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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $74.5 in Moratuwa versus $1,456 in Mexico City.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $127 in Moratuwa versus $2,361 in Mexico City.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $179 in Moratuwa versus $3,266 in Mexico City.

Living in Moratuwa costs roughly 95% less than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Moratuwa is 94% below, Mexico City is 9% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.07 MX$229

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.8 MX$940

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.68 MX$169

Cappuccino

$3.74 MX$65.4

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

$1.62 MX$28.25

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.16 MX$20.31

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.23 MX$56.4

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.74 MX$82.9

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 LKR 464

$1.65 MX$28.80

-16.36%

White Bread (500g)

$0.48 LKR 161

$2.75 MX$48.15

-82.55%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.96 LKR 321

$1.87 MX$32.77

-48.66%

Eggs

$2.73 LKR 917

$2.50 MX$43.72

9.20%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.43 LKR 4,511

$10.20 MX$178

31.67%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.25 MX$144

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.82 MX$207

Apples (1kg)

$3.01 MX$52.6

Banana (1kg)

$1.81 MX$31.67

Oranges (1kg)

$2.00 MX$34.96

Tomato (1kg)

$2.00 MX$34.89

Potato (1kg)

$2.08 MX$36.45

Onion (1kg)

$2.27 MX$39.72

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.46 MX$25.47

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 MX$18.82

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.35 MX$76.0

Wine (Bottle)

$16.99 MX$297

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.73 MX$30.31

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.58 MX$62.5

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.10 LKR 34.51

$0.39 MX$6.77

-74.36%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.69 MX$327

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.33 MX$23.18

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.28 MX$4.89

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.25 MX$91.8

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 MX$23.37

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

$19.4K MX$339.4K

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

$23.8K MX$416.7K

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

$40.69 MX$712

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

$26.87 MX$470

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.51 MX$534

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.8 MX$923

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.65 MX$466

Cinema Ticket

$6.51 MX$114

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

$428 MX$7,485

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.5K MX$183.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.3 MX$1,001

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.50 MX$796

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$104 MX$1,819

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 MX$1,885

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,003 MX$17.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$623 MX$10.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,109 MX$36.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,218 MX$21.3K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,885 MX$67.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,033 MX$35.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,038 MX$18.1K

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 Moratuwa: July 12, 2026

Last update for Mexico City: July 13, 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

Moratuwa vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Moratuwa and Mexico City differ by about 1855% in total monthly costs ($74.5 vs $1,456 including rent). Moratuwa is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $112 in Moratuwa and $2,185 in Mexico City 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 297% higher in Mexico City. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $74.5 per month in Moratuwa versus $1,456 in Mexico City – a 1855% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $74.5 in Moratuwa versus $1,456 in Mexico City, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Moratuwa but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Moratuwa 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.

Safety-wise, Moratuwa and Mexico City are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Moratuwa gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1855% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.