For one person, living is cheaper in Mexico: $1,274 a month against $2,128 in Barbados, rent and utilities included – about $10,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.
Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Mexico and in Barbados actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
A single person spends $1,274 per month in Mexico vs $2,128 in Barbados, rent included.
Mexico $1,274
Barbados $2,128
A couple spends around $2,010 per month in Mexico vs $3,587 in Barbados, rent included.
Mexico $2,010
Barbados $3,587
A family of three spends $2,746 per month in Mexico vs $5,047 in Barbados, rent included.
Mexico $2,746
Barbados $5,047
📏
Cost ranges are similar: Mexico spans $730–$2,625, Barbados $278–$2,488. City choice affects budget similarly in either country.
🌍
The cost of living in Mexico is roughly 40% lower than in Barbados on average.
📊
Mexico sits 6% below the global median, while Barbados is 56% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico
Barbados
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.63MX$200
$19.87BBD 39.75
-46.50%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.29MX$813
$101BBD 202
-57.22%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.94MX$168
$10.79BBD 21.59
-17.15%
Cappuccino
$3.61MX$67.7
$5.38BBD 10.77
-32.90%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.48MX$27.70
$1.96BBD 3.91
-24.49%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.00MX$18.77
$1.56BBD 3.11
-35.90%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.67MX$50.0
$2.48BBD 4.96
7.66%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.37MX$82.0
$4.04BBD 8.08
8.17%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico
Barbados
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.59MX$29.76
$3.63BBD 7.26
-56.20%
White Bread(500g)
$2.67MX$50.2
$2.80BBD 5.59
-4.64%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.68MX$31.57
$3.86BBD 7.72
-56.48%
Eggs
$2.52MX$47.38
$5.59BBD 11.17
-54.92%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.79MX$165
$7.27BBD 14.55
20.91%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.97MX$150
$10.58BBD 21.15
-24.67%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.50MX$216
$10.12BBD 20.23
13.64%
Apples(1kg)
$2.76MX$51.7
$4.93BBD 9.86
-44.02%
Banana(1kg)
$1.52MX$28.61
$3.52BBD 7.03
-56.82%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.95MX$36.70
$5.94BBD 11.88
-67.17%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.97MX$36.93
$6.39BBD 12.78
-69.17%
Potato(1kg)
$1.96MX$36.84
$5.43BBD 10.85
-63.90%
Onion(1kg)
$2.03MX$38.08
$3.96BBD 7.92
-48.74%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.43MX$26.90
$2.71BBD 5.42
-47.23%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.14MX$21.39
$2.54BBD 5.09
-55.12%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.52MX$84.9
$8.08BBD 16.16
-44.06%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.87MX$204
$16.20BBD 32.40
-32.90%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77MX$33.14
$2.00BBD 4.01
-11.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.19MX$59.9
$3.10BBD 6.19
2.90%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico
Barbados
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.62MX$11.64
$1.71BBD 3.43
-63.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.85MX$560
$51.9BBD 104
-42.52%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.66MX$49.97
$9.35BBD 18.70
-71.55%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.72MX$51.0
$2.94BBD 5.89
-7.48%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$10.63MX$200
$40.33BBD 80.7
-73.64%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.40MX$26.24
$2.01BBD 4.01
-30.35%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.0KMX$450.0K
$37.2KBBD 74.3K
-35.52%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.9KMX$449.0K
$38.8KBBD 77.6K
-38.35%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico
Barbados
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$69.2MX$1,299
$172BBD 345
-59.86%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.51MX$441
$50.6BBD 101
-53.55%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.00MX$544
$77.3BBD 155
-62.50%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico
Barbados
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$34.74MX$652
$70.7BBD 141
-50.85%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.46MX$328
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.24MX$98.5
$11.46BBD 22.91
-54.28%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico
Barbados
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$261MX$4,892
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,999MX$112.6K
$6,174BBD 12.3K
-2.84%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico
Barbados
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.8MX$1,048
$49.63BBD 99.3
12.51%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.58MX$781
$29.36BBD 58.7
41.62%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$96.3MX$1,809
$103BBD 205
-6.19%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.1MX$1,691
$82.0BBD 164
9.80%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico
Barbados
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$713MX$13.4K
$885BBD 1,770
-19.45%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$477MX$8,954
$820BBD 1,639
-41.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,358MX$25.5K
$1,828BBD 3,657
-25.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$906MX$17.0K
$1,996BBD 3,993
-54.62%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,597MX$48.7K
$3,443BBD 6,886
-24.58%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,565MX$29.4K
$3,532BBD 7,063
-55.68%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico
Barbados
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$773MX$14.5K
$1,433BBD 2,866
-46.02%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.43
8.39
36.23%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico: October 25, 2026
Last update for Barbados: October 24, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🏠Accommodation & Living
Mexico
$477 37.4%
Barbados
$820 38.5% ↑ 71.8%$343
🛒Groceries & Markets
Mexico
$267 21%
Barbados
$423 19.9% ↑ 58.3%$156
🍽Eating Out
Mexico
$187 14.7%
Barbados
$291 13.7% ↑ 55.2%$103
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Mexico
$128 10%
Barbados
$119 5.6% ↓ 7.1%$9
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico
$122 9.6%
Barbados
$300 14.1% ↑ 147%$179
🚌Getting Around
Mexico
$49 3.8%
Barbados
$83 3.9% ↑ 70.6%$34
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Mexico
$45 3.6%
Barbados
$94 4.4% ↑ 107%$48
🏠Accommodation & Living
Mexico
$906 33%
Barbados
$2K 39.6% ↑ 120%$1.1K
🛒Groceries & Markets
Mexico
$612 22.3%
Barbados
$975 19.3% ↑ 59.3%$363
🍽Eating Out
Mexico
$593 21.6%
Barbados
$1.1K 21.9% ↑ 86.2%$511
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Mexico
$284 10.3%
Barbados
$264 5.2% ↓ 7.1%$20
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico
$145 5.3%
Barbados
$351 7% ↑ 142%$206
🚌Getting Around
Mexico
$98 3.6%
Barbados
$169 3.4% ↑ 71.9%$71
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Mexico
$108 3.9%
Barbados
$187 * 3.7% ↑ 73.5%$79
Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.
Cost Breakdown
🏠Average rent: $624 in Mexico vs $983 in Barbados. For reference, capital cities sit at $1,113 in Mexico City and $1,177 in Bridgetown.
💰Average salary: $722 in Mexico vs $2,071 in Barbados. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 58% higher in Barbados.
⭐Dining out costs 167% more in Barbados.
⭐Public transport is 242% more expensive in Barbados.
⭐Salaries are about 2.9 times higher in Barbados, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Barbados.
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 vs Barbados: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do Barbados and Mexico compare in cost of living?
Mexico is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 40% lower on average.
How do rents compare between Barbados and Mexico?
Housing costs more in Barbados: a central one-bedroom averages $983 versus $624 in Mexico.
Where are groceries and transport cheaper: Barbados or Mexico?
Groceries, public transport, and eating out all cost less in Mexico – part of why living there is about 40% cheaper overall.
How do I choose between living in Barbados and in Mexico?
Mexico is the budget-friendly choice for expats. But cost isn’t everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.