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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,456 in Mexico City versus $113 in Zimba.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,361 in Mexico City versus $174 in Zimba.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,266 in Mexico City versus $235 in Zimba.

Living in Mexico City is roughly 1184% more expensive than in Zimba, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 9% above, Zimba is 92% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.07 MX$229

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.8 MX$943

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.68 MX$170

$2.43 ZMW 44.19

298.35%

Cappuccino

$3.74 MX$65.6

$1.28 ZMW 23.22

192.19%

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

$1.62 MX$28.34

$0.64 ZMW 11.74

153.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.16 MX$20.37

$0.30 ZMW 5.52

286.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.23 MX$56.6

$0.63 ZMW 11.47

412.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.74 MX$83.1

$0.85 ZMW 15.44

457.65%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 MX$28.89

White Bread (500g)

$2.75 MX$48.30

$0.80 ZMW 14.54

243.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.87 MX$32.87

$1.20 ZMW 21.90

55.83%

Eggs

$2.50 MX$43.86

$1.05 ZMW 19.18

138.10%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.20 MX$179

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.25 MX$145

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.82 MX$207

$2.93 ZMW 53.4

303.41%

Apples (1kg)

$3.01 MX$52.8

$1.43 ZMW 25.98

110.49%

Banana (1kg)

$1.81 MX$31.77

$1.27 ZMW 23.04

42.52%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.00 MX$35.07

$2.43 ZMW 44.15

-17.70%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.00 MX$35.00

$0.63 ZMW 11.48

217.46%

Potato (1kg)

$2.08 MX$36.56

Onion (1kg)

$2.27 MX$39.85

$0.63 ZMW 11.53

260.32%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.46 MX$25.55

$0.69 ZMW 12.47

111.59%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 MX$18.88

$0.39 ZMW 7.13

176.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.35 MX$76.3

Wine (Bottle)

$16.99 MX$298

$6.62 ZMW 121

156.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.73 MX$30.40

$0.64 ZMW 11.63

170.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.58 MX$62.7

$0.85 ZMW 15.45

321.18%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.39 MX$6.79

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.69 MX$328

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.33 MX$23.25

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.28 MX$4.91

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.25 MX$92.1

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 MX$23.44

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

$19.4K MX$340.5K

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

$23.8K MX$418.0K

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

$40.69 MX$714

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

$26.87 MX$471

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.51 MX$535

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.8 MX$926

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.65 MX$467

Cinema Ticket

$6.51 MX$114

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

$428 MX$7,508

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.5K MX$184.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.3 MX$1,004

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.50 MX$798

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$104 MX$1,825

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 MX$1,891

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,003 MX$17.6K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$623 MX$10.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,109 MX$37.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,218 MX$21.4K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,885 MX$68.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,033 MX$35.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,038 MX$18.2K

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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Zimba: July 11, 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 Zimba: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mexico City and Zimba differ by about 1184% in total monthly costs ($1,456 vs $113 including rent). Zimba is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $2,185 in Mexico City and $170 in Zimba 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.

Supermarket bills run roughly 264% higher in Mexico City. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,456 per month in Mexico City versus $113 in Zimba – a 1184% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $113 in Zimba versus $1,456 in Mexico City, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Zimba but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Zimba 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 Zimba gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1184% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.