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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,447 in Mexico City versus $1,189 in Temuco.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,310 in Mexico City versus $1,758 in Temuco.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,174 in Mexico City versus $2,327 in Temuco.

Living in Mexico City is roughly 22% more expensive than Temuco, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 8% above, Temuco is 12% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Temuco
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.98 MX$223
$7.22 CLP 6,486
79.78%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$52.6 MX$903
$32.40 CLP 29.1K
62.38%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.43 MX$162
$7.53 CLP 6,764
25.23%
Cappuccino
$3.57 MX$61.3
$3.93 CLP 3,535
-9.16%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.61 MX$27.55
$2.29 CLP 2,055
-29.69%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.15 MX$19.81
$1.27 CLP 1,144
-9.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.15 MX$54.0
$3.69 CLP 3,319
-14.63%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.86 MX$83.4
$3.43 CLP 3,080
41.69%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Temuco
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.70 MX$29.17
$1.19 CLP 1,067
42.86%
White Bread (500g)
$2.64 MX$45.23
$1.47 CLP 1,324
79.59%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.90 MX$32.67
$1.30 CLP 1,173
46.15%
Eggs
$2.54 MX$43.62
$3.40 CLP 3,053
-25.29%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.08 MX$173
$9.49 CLP 8,526
6.22%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.29 MX$142
$6.33 CLP 5,686
30.96%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.57 MX$199
$12.04 CLP 10.8K
-3.90%
Apples (1kg)
$3.03 MX$52.0
$1.89 CLP 1,700
60.32%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 MX$29.35
$2.07 CLP 1,860
-17.39%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.05 MX$35.16
$2.21 CLP 1,988
-7.24%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.06 MX$35.36
$2.28 CLP 2,052
-9.65%
Potato (1kg)
$2.06 MX$35.43
$2.46 CLP 2,209
-16.26%
Onion (1kg)
$2.17 MX$37.25
$2.60 CLP 2,333
-16.54%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.40 MX$24.08
$1.96 CLP 1,759
-28.57%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.12 MX$19.26
$1.23 CLP 1,107
-8.94%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.29 MX$73.7
$4.77 CLP 4,291
-10.06%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.41 MX$265
$5.09 CLP 4,572
202.75%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.67 MX$28.74
$1.57 CLP 1,412
6.37%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.69 MX$63.3
$2.15 CLP 1,935
71.63%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Temuco
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.38 MX$6.55
$0.88 CLP 788
-56.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$19.06 MX$327
$35.47 CLP 31.9K
-46.26%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.38 MX$23.70
$0.84 CLP 754
64.29%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.28 MX$4.74
$1.56 CLP 1,399
-82.05%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.42 MX$92.9
$9.58 CLP 8,607
-43.42%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.28 MX$21.98
$1.42 CLP 1,274
-9.86%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.0K MX$325.8K
$13.0K CLP 11.7M
46.34%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.5K MX$402.7K
$18.1K CLP 16.2M
29.84%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Temuco
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$41.02 MX$704
$219 CLP 196.6K
-81.25%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.92 MX$462
$11.78 CLP 10.6K
128.52%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.69 MX$510
$14.90 CLP 13.4K
99.26%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Temuco
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.3 MX$898
$50.6 CLP 45.5K
3.34%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.23 MX$450
$47.64 CLP 42.8K
-44.94%
Cinema Ticket
$6.18 MX$106
$4.72 CLP 4,238
30.93%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Temuco
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$427 MX$7,331
$227 CLP 204.4K
87.82%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.7K MX$183.6K
$2,864 CLP 2.6M
273.52%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Temuco
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.8 MX$975
$47.54 CLP 42.7K
19.52%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.83 MX$769
$18.02 CLP 16.2K
148.78%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$105 MX$1,794
$68.1 CLP 61.2K
53.49%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106 MX$1,819
$89.1 CLP 80.1K
18.90%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Temuco
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$995 MX$17.1K
$417 CLP 375.2K
138.27%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$621 MX$10.7K
$344 CLP 309.2K
80.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,126 MX$36.5K
$735 CLP 660.1K
189.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,254 MX$21.5K
$538 CLP 483.2K
133.16%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,903 MX$67.0K
$2,082 CLP 1.9M
87.47%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,096 MX$36.0K
$1,780 CLP 1.6M
17.70%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Temuco
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,107 MX$19.0K
$555 CLP 498.8K
99.49%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.34
4.8
136.25%

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

Last update for Mexico City: June 7, 2026

Last update for Temuco: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $995 in Mexico City and $417 in Temuco. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Mexico City pays 99% 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 $32.00 in Temuco for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $288 vs $241 per month, with Temuco 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 Temuco: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and Temuco?
Mexico City and Temuco differ by about 22% in total monthly costs ($1,447 vs $1,189 including rent). Temuco is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Mexico City or Temuco?
Mexico City pays 99% 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 Temuco?
Rent for a central apartment: $995 in Mexico City versus $417 in Temuco. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Mexico City and Temuco?
A monthly transit pass in Temuco runs roughly 86% less than in Mexico City. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Mexico City and Temuco?
Childcare runs $427 in Mexico City versus $227 in Temuco. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,189 in Temuco versus $1,447 in Mexico City, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Temuco but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Temuco the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mexico City and Temuco?
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.
Where should expats move: Mexico City or Temuco?
Expats usually find Temuco gentler on the wallet – expenses run 22% 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

Similar cities