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: $1,677 in Mexico City versus $449 in Tacna.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,608 in Mexico City versus $639 in Tacna.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,540 in Mexico City versus $830 in Tacna.

Living in Mexico City is roughly 274% more expensive than in Tacna, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 22% above, Tacna is 67% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.14 MX$206

$2.93 PEN 9.81

314.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.9 MX$916

$15.13 PEN 50.7

256.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.09 MX$188

$5.12 PEN 17.17

116.60%

Cappuccino

$4.10 MX$69.6

$3.64 PEN 12.19

12.64%

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

$1.68 MX$28.57

$1.16 PEN 3.90

44.83%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.39 MX$23.58

$0.47 PEN 1.56

195.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.33 MX$56.6

$2.95 PEN 9.88

12.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.88 MX$99.9

$3.48 PEN 11.68

68.97%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.85 MX$31.45

$1.22 PEN 4.08

51.64%

White Bread (500g)

$3.17 MX$53.9

$1.51 PEN 5.05

109.93%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.07 MX$35.18

$0.87 PEN 2.90

137.93%

Eggs

$2.93 MX$49.74

$1.76 PEN 5.91

66.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.59 MX$214

$4.45 PEN 14.92

182.92%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.11 MX$172

$4.68 PEN 15.68

116.03%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.09 MX$273

$8.93 PEN 29.92

80.18%

Apples (1kg)

$3.39 MX$57.6

Banana (1kg)

$2.08 MX$35.31

$1.50 PEN 5.04

38.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.12 MX$36.02

$0.86 PEN 2.88

146.51%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.41 MX$41.01

Potato (1kg)

$2.13 MX$36.17

$0.72 PEN 2.42

195.83%

Onion (1kg)

$2.01 MX$34.07

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.55 MX$26.25

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.36 MX$23.19

$0.72 PEN 2.41

88.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.77 MX$98.0

$4.60 PEN 15.41

25.43%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.74 MX$301

$6.46 PEN 21.66

174.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.07 MX$35.16

$2.67 PEN 8.93

-22.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.61 MX$78.4

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.37 MX$6.21

$0.29 PEN 0.96

27.59%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.18 MX$360

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.05 MX$34.89

$1.91 PEN 6.39

7.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 MX$9.80

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.07 MX$103

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.55 MX$26.38

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

$22.9K MX$388.6K

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

$27.2K MX$462.7K

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

$67.4 MX$1,145

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

$30.62 MX$520

$19.30 PEN 64.7

58.65%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$37.24 MX$633

$26.91 PEN 90.2

38.39%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.5 MX$1,044

$30.30 PEN 102

102.84%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.12 MX$461

Cinema Ticket

$7.11 MX$121

$2.65 PEN 8.87

168.30%

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

$456 MX$7,750

$60.2 PEN 202

657.43%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.7K MX$232.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$74.2 MX$1,260

$20.47 PEN 68.6

262.43%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$57.0 MX$969

$20.46 PEN 68.6

178.64%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 MX$1,961

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 MX$2,064

$26.72 PEN 89.6

354.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,148 MX$19.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$709 MX$12.1K

$71.6 PEN 240

890.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,577 MX$43.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,295 MX$22.0K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,005 MX$68.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,130 MX$36.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,082 MX$18.4K

$477 PEN 1,600

126.73%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.3

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

Last update for Mexico City: September 6, 2026

Last update for Tacna: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Mexico City pays 127% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $54.0 in Mexico City vs $15.00 in Tacna for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $345 vs $151 per month, with Tacna cheaper across the board.

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 274% in total monthly costs ($1,677 vs $449 including rent). Tacna is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 127% 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 $456 in Mexico City versus $60.2 in Tacna. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Tacna – a meal for two runs $15.00 versus $54.0 in Mexico City. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $449 in Tacna versus $1,677 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 274% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.