🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $859 in Negril versus $1,447 in Mexico City.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,358 in Negril versus $2,310 in Mexico City.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,856 in Negril versus $3,174 in Mexico City.
🙂Living in Negril costs roughly 41% less than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Negril is 36% below, Mexico City is 8% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Negril
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.46JMD 1,173
$12.98MX$227
-42.53%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$50.1JMD 7,882
$52.6MX$918
-4.75%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.56JMD 1,347
$9.43MX$165
-9.23%
Cappuccino
$2.06JMD 323
$3.57MX$62.3
-42.30%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.32JMD 208
$1.61MX$28.02
-18.01%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76JMD 119
$1.15MX$20.14
-33.91%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.47JMD 389
$3.15MX$55.0
-21.59%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.09JMD 487
$4.86MX$84.8
-36.42%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Negril
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$4.21JMD 662
$1.70MX$29.66
147.65%
White Bread(500g)
$3.49JMD 549
$2.64MX$45.99
32.20%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.57JMD 248
$1.90MX$33.22
-17.37%
Eggs
$3.41JMD 536
$2.54MX$44.35
34.25%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.85JMD 1,707
$10.08MX$176
7.64%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.29JMD 989
$8.29MX$145
-24.13%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.67JMD 1,206
$11.57MX$202
-33.71%
Apples(1kg)
$5.99JMD 942
$3.03MX$52.8
97.69%
Banana(1kg)
$3.03JMD 476
$1.71MX$29.85
77.19%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.29JMD 675
$2.05MX$35.76
109.27%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.93JMD 461
$2.06MX$35.95
42.23%
Potato(1kg)
$2.08JMD 327
$2.06MX$36.03
0.97%
Onion(1kg)
$1.95JMD 307
$2.17MX$37.87
-10.14%
Lettuce(1 head)
$3.07JMD 484
$1.40MX$24.49
119.29%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.49JMD 234
$1.12MX$19.58
33.04%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.03JMD 1,420
$4.29MX$74.9
110.49%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.59JMD 1,823
$15.41MX$269
-24.79%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.79JMD 439
$1.67MX$29.23
67.07%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.20JMD 504
$3.69MX$64.3
-13.28%
🚌 Getting Around
Negril
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.38MX$6.66
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$19.06MX$333
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.09JMD 171
$1.38MX$24.10
-21.01%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.24JMD 510
$0.28MX$4.82
1057.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.15JMD 967
$5.42MX$94.5
13.47%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.28JMD 201
$1.28MX$22.35
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$42.9KJMD 6.7M
$19.0KMX$331.3K
125.98%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.1KJMD 5.4M
$23.5KMX$409.5K
45.49%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Negril
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$164JMD 25.8K
$41.02MX$716
299.17%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.38JMD 3,520
$26.92MX$470
-16.86%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$51.6JMD 8,121
$29.69MX$518
73.90%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Negril
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$52.3MX$913
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$26.23MX$458
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.20JMD 2,076
$6.18MX$108
113.59%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Negril
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$230JMD 36.2K
$427MX$7,454
-46.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,528JMD 397.6K
$10.7KMX$186.7K
-76.37%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Negril
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$26.42JMD 4,156
$56.8MX$992
-53.50%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.97JMD 4,085
$44.83MX$782
-42.07%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$70.8JMD 11.1K
$105MX$1,824
-32.32%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.4JMD 12.2K
$106MX$1,849
-26.99%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Negril
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$984JMD 154.7K
$995MX$17.4K
-1.09%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$621MX$10.8K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$2,126MX$37.1K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,254MX$21.9K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,903MX$68.1K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,096MX$36.6K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Negril
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$1,107MX$19.3K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
9.15
11.34
-19.31%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Negril: June 7, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $984 in Negril and $995 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $50.0 in Negril vs $53.0 in Mexico City. Groceries flip the comparison at $348 vs $288, with Mexico City cheaper for home cooking.
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
Negril vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Negril and Mexico City?
Negril and Mexico City differ by about 68% in total monthly costs ($859 vs $1,447 including rent). Negril is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Negril compared to Mexico City?
You'd need roughly $1,289 in Negril and $2,171 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.
How do apartment prices compare in Negril and Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $984 in Negril versus $995 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Negril and Mexico City?
Childcare runs $230 in Negril versus $427 in Mexico City. 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 Negril – a meal for two runs $50.0 versus $53.0 in Mexico City. 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 $859 in Negril versus $1,447 in Mexico City, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Negril but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Negril the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Negril and Mexico City?
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.
Where should expats move: Negril or Mexico City?
Expats usually find Negril gentler on the wallet – expenses run 68% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.