😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,447 in Mexico City versus $586 in Villanueva.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,310 in Mexico City versus $958 in Villanueva.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,174 in Mexico City versus $1,330 in Villanueva.
😐Living in Mexico City is roughly 147% more expensive than Villanueva, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 8% above, Villanueva is 56% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Villanueva
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.98MX$227
$5.91HNL 158
119.63%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$52.6MX$919
$36.96HNL 985
42.34%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.43MX$165
$7.45HNL 199
26.58%
Cappuccino
$3.57MX$62.4
$2.33HNL 62.1
53.22%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.61MX$28.04
$1.03HNL 27.42
56.31%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.15MX$20.16
$1.12HNL 29.87
2.68%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.15MX$55.0
$1.17HNL 31.16
169.23%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.86MX$84.9
$2.63HNL 70.1
84.79%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Villanueva
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.70MX$29.69
$1.38HNL 36.81
23.19%
White Bread(500g)
$2.64MX$46.03
$2.06HNL 55.0
28.16%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.90MX$33.25
$1.21HNL 32.38
57.02%
Eggs
$2.54MX$44.39
$2.12HNL 56.6
19.81%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.08MX$176
$6.19HNL 165
62.84%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.29MX$145
$3.68HNL 98.2
125.27%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.57MX$202
$8.05HNL 214
43.73%
Apples(1kg)
$3.03MX$52.9
$2.99HNL 79.7
1.34%
Banana(1kg)
$1.71MX$29.87
$1.52HNL 40.42
12.50%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.05MX$35.79
$1.49HNL 39.76
37.58%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.06MX$35.98
$1.58HNL 42.18
30.38%
Potato(1kg)
$2.06MX$36.06
$1.61HNL 42.80
27.95%
Onion(1kg)
$2.17MX$37.91
$1.34HNL 35.72
61.94%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.40MX$24.51
$0.90HNL 23.93
55.56%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.12MX$19.60
$1.72HNL 45.75
-34.88%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.29MX$75.0
$2.45HNL 65.3
75.10%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.41MX$269
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.67MX$29.25
$1.28HNL 34.25
30.47%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.69MX$64.4
$1.86HNL 49.47
98.39%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Villanueva
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38MX$6.67
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.06MX$333
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.38MX$24.12
$4.32HNL 115
-68.06%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28MX$4.83
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.42MX$94.6
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.28MX$22.37
$1.07HNL 28.42
19.63%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.0KMX$331.6K
$19.4KHNL 516.3K
-2.02%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.5KMX$409.8K
$19.0KHNL 507.5K
23.23%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Villanueva
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$41.02MX$717
$80.9HNL 2,157
-49.32%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.92MX$470
$8.82HNL 235
205.22%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.69MX$519
$40.50HNL 1,080
-26.69%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Villanueva
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.3MX$914
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.23MX$458
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.18MX$108
$5.60HNL 149
10.36%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Villanueva
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$427MX$7,461
$253HNL 6,757
68.49%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.7KMX$186.9K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Villanueva
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.8MX$993
$45.33HNL 1,208
25.35%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.83MX$783
$35.17HNL 937
27.47%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$105MX$1,826
$110HNL 2,935
-5.08%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106MX$1,851
$103HNL 2,744
2.91%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Villanueva
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$995MX$17.4K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$621MX$10.9K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,126MX$37.1K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,254MX$21.9K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,903MX$68.2K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,096MX$36.6K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Villanueva
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,107MX$19.3K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
12
-5.50%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: June 7, 2026
Last update for Villanueva: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $53.0 in Mexico City vs $37.00 in Villanueva for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $288 vs $189 per month, with Villanueva 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 Villanueva: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and Villanueva?
Mexico City and Villanueva differ by about 147% in total monthly costs ($1,447 vs $586 including rent). Villanueva 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 Villanueva?
You'd need roughly $2,171 in Mexico City and $880 in Villanueva 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.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Mexico City and Villanueva?
Childcare runs $427 in Mexico City versus $253 in Villanueva. 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 Villanueva – a meal for two runs $37.00 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 $1,000 per month?
At $586 in Villanueva versus $1,447 in Mexico City, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Villanueva but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Villanueva the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mexico City and Villanueva?
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 Villanueva?
Expats usually find Villanueva gentler on the wallet – expenses run 147% 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