484 per month in Mexico City versus $350 in Tacna – a 324% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $350 in Tacna versus $1,484 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 324% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.