Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Willemstad

For one person, living is cheaper in Mexico City: $1,548 a month against $2,017 in Willemstad, rent and utilities included – about $5,600 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Mexico City
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,548
/mo nomad
Willemstad
🇨🇼 Curacao
$2,017
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Mexico City and in Willemstad

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Mexico City and in Willemstad actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,548 in Mexico City versus $2,017 in Willemstad.

  • Mexico City $1,548
  • Willemstad $2,017

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,436 in Mexico City versus $3,102 in Willemstad.

  • Mexico City $2,436
  • Willemstad $3,102

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,323 in Mexico City versus $4,187 in Willemstad.

  • Mexico City $3,323
  • Willemstad $4,187

Living in Mexico City costs roughly 23% less than in Willemstad, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Mexico City 14% above, Willemstad 49% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Willemstad
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.02 MX$204
$18.52 ANG 33.15
-40.50%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.68 MX$900
$75.2 ANG 135
-35.27%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.90 MX$201
$11.02 ANG 19.73
-1.09%
Cappuccino
$3.68 MX$68.1
$3.63 ANG 6.50
1.38%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.63 MX$30.18
$2.94 ANG 5.26
-44.56%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.25 MX$23.07
$1.74 ANG 3.12
-28.16%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.25 MX$60.1
$5.76 ANG 10.31
-43.58%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.53 MX$102
$5.46 ANG 9.78
1.28%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Willemstad
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.70 MX$31.50
$2.00 ANG 3.58
-15.00%
White Bread (500g)
$3.02 MX$55.8
$2.86 ANG 5.12
5.59%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.92 MX$35.53
$3.57 ANG 6.40
-46.22%
Eggs
$2.73 MX$50.5
$4.15 ANG 7.42
-34.22%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.77 MX$218
$16.60 ANG 29.71
-29.10%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.53 MX$176
$7.23 ANG 12.94
31.81%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.41 MX$266
$11.97 ANG 21.43
20.38%
Apples (1kg)
$3.02 MX$55.8
$5.44 ANG 9.74
-44.49%
Banana (1kg)
$1.89 MX$35.01
$3.03 ANG 5.42
-37.62%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.99 MX$36.70
$3.33 ANG 5.96
-40.24%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.19 MX$40.38
$3.82 ANG 6.83
-42.67%
Potato (1kg)
$1.92 MX$35.43
$2.53 ANG 4.52
-24.11%
Onion (1kg)
$1.87 MX$34.49
$1.98 ANG 3.54
-5.56%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.44 MX$26.62
$2.44 ANG 4.37
-40.98%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.27 MX$23.39
$2.93 ANG 5.24
-56.66%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.22 MX$96.4
$10.16 ANG 18.18
-48.62%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.17 MX$299
$12.32 ANG 22.05
31.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.90 MX$35.03
$2.35 ANG 4.21
-19.15%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.22 MX$78.0
$2.40 ANG 4.30
75.83%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Willemstad
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.34 MX$6.30
$1.92 ANG 3.44
-82.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$19.65 MX$363
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.00 MX$36.90
$22.77 ANG 40.76
-91.22%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.52 MX$9.67
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.34 MX$98.7
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.52 MX$28.13
$1.35 ANG 2.41
12.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.1K MX$408.0K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.5K MX$452.9K
$20.4K ANG 36.5K
20.10%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Willemstad
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$61.1 MX$1,129
$272 ANG 487
-77.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.58 MX$528
$77.1 ANG 138
-62.94%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.47 MX$637
$64.6 ANG 116
-46.61%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Willemstad
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$56.4 MX$1,042
$47.22 ANG 84.5
19.36%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.88 MX$460
$43.82 ANG 78.4
-43.22%
Cinema Ticket
$6.66 MX$123
$11.92 ANG 21.33
-44.13%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Willemstad
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$427 MX$7,891
$328 ANG 587
30.21%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.6K MX$215.0K
$12.3K ANG 22.0K
-5.21%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Willemstad
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$67.8 MX$1,253
$104 ANG 186
-34.79%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.0 MX$960
$73.8 ANG 132
-29.63%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$106 MX$1,959
$164 ANG 293
-35.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113 MX$2,080
$94.1 ANG 168
19.60%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Willemstad
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,025 MX$18.9K
$797 ANG 1,426
28.60%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$654 MX$12.1K
$645 ANG 1,155
1.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,308 MX$42.7K
$1,690 ANG 3,025
36.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,242 MX$22.9K
$1,204 ANG 2,155
3.16%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,613 MX$66.8K
$837 ANG 1,498
331.57%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,936 MX$35.8K
$165 ANG 296
1071.24%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Willemstad
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$964 MX$17.8K
$1,238 ANG 2,217
-22.14%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.3
4.97
127.36%

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

Last update for Mexico City: October 20, 2026

Last update for Willemstad: October 17, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
$654
Willemstad
$645 1.4% $8.9
Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
$318
Willemstad
$377 18.4% $59
Eating Out
Mexico City
$204
Willemstad
$283 39% $79
Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
$152
Willemstad
$196 28.8% $44
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
$124
Willemstad
$414 233% $290
Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
$70
Willemstad
$71 2% $1.4
Getting Around
Mexico City
$26
Willemstad
$30 * 18.9% $4.8

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,025 in Mexico City and $797 in Willemstad. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Willemstad pays 28% 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: $49.00 in Mexico City vs $75.0 in Willemstad for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $318 vs $377 per month, with Mexico City cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇲🇽 Mexico City
🇨🇼 Willemstad
🕒 Local time
12:42 12:42 PM
14:42 2:42 PM
2 h ahead of Mexico City
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
9,209,944 Capital
140,000 Capital
Exchange rates and currency converter

ANG, USD, EUR to MXN – Mexican Peso Converter

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 24, 2026: 1 USD = 18.48 MXN (100 MXN = 5.41 USD). 1 EUR = 20.77 MXN (100 MXN = 4.81 EUR).

Netherlands Antillean Guilder exchange rates as of October 24, 2026: 1 USD = 1.79 ANG (1 ANG = 0.559 USD). 1 EUR = 2.01 ANG (1 ANG = 0.497 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Mexico City Willemstad 3,330 km ≈ 4 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Mexico City
  • Willemstad

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Willemstad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and in Willemstad?
Mexico City and Willemstad differ by about 30% in total monthly costs ($1,548 vs $2,017 including rent). Mexico City is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 28% lower in Willemstad. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Mexico City and in Willemstad?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,025 in Mexico City versus $797 in Willemstad. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Mexico City and Willemstad?
Childcare runs $427 in Mexico City versus $328 in Willemstad. 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 Mexico City – a meal for two runs $49.00 versus $75.0 in Willemstad. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,548 in Mexico City versus $2,017 in Willemstad, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Mexico City but tight or insufficient in Willemstad. The gap between the two cities makes Mexico City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mexico City and Willemstad?
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.
Is Mexico City or Willemstad safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Mexico City and Willemstad are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Mexico City or Willemstad?
Expats usually find Mexico City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 30% less than in Willemstad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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