😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,456 in Mexico City versus $612 in Villavicencio.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,361 in Mexico City versus $1,021 in Villavicencio.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,266 in Mexico City versus $1,430 in Villavicencio.
🌍Living in Mexico City is roughly 138% more expensive than in Villavicencio, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 9% above, Villavicencio is 54% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Villavicencio
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.07MX$228
$2.86COP 9,297
356.99%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.8MX$936
$21.52COP 70.1K
149.77%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.68MX$169
$6.16COP 20.1K
57.14%
Cappuccino
$3.74MX$65.1
$1.27COP 4,135
194.49%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$28.13
$0.82COP 2,679
97.56%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.16MX$20.23
$0.61COP 1,991
90.16%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.23MX$56.2
$1.12COP 3,630
188.39%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.74MX$82.5
$1.66COP 5,395
185.54%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Villavicencio
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.65MX$28.68
$1.00COP 3,247
65.00%
White Bread(500g)
$2.75MX$47.95
$1.20COP 3,904
129.17%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.87MX$32.63
$0.90COP 2,935
107.78%
Eggs
$2.50MX$43.54
$1.96COP 6,373
27.55%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.20MX$178
$4.81COP 15.7K
112.06%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.25MX$144
$5.15COP 16.8K
60.19%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.82MX$206
$7.21COP 23.5K
63.94%
Apples(1kg)
$3.01MX$52.4
$2.49COP 8,108
20.88%
Banana(1kg)
$1.81MX$31.54
$0.78COP 2,554
132.05%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.00MX$34.81
$1.36COP 4,433
47.06%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.00MX$34.74
$1.24COP 4,044
61.29%
Potato(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.30
$1.11COP 3,606
87.39%
Onion(1kg)
$2.27MX$39.56
$1.14COP 3,696
99.12%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.46MX$25.36
$0.72COP 2,341
102.78%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08MX$18.74
$0.67COP 2,174
61.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.35MX$75.7
$2.44COP 7,930
78.28%
Wine(Bottle)
$16.99MX$296
$12.11COP 39.4K
40.30%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73MX$30.18
$0.81COP 2,651
113.58%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.58MX$62.3
$1.60COP 5,205
123.75%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Villavicencio
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.39MX$6.74
$0.62COP 2,030
-37.10%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.69MX$325
$9.54COP 31.0K
95.91%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.33MX$23.08
$1.43COP 4,649
-6.99%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28MX$4.87
$1.39COP 4,517
-79.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.25MX$91.5
$6.09COP 19.8K
-13.79%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.34MX$23.27
$1.02COP 3,317
31.37%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.4KMX$338.0K
$12.1KCOP 39.5M
60.09%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.8KMX$415.0K
$17.0KCOP 55.3M
40.35%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Villavicencio
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.69MX$709
$31.70COP 103.2K
28.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.87MX$468
$11.00COP 35.8K
144.27%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.51MX$531
$22.79COP 74.2K
33.87%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Villavicencio
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.8MX$919
$25.61COP 83.4K
106.09%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.65MX$464
$16.87COP 54.9K
57.97%
Cinema Ticket
$6.51MX$113
$3.79COP 12.3K
71.77%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Villavicencio
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$428MX$7,454
$240COP 781.2K
78.38%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.5KMX$182.8K
$8,420COP 27.4M
24.70%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Villavicencio
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.3MX$997
$53.5COP 174.1K
7.05%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.50MX$792
$32.14COP 104.6K
41.57%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104MX$1,812
$71.0COP 231.0K
46.63%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108MX$1,878
$66.3COP 215.8K
62.60%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Villavicencio
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,003MX$17.5K
$145COP 473.0K
590.48%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$623MX$10.8K
$137COP 444.5K
356.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,109MX$36.7K
$405COP 1.3M
420.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,218MX$21.2K
$382COP 1.2M
218.75%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,885MX$67.6K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,033MX$35.4K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Villavicencio
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,038MX$18.1K
$416COP 1.4M
149.51%
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: July 13, 2026
Last update for Villavicencio: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,003 in Mexico City and $145 in Villavicencio. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 150% 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 $292 vs $172 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 in Villavicencio?
Mexico City and Villavicencio differ by about 138% in total monthly costs ($1,456 vs $612 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?
Average pay runs 150% 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.
How do apartment prices compare in Mexico City and in Villavicencio?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,003 in Mexico City versus $145 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 in Villavicencio?
A monthly transit pass in Villavicencio runs roughly 96% 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 $428 in Mexico City versus $240 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 $612 in Villavicencio versus $1,456 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 138% 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