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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,484 in Mexico City versus $112 in Zacapa.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,381 in Mexico City versus $181 in Zacapa.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,278 in Mexico City versus $250 in Zacapa.

Living in Mexico City is roughly 1219% more expensive than Zacapa, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 11% above, Zacapa is 92% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.98 MX$226

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.1 MX$923

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.72 MX$169

Cappuccino

$3.75 MX$65.2

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.57 MX$27.30

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.13 MX$19.64

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.18 MX$55.3

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.66 MX$81.1

Milk (1 liter)

$1.62 MX$28.21

White Bread (500g)

$2.71 MX$47.09

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.88 MX$32.70

Eggs

$2.51 MX$43.65

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.08 MX$175

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.29 MX$144

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.94 MX$208

Apples (1kg)

$2.86 MX$49.77

Banana (1kg)

$1.75 MX$30.45

Oranges (1kg)

$2.08 MX$36.27

Tomato (1kg)

$1.97 MX$34.27

Potato (1kg)

$2.16 MX$37.58

Onion (1kg)

$2.18 MX$37.94

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.39 MX$24.20

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.12 MX$19.57

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.20 MX$73.1

Wine (Bottle)

$14.25 MX$248

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 MX$30.68

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.68 MX$64.1

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.39 MX$6.71

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.66 MX$325

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.39 MX$24.12

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.30 MX$5.29

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.42 MX$94.3

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.35 MX$23.50

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$18.9K MX$328.6K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$23.2K MX$402.8K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$40.82 MX$710

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$27.50 MX$479

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.38 MX$529

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$53.4 MX$930

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.30 MX$458

Cinema Ticket

$6.27 MX$109

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$436 MX$7,588

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.5K MX$182.1K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.8 MX$988

$51.6 Q 395

9.98%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.79 MX$779

$39.09 Q 299

14.58%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 MX$1,789

$79.7 Q 609

29.08%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 MX$1,878

$77.0 Q 589

40.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,000 MX$17.4K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$620 MX$10.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,137 MX$37.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,235 MX$21.5K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,865 MX$67.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,332 MX$40.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,067 MX$18.6K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.34

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

Last update for Mexico City: April 27, 2026

Last update for Zacapa: April 26, 2026

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 Zacapa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mexico City and Zacapa differ by about 1219% in total monthly costs ($1,484 vs $112 including rent). Zacapa is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $2,225 in Mexico City and $169 in Zacapa 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.

At $112 in Zacapa versus $1,484 in Mexico City, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Zacapa but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Zacapa the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Expats usually find Zacapa gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1219% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.