😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,125 in Philipsburg versus $1,660 in Mexico City.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $6,156 in Philipsburg versus $2,565 in Mexico City.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $9,187 in Philipsburg versus $3,470 in Mexico City.
🌍Living in Philipsburg is roughly 88% more expensive than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Philipsburg128% above, Mexico City21% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Philipsburg
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.29ANG 27.30
$11.92MX$205
28.27%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.4ANG 126
$51.6MX$886
36.34%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.31ANG 14.82
$11.41MX$196
-27.17%
Cappuccino
$4.23ANG 7.55
$3.99MX$68.6
6.02%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.82ANG 5.03
$1.66MX$28.48
69.88%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.94ANG 7.03
$1.33MX$22.77
196.24%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.96ANG 5.28
$3.47MX$59.6
-14.70%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.42ANG 11.47
$5.90MX$101
8.81%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Philipsburg
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.93ANG 5.23
$1.88MX$32.21
55.85%
White Bread(500g)
$2.64ANG 4.70
$3.25MX$55.9
-18.77%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.51ANG 4.48
$2.16MX$37.10
16.20%
Eggs
$6.49ANG 11.59
$2.90MX$49.72
123.79%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.68ANG 33.34
$12.86MX$221
45.26%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$14.20ANG 25.34
$10.05MX$173
41.29%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.91ANG 26.62
$15.86MX$272
-5.99%
Apples(1kg)
$5.09ANG 9.09
$3.29MX$56.6
54.71%
Banana(1kg)
$5.07ANG 9.04
$2.01MX$34.44
152.24%
Oranges(1kg)
$8.83ANG 15.77
$2.20MX$37.76
301.36%
Tomato(1kg)
$7.65ANG 13.66
$2.36MX$40.44
224.15%
Potato(1kg)
$3.90ANG 6.96
$2.05MX$35.27
90.24%
Onion(1kg)
$4.11ANG 7.33
$1.90MX$32.64
116.32%
Lettuce(1 head)
$5.13ANG 9.15
$1.61MX$27.55
218.63%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.29ANG 2.31
$1.40MX$23.98
-7.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.76ANG 13.86
$5.46MX$93.8
42.12%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.90ANG 19.45
$17.65MX$303
-38.24%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$5.15ANG 9.19
$2.06MX$35.28
150.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$4.68MX$80.4
-
🚌 Getting Around
Philipsburg
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.29ANG 4.09
$0.34MX$5.81
573.53%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$1.53ANG 2.74
$20.81MX$357
-92.65%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$14.82ANG 26.45
$2.10MX$35.99
605.71%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$0.56MX$9.60
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$5.81MX$99.8
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
-
$1.61MX$27.56
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$22.8KMX$392.1K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$26.8KMX$459.2K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Philipsburg
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$149ANG 265
$65.2MX$1,119
127.83%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$32.43ANG 57.9
$30.09MX$517
7.78%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.6ANG 117
$37.18MX$638
76.55%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Philipsburg
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$62.0ANG 111
$59.8MX$1,026
3.82%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$26.55MX$456
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.88ANG 19.42
$7.04MX$121
54.55%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Philipsburg
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$250ANG 447
$465MX$7,976
-46.17%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$12.0KANG 21.5K
$13.3KMX$227.8K
-9.42%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Philipsburg
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$75.9MX$1,303
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$56.0MX$960
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
-
$112MX$1,920
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$121MX$2,068
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Philipsburg
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,158ANG 3,852
$1,103MX$18.9K
95.73%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,998ANG 3,566
$721MX$12.4K
177.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$6,575ANG 11.7K
$2,530MX$43.4K
159.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$6,605ANG 11.8K
$1,293MX$22.2K
410.61%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,991MX$68.5K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,090MX$35.9K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Philipsburg
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,128ANG 2,014
$1,037MX$17.8K
8.76%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5
11.3
-55.75%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Philipsburg: September 15, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,158 in Philipsburg and $1,103 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Philipsburg pays 9% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $70.0 in Philipsburg vs $52.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $496 vs $345 per month, with Mexico City cheaper across the board.
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
Philipsburg vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Philipsburg and in Mexico City?
Philipsburg and Mexico City differ by about 88% in total monthly costs ($3,125 vs $1,660 including rent). Mexico City is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Philipsburg or Mexico City?
Average pay runs 9% higher in Philipsburg, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Philipsburg and in Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $2,158 in Philipsburg versus $1,103 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Philipsburg and in Mexico City?
A monthly transit pass in Mexico City runs roughly 1260% less than in Philipsburg. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Philipsburg and Mexico City?
Childcare runs $250 in Philipsburg versus $465 in Mexico City. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
At $1,660 in Mexico City versus $3,125 in Philipsburg, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Mexico City but tight or insufficient in Philipsburg. The gap between the two cities makes Mexico City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Philipsburg 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: Philipsburg or Mexico City?
Expats usually find Mexico City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 88% less than in Philipsburg. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Philipsburg vs other spots: cost of living compared