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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,660 in Mexico City versus $1,294 in Villahermosa.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,565 in Mexico City versus $2,199 in Villahermosa.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,470 in Mexico City versus $3,105 in Villahermosa.

Living in Mexico City is roughly 28% more expensive than in Villahermosa, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 21% above, Villahermosa is 5% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Villahermosa
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.92 MX$206
$11.71 MX$202
1.79%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$51.6 MX$890
$37.70 MX$650
36.87%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.41 MX$197
$11.77 MX$203
-3.06%
Cappuccino
$3.99 MX$68.9
$3.53 MX$60.9
13.03%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66 MX$28.61
$1.33 MX$22.90
24.81%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.33 MX$22.87
$1.29 MX$22.28
3.10%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.47 MX$59.9
$3.08 MX$53.1
12.66%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.90 MX$102
$5.70 MX$98.4
3.51%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Villahermosa
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.88 MX$32.36
$1.81 MX$31.22
3.87%
White Bread (500g)
$3.25 MX$56.1
$1.93 MX$33.20
68.39%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.16 MX$37.26
$1.49 MX$25.68
44.97%
Eggs
$2.90 MX$49.94
$2.04 MX$35.16
42.16%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.86 MX$222
$9.43 MX$163
36.37%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.05 MX$173
$11.56 MX$199
-13.06%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.86 MX$273
$14.66 MX$253
8.19%
Apples (1kg)
$3.29 MX$56.8
$3.73 MX$64.3
-11.80%
Banana (1kg)
$2.01 MX$34.60
$1.44 MX$24.86
39.58%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.20 MX$37.93
$1.80 MX$30.98
22.22%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.36 MX$40.63
$1.34 MX$23.16
76.12%
Potato (1kg)
$2.05 MX$35.43
$1.73 MX$29.81
18.50%
Onion (1kg)
$1.90 MX$32.79
$1.49 MX$25.74
27.52%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.61 MX$27.68
$1.49 MX$25.67
8.05%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.40 MX$24.09
$1.36 MX$23.43
2.94%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.46 MX$94.2
$7.08 MX$122
-22.88%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.65 MX$304
$10.02 MX$173
76.15%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.06 MX$35.44
$2.94 MX$50.6
-29.93%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.68 MX$80.8
$7.19 MX$124
-34.91%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Villahermosa
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.34 MX$5.84
$0.61 MX$10.49
-44.26%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$20.81 MX$359
$25.25 MX$435
-17.58%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.10 MX$36.15
$2.28 MX$39.25
-7.89%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.56 MX$9.64
$2.29 MX$39.42
-75.55%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.81 MX$100
$11.72 MX$202
-50.43%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.61 MX$27.68
$1.51 MX$26.03
6.62%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.8K MX$393.8K
$24.6K MX$423.6K
-7.02%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8K MX$461.2K
$27.9K MX$480.7K
-4.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Villahermosa
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$65.2 MX$1,124
$65.8 MX$1,135
-1.00%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.09 MX$519
$31.56 MX$544
-4.66%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.18 MX$641
$34.57 MX$596
7.55%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Villahermosa
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$59.8 MX$1,030
$55.4 MX$955
7.83%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.55 MX$458
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.04 MX$121
$4.72 MX$81.4
49.15%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Villahermosa
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$465 MX$8,012
$333 MX$5,742
39.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13.3K MX$228.9K
$4,677 MX$80.6K
183.82%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Villahermosa
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$75.9 MX$1,308
$68.2 MX$1,175
11.34%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$56.0 MX$965
-
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$112 MX$1,929
$82.1 MX$1,415
36.33%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121 MX$2,078
$64.9 MX$1,119
85.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Villahermosa
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,103 MX$19.0K
$517 MX$8,906
113.45%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$721 MX$12.4K
$471 MX$8,125
52.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,530 MX$43.6K
$1,694 MX$29.2K
49.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,293 MX$22.3K
$1,256 MX$21.6K
3.02%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,991 MX$68.8K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,090 MX$36.0K
$1,296 MX$22.3K
61.21%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Villahermosa
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,037 MX$17.9K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.3
0
-

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

Last update for Mexico City: September 14, 2026

Last update for Villahermosa: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,103 in Mexico City and $517 in Villahermosa. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $52.0 in Mexico City vs $38.00 in Villahermosa for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $345 vs $302 per month, with Villahermosa 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 Villahermosa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and in Villahermosa?
Mexico City and Villahermosa differ by about 28% in total monthly costs ($1,660 vs $1,294 including rent). Villahermosa 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 Villahermosa?
You'd need roughly $2,489 in Mexico City and $1,942 in Villahermosa 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 in Villahermosa?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,103 in Mexico City versus $517 in Villahermosa. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Mexico City and in Villahermosa?
A monthly transit pass in Villahermosa runs roughly 21% 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 Villahermosa?
Childcare runs $465 in Mexico City versus $333 in Villahermosa. 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 $1,294 in Villahermosa versus $1,660 in Mexico City, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Villahermosa but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Villahermosa the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mexico City and Villahermosa?
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 Villahermosa?
Expats usually find Villahermosa gentler on the wallet – expenses run 28% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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