😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,467 in Mexico City versus $911 in Ventanas.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,371 in Mexico City versus $1,441 in Ventanas.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,274 in Mexico City versus $1,970 in Ventanas.
😐Living in Mexico City is roughly 61% more expensive than Ventanas, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 10% above, Ventanas is 32% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Ventanas
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.18MX$228
$3.59$3.59
267.13%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.9MX$932
$46.71$46.71
15.39%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.42MX$163
$7.82$7.82
20.46%
Cappuccino
$3.55MX$61.4
$2.51$2.51
41.43%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$27.98
$0.91$0.91
78.02%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.11MX$19.27
$0.61$0.61
81.97%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.12MX$54.0
$2.95$2.95
5.76%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.63MX$80.1
$4.42$4.42
4.75%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Ventanas
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.70MX$29.43
$1.08$1.08
57.41%
White Bread(500g)
$2.72MX$47.02
$1.69$1.69
60.95%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.91MX$33.07
$1.70$1.70
12.35%
Eggs
$2.54MX$43.86
$2.52$2.52
0.79%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.03MX$174
$6.10$6.10
64.43%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.09MX$140
$5.37$5.37
50.65%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.62MX$201
$6.32$6.32
83.86%
Apples(1kg)
$2.97MX$51.3
$2.13$2.13
39.44%
Banana(1kg)
$1.81MX$31.24
$1.05$1.05
72.38%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01MX$34.82
$1.04$1.04
93.27%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03MX$35.20
$1.04$1.04
95.19%
Potato(1kg)
$2.12MX$36.75
$1.87$1.87
13.37%
Onion(1kg)
$2.27MX$39.25
$1.39$1.39
63.31%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.40MX$24.22
$0.69$0.69
102.90%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.13MX$19.55
$1.03$1.03
9.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27MX$73.9
$5.85$5.85
-27.01%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.56MX$269
$12.12$12.12
28.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76MX$30.39
$1.60$1.60
10.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.60MX$62.2
$2.14$2.14
68.22%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Ventanas
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38MX$6.62
$0.36$0.36
5.56%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.18MX$332
$23.65$23.65
-18.90%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.38MX$23.79
$2.69$2.69
-48.70%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28MX$4.78
$0.98$0.98
-71.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.45MX$94.2
$9.96$9.96
-45.28%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.30MX$22.55
$0.68$0.68
91.18%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.7KMX$323.2K
$24.6K$24.6K
-24.10%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.1KMX$400.1K
$29.4K$29.4K
-21.29%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Ventanas
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.86MX$707
$37.29$37.29
9.57%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.81MX$464
$13.74$13.74
95.12%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.96MX$518
$32.37$32.37
-7.45%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Ventanas
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.0MX$900
$29.66$29.66
75.39%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.84MX$464
$14.91$14.91
80.01%
Cinema Ticket
$6.30MX$109
$7.57$7.57
-16.78%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Ventanas
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$436MX$7,544
$309$309
41.29%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.4KMX$180.2K
$5,797$5,797
79.69%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Ventanas
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.7MX$980
$51.8$51.8
9.32%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.38MX$768
$43.07$43.07
3.04%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103MX$1,780
$102$102
0.42%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106MX$1,825
$110$110
-4.38%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Ventanas
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,022MX$17.7K
$339$339
201.30%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$631MX$10.9K
$311$311
102.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,136MX$36.9K
$637$637
235.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,243MX$21.5K
$505$505
146.07%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,903MX$67.5K
$1,088$1,088
258.78%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,064MX$35.7K
$865$865
138.67%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Ventanas
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,115MX$19.3K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
9.35
21.28%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: May 31, 2026
Last update for Ventanas: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,022 in Mexico City and $339 in Ventanas. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $54.0 in Mexico City vs $47.00 in Ventanas for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $288 vs $195 per month, with Ventanas 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 Ventanas: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and Ventanas?
Mexico City and Ventanas differ by about 61% in total monthly costs ($1,467 vs $911 including rent). Ventanas is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Mexico City compared to Ventanas?
You'd need roughly $2,201 in Mexico City and $1,367 in Ventanas to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Mexico City and Ventanas?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,022 in Mexico City versus $339 in Ventanas. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Mexico City and Ventanas?
A monthly transit pass in Ventanas runs roughly 23% 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 Ventanas?
Childcare runs $436 in Mexico City versus $309 in Ventanas. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $911 in Ventanas versus $1,467 in Mexico City, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Ventanas but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Ventanas the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mexico City and Ventanas?
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 Ventanas?
Expats usually find Ventanas gentler on the wallet – expenses run 61% 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