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: $1,660 in Mexico City versus $1,113 in Temuco.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,565 in Mexico City versus $1,656 in Temuco.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,470 in Mexico City versus $2,199 in Temuco.

Living in Mexico City is roughly 49% more expensive than in Temuco, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 21% above, Temuco is 19% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.92 MX$206

$7.66 CLP 7,309

55.61%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$51.6 MX$890

$31.48 CLP 30.0K

63.91%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.41 MX$197

$7.14 CLP 6,817

59.80%

Cappuccino

$3.99 MX$68.9

$3.87 CLP 3,693

3.10%

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

$1.66 MX$28.61

$2.25 CLP 2,143

-26.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.33 MX$22.87

$1.15 CLP 1,093

15.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.47 MX$59.9

$3.72 CLP 3,553

-6.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.90 MX$102

$3.35 CLP 3,199

76.12%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.88 MX$32.36

$1.18 CLP 1,121

59.32%

White Bread (500g)

$3.25 MX$56.1

$1.43 CLP 1,366

127.27%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.16 MX$37.26

$1.33 CLP 1,265

62.41%

Eggs

$2.90 MX$49.94

$3.48 CLP 3,317

-16.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.86 MX$222

$9.25 CLP 8,828

39.03%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.05 MX$173

$6.05 CLP 5,774

66.12%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.86 MX$273

$11.72 CLP 11.2K

35.32%

Apples (1kg)

$3.29 MX$56.8

$1.87 CLP 1,781

75.94%

Banana (1kg)

$2.01 MX$34.60

$2.06 CLP 1,965

-2.43%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.20 MX$37.93

$2.03 CLP 1,939

8.37%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.36 MX$40.63

$2.24 CLP 2,141

5.36%

Potato (1kg)

$2.05 MX$35.43

$2.40 CLP 2,291

-14.58%

Onion (1kg)

$1.90 MX$32.79

$2.64 CLP 2,519

-28.03%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.61 MX$27.68

$1.88 CLP 1,792

-14.36%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.40 MX$24.09

$1.21 CLP 1,154

15.70%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.46 MX$94.2

$4.76 CLP 4,545

14.71%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.65 MX$304

$4.89 CLP 4,665

260.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.06 MX$35.44

$1.56 CLP 1,493

32.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.68 MX$80.8

$2.17 CLP 2,072

115.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.34 MX$5.84

$0.90 CLP 861

-62.22%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.81 MX$359

$34.55 CLP 33.0K

-39.77%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.10 MX$36.15

$0.87 CLP 828

141.38%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.56 MX$9.64

$1.53 CLP 1,463

-63.40%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.81 MX$100

$9.48 CLP 9,047

-38.71%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.61 MX$27.68

$1.36 CLP 1,296

18.38%

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

$22.8K MX$393.8K

$12.5K CLP 12.0M

82.16%

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

$26.8K MX$461.2K

$17.7K CLP 16.9M

50.88%

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

$65.2 MX$1,124

$140 CLP 133.2K

-53.31%

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

$30.09 MX$519

$11.45 CLP 10.9K

162.79%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$37.18 MX$641

$23.22 CLP 22.2K

60.12%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$59.8 MX$1,030

$48.19 CLP 46.0K

24.01%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.55 MX$458

$46.11 CLP 44.0K

-42.42%

Cinema Ticket

$7.04 MX$121

$4.79 CLP 4,568

46.97%

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

$465 MX$8,012

$218 CLP 207.8K

113.40%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.3K MX$228.9K

$2,845 CLP 2.7M

366.62%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$75.9 MX$1,308

$44.53 CLP 42.5K

70.40%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$56.0 MX$965

$18.01 CLP 17.2K

210.66%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$112 MX$1,929

$65.5 CLP 62.5K

70.69%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$121 MX$2,078

$84.3 CLP 80.4K

43.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,103 MX$19.0K

$400 CLP 382.0K

175.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$721 MX$12.4K

$332 CLP 316.7K

117.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,530 MX$43.6K

$733 CLP 699.7K

245.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,293 MX$22.3K

$522 CLP 498.2K

147.76%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,991 MX$68.8K

$2,064 CLP 2.0M

93.34%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,090 MX$36.0K

$1,696 CLP 1.6M

23.22%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,037 MX$17.9K

$542 CLP 516.8K

91.52%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.3

4.8

135.42%

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

Last update for Mexico City: September 14, 2026

Last update for Temuco: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,103 in Mexico City and $400 in Temuco. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Mexico City pays 92% 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: $52.0 in Mexico City vs $31.00 in Temuco for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $345 vs $236 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

Mexico City and Temuco differ by about 49% in total monthly costs ($1,660 vs $1,113 including rent). Temuco is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 92% 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,103 in Mexico City versus $400 in Temuco. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Temuco runs roughly 66% less than in Mexico City. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $465 in Mexico City versus $218 in Temuco. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $1,113 in Temuco versus $1,660 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.

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.

Expats usually find Temuco gentler on the wallet – expenses run 49% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.