😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,447 in Mexico City versus $986 in Taguig City.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,310 in Mexico City versus $1,578 in Taguig City.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,174 in Mexico City versus $2,169 in Taguig City.
😐Living in Mexico City is roughly 47% more expensive than Taguig City, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 8% above, Taguig City is 27% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Taguig City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.98MX$223
$4.33₱263
199.77%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$52.6MX$903
$26.09₱1,584
101.65%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.43MX$162
$3.50₱213
169.43%
Cappuccino
$3.57MX$61.3
$2.62₱159
36.26%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.61MX$27.55
$0.86₱52.3
87.21%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.15MX$19.81
$0.45₱27.33
155.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.15MX$54.0
$1.47₱89.5
114.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.86MX$83.4
$2.64₱160
84.09%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Taguig City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.70MX$29.17
$1.88₱114
-9.57%
White Bread(500g)
$2.64MX$45.23
$1.39₱84.5
89.93%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.90MX$32.67
$1.09₱66.1
74.31%
Eggs
$2.54MX$43.62
$2.10₱128
20.95%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.08MX$173
$9.41₱571
7.12%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.29MX$142
$5.03₱306
64.81%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.57MX$199
$8.65₱525
33.76%
Apples(1kg)
$3.03MX$52.0
$2.68₱163
13.06%
Banana(1kg)
$1.71MX$29.35
$1.78₱108
-3.93%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.05MX$35.16
$3.21₱195
-36.14%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.06MX$35.36
$1.16₱70.5
77.59%
Potato(1kg)
$2.06MX$35.43
$1.88₱114
9.57%
Onion(1kg)
$2.17MX$37.25
$3.07₱186
-29.32%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.40MX$24.08
$1.79₱109
-21.79%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.12MX$19.26
$0.78₱47.13
43.59%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.29MX$73.7
$3.35₱204
28.06%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.41MX$265
$9.20₱558
67.50%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.67MX$28.74
$1.35₱82.0
23.70%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.69MX$63.3
$2.35₱143
57.02%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Taguig City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38MX$6.55
$0.22₱13.33
72.73%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.06MX$327
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.38MX$23.70
$0.85₱51.6
62.35%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28MX$4.74
$0.24₱14.65
16.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.42MX$92.9
$2.17₱132
149.77%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.28MX$21.98
$1.15₱70.1
11.30%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.0KMX$325.8K
$26.3K₱1.6M
-27.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.5KMX$402.7K
$20.0K₱1.2M
17.41%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Taguig City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$41.02MX$704
$126₱7,676
-67.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.92MX$462
$32.83₱1,994
-18.00%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.69MX$510
$26.27₱1,595
13.02%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Taguig City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.3MX$898
$42.82₱2,600
22.21%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.23MX$450
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.18MX$106
$6.75₱410
-8.44%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Taguig City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$427MX$7,331
$152₱9,217
181.36%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.7KMX$183.6K
$11.6K₱703.9K
-7.72%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Taguig City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.8MX$975
$45.61₱2,769
24.58%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.83MX$769
$33.81₱2,053
32.59%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$105MX$1,794
$68.0₱4,129
53.74%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106MX$1,819
$47.04₱2,856
125.23%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Taguig City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$995MX$17.1K
$585₱35.5K
70.08%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$621MX$10.7K
$316₱19.2K
96.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,126MX$36.5K
$1,955₱118.7K
8.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,254MX$21.5K
$811₱49.3K
54.49%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,903MX$67.0K
$4,044₱245.5K
-3.49%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,096MX$36.0K
$1,390₱84.4K
50.78%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Taguig City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,107MX$19.0K
$484₱29.4K
128.86%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
6.17
83.79%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: June 7, 2026
Last update for Taguig City: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $995 in Mexico City and $585 in Taguig City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 129% 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: $53.0 in Mexico City vs $26.00 in Taguig City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $288 vs $226 per month, with Taguig City 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 Taguig City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and Taguig City?
Mexico City and Taguig City differ by about 47% in total monthly costs ($1,447 vs $986 including rent). Taguig City is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Mexico City or Taguig City?
Mexico City pays 129% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Mexico City and Taguig City?
Rent for a central apartment: $995 in Mexico City versus $585 in Taguig City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Mexico City and Taguig City?
Childcare runs $427 in Mexico City versus $152 in Taguig City. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Taguig City – a meal for two runs $26.00 versus $53.0 in Mexico City. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $986 in Taguig City versus $1,447 in Mexico City, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Taguig City but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Taguig City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mexico City and Taguig City?
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.
Is Mexico City or Taguig City safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Mexico City and Taguig City are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Mexico City or Taguig City?
Expats usually find Taguig City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 47% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Mexico City vs other spots: cost of living compared