😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,467 in Mexico City versus $608 in Villavicencio.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,371 in Mexico City versus $1,034 in Villavicencio.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,274 in Mexico City versus $1,459 in Villavicencio.
😐Living in Mexico City is roughly 141% more expensive than Villavicencio, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 10% above, Villavicencio is 55% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Villavicencio
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.18MX$228
$2.94COP 10.5K
348.30%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.9MX$932
$21.86COP 78.1K
146.57%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.42MX$163
$5.95COP 21.2K
58.32%
Cappuccino
$3.55MX$61.4
$1.22COP 4,373
190.98%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$27.98
$0.82COP 2,940
97.56%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.11MX$19.27
$0.58COP 2,054
91.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.12MX$54.0
$1.06COP 3,795
194.34%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.63MX$80.1
$1.68COP 5,984
175.60%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Villavicencio
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.70MX$29.43
$1.01COP 3,624
68.32%
White Bread(500g)
$2.72MX$47.02
$1.21COP 4,304
124.79%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.91MX$33.07
$0.91COP 3,262
109.89%
Eggs
$2.54MX$43.86
$1.98COP 7,081
28.28%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.03MX$174
$4.79COP 17.1K
109.39%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.09MX$140
$5.02COP 17.9K
61.16%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.62MX$201
$7.29COP 26.0K
59.40%
Apples(1kg)
$2.97MX$51.3
$2.46COP 8,793
20.73%
Banana(1kg)
$1.81MX$31.24
$0.80COP 2,853
126.25%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01MX$34.82
$1.31COP 4,695
53.44%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03MX$35.20
$1.28COP 4,576
58.59%
Potato(1kg)
$2.12MX$36.75
$1.11COP 3,978
90.99%
Onion(1kg)
$2.27MX$39.25
$1.12COP 3,988
102.68%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.40MX$24.22
$0.70COP 2,490
100.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.13MX$19.55
$0.68COP 2,425
66.18%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27MX$73.9
$2.41COP 8,601
77.18%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.56MX$269
$10.64COP 38.0K
46.24%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76MX$30.39
$0.88COP 3,126
100.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.60MX$62.2
$1.57COP 5,603
129.30%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Villavicencio
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38MX$6.62
$0.62COP 2,217
-38.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.18MX$332
$9.40COP 33.6K
104.04%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.38MX$23.79
$1.44COP 5,141
-4.17%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28MX$4.78
$1.37COP 4,909
-79.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.45MX$94.2
$6.21COP 22.2K
-12.24%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.30MX$22.55
$0.98COP 3,515
32.65%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.7KMX$323.2K
$12.3KCOP 43.9M
52.17%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.1KMX$400.1K
$16.8KCOP 60.1M
37.43%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Villavicencio
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.86MX$707
$32.67COP 116.7K
25.07%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.81MX$464
$10.93COP 39.0K
145.29%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.96MX$518
$23.09COP 82.5K
29.75%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Villavicencio
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.0MX$900
$24.95COP 89.1K
108.50%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.84MX$464
$17.21COP 61.5K
55.96%
Cinema Ticket
$6.30MX$109
$3.64COP 13.0K
73.08%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Villavicencio
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$436MX$7,544
$242COP 862.9K
80.49%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.4KMX$180.2K
$8,460COP 30.2M
23.13%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Villavicencio
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.7MX$980
$55.2COP 197.0K
2.72%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.38MX$768
$32.12COP 114.7K
38.17%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103MX$1,780
$71.0COP 253.6K
44.92%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106MX$1,825
$67.1COP 239.7K
57.19%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Villavicencio
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,022MX$17.7K
$148COP 527.2K
592.27%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$631MX$10.9K
$139COP 495.0K
355.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,136MX$36.9K
$412COP 1.5M
418.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,243MX$21.5K
$382COP 1.4M
225.74%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,903MX$67.5K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,064MX$35.7K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Villavicencio
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,115MX$19.3K
$378COP 1.3M
195.00%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
12.93
-12.30%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: May 31, 2026
Last update for Villavicencio: May 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,022 in Mexico City and $148 in Villavicencio. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 195% 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: $54.0 in Mexico City vs $22.00 in Villavicencio for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $288 vs $169 per month, with Villavicencio 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 Villavicencio: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and Villavicencio?
Mexico City and Villavicencio differ by about 141% in total monthly costs ($1,467 vs $608 including rent). Villavicencio is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Mexico City or Villavicencio?
Mexico City pays 195% 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 Villavicencio?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,022 in Mexico City versus $148 in Villavicencio. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Mexico City and Villavicencio?
A monthly transit pass in Villavicencio runs roughly 104% 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 Villavicencio?
Childcare runs $436 in Mexico City versus $242 in Villavicencio. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $608 in Villavicencio versus $1,467 in Mexico City, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Villavicencio but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Villavicencio the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mexico City and Villavicencio?
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 Villavicencio?
Expats usually find Villavicencio gentler on the wallet – expenses run 141% 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