🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $948 in Negril versus $1,677 in Mexico City.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,482 in Negril versus $2,608 in Mexico City.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,016 in Negril versus $3,540 in Mexico City.
🌍Living in Negril costs roughly 43% less than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Negril is 31% below, Mexico City is 22% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Negril
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.40JMD 1,476
$12.14MX$206
-22.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$50.8JMD 7,981
$53.9MX$914
-5.73%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.93JMD 1,403
$11.09MX$188
-19.48%
Cappuccino
$2.05JMD 322
$4.10MX$69.5
-50.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.24JMD 195
$1.68MX$28.53
-26.19%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73JMD 115
$1.39MX$23.55
-47.48%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.25JMD 354
$3.33MX$56.5
-32.43%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.20JMD 502
$5.88MX$99.7
-45.58%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Negril
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$4.22JMD 663
$1.85MX$31.41
128.11%
White Bread(500g)
$3.57JMD 561
$3.17MX$53.8
12.62%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.62JMD 255
$2.07MX$35.13
-21.74%
Eggs
$3.60JMD 565
$2.93MX$49.67
22.87%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.32JMD 1,777
$12.59MX$214
-10.09%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.19JMD 972
$10.11MX$172
-38.77%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.20JMD 1,602
$16.09MX$273
-36.61%
Apples(1kg)
$6.22JMD 977
$3.39MX$57.5
83.48%
Banana(1kg)
$4.01JMD 629
$2.08MX$35.26
92.79%
Oranges(1kg)
$7.55JMD 1,186
$2.12MX$35.97
256.13%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.97JMD 466
$2.41MX$40.95
23.24%
Potato(1kg)
$3.31JMD 519
$2.13MX$36.11
55.40%
Onion(1kg)
$2.67JMD 419
$2.01MX$34.02
32.84%
Lettuce(1 head)
$3.00JMD 471
$1.55MX$26.21
93.55%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.45JMD 228
$1.36MX$23.15
6.62%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.53JMD 1,497
$5.77MX$97.8
65.16%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.53JMD 1,812
$17.74MX$301
-35.01%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.85JMD 447
$2.07MX$35.11
37.68%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.99JMD 626
$4.61MX$78.3
-13.45%
🚌 Getting Around
Negril
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.37MX$6.21
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$21.18MX$359
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.21JMD 191
$2.05MX$34.84
-40.98%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.25JMD 511
$0.58MX$9.79
460.34%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.17JMD 970
$6.07MX$103
1.65%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.40JMD 219
$1.55MX$26.34
-9.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$44.1KJMD 6.9M
$22.9KMX$388.1K
92.72%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.7KJMD 5.1M
$27.2KMX$462.0K
20.15%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Negril
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$175JMD 27.5K
$67.4MX$1,144
159.74%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.72JMD 4,669
$30.62MX$520
-2.94%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$53.8JMD 8,448
$37.24MX$632
44.41%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Negril
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$61.5MX$1,043
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$27.12MX$460
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.46JMD 2,114
$7.11MX$121
89.31%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Negril
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$367JMD 57.6K
$456MX$7,739
-19.58%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,347JMD 1.3M
$13.7KMX$232.3K
-39.05%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Negril
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$23.68JMD 3,719
$74.2MX$1,259
-68.08%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.28JMD 4,914
$57.0MX$967
-45.13%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.7JMD 12.4K
$115MX$1,958
-31.79%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102JMD 16.0K
$122MX$2,061
-16.38%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Negril
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,010JMD 158.7K
$1,148MX$19.5K
-11.98%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$709MX$12.0K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$2,577MX$43.7K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,295MX$22.0K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$4,005MX$67.9K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,130MX$36.1K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Negril
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$1,082MX$18.4K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
9.45
11.3
-16.37%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Negril: September 6, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: September 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,010 in Negril and $1,148 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $51.0 in Negril vs $54.0 in Mexico City. Groceries flip the comparison at $384 vs $345, 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 in Mexico City?
Negril and Mexico City differ by about 77% in total monthly costs ($948 vs $1,677 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 $1,422 in Negril and $2,515 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 in Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,010 in Negril versus $1,148 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 $367 in Negril versus $456 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 $51.0 versus $54.0 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 $948 in Negril versus $1,677 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 77% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.