Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Port Macquarie and Mexico City

For one person, living is cheaper in Mexico City: $1,608 a month against $2,530 in Port Macquarie, rent and utilities included – about $11,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Port Macquarie, Australia
Mexico City, Mexico
Port Macquarie
🇦🇺 Australia
$2,530
/mo nomad
Mexico City
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,608
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Port Macquarie and in Mexico City

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Port Macquarie and in Mexico City actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,530 in Port Macquarie versus $1,608 in Mexico City.

  • Port Macquarie $2,530
  • Mexico City $1,608

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,581 in Port Macquarie versus $2,549 in Mexico City.

  • Port Macquarie $3,581
  • Mexico City $2,549

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,633 in Port Macquarie versus $3,490 in Mexico City.

  • Port Macquarie $4,633
  • Mexico City $3,490

Living in Port Macquarie is roughly 57% more expensive than in Mexico City, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Port Macquarie 86% above, Mexico City 18% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Port Macquarie
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.41 A$24.77
$10.62 MX$200
63.94%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$87.9 A$125
$48.35 MX$909
81.88%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.45 A$14.87
$10.35 MX$194
0.97%
Cappuccino
$3.96 A$5.64
$3.69 MX$69.4
7.32%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48 A$3.53
$1.67 MX$31.32
48.50%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62 A$2.31
$1.27 MX$23.78
27.56%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.16 A$8.76
$3.19 MX$60.0
93.10%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.22 A$8.85
$5.31 MX$99.7
17.14%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Port Macquarie
Mexico City
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.16 A$3.07
$1.72 MX$32.41
25.58%
White Bread (500g)
$3.12 A$4.44
$3.04 MX$57.1
2.63%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.87 A$4.09
$1.94 MX$36.48
47.94%
Eggs
$5.24 A$7.45
$2.89 MX$54.3
81.31%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.33 A$7.57
$10.97 MX$206
-51.41%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.33 A$14.69
$9.25 MX$174
11.68%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.17 A$17.31
$15.13 MX$284
-19.56%
Apples (1kg)
$3.15 A$4.48
$3.05 MX$57.3
3.28%
Banana (1kg)
$4.21 A$5.99
$1.94 MX$36.48
117.01%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.41 A$3.43
$2.03 MX$38.06
18.72%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.86 A$6.92
$2.31 MX$43.50
110.39%
Potato (1kg)
$2.43 A$3.46
$2.04 MX$38.25
19.12%
Onion (1kg)
$2.38 A$3.39
$1.80 MX$33.83
32.22%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.60 A$2.27
$1.48 MX$27.80
8.11%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.53 A$2.18
$1.27 MX$23.82
20.47%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$42.83 A$60.9
$5.30 MX$99.7
708.11%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.32 A$14.68
$16.10 MX$303
-35.90%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.34 A$6.17
$1.98 MX$37.27
119.19%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.38 A$7.65
$4.25 MX$79.9
26.59%
🚌 Getting Around
Port Macquarie
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.82 A$4.01
$0.31 MX$5.73
809.68%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$92.2 A$131
$19.73 MX$371
367.51%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.37 A$4.80
$1.84 MX$34.53
83.15%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.71 A$2.43
$0.53 MX$10.03
222.64%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$36.86 A$52.4
$5.30 MX$99.5
595.47%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.26 A$1.79
$1.51 MX$28.39
-16.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.4K A$37.5K
$21.8K MX$408.8K
21.35%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.1K A$31.4K
$24.0K MX$450.8K
-7.99%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Port Macquarie
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$210 A$299
$63.0 MX$1,184
233.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.48 A$43.35
$27.39 MX$515
11.28%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$59.8 A$85.1
$35.67 MX$670
67.73%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Port Macquarie
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.9 A$73.9
$58.9 MX$1,108
-11.91%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.97 A$14.18
$23.64 MX$444
-57.83%
Cinema Ticket
$10.79 A$15.34
$6.40 MX$120
68.59%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Port Macquarie
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,172 A$3,089
$432 MX$8,111
403.26%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$21.6K A$30.7K
$11.4K MX$214.7K
88.95%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Port Macquarie
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.7 A$123
$68.2 MX$1,282
27.10%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$54.9 A$78.1
$53.1 MX$999
3.29%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$104 A$149
$108 MX$2,026
-3.08%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111 A$158
$117 MX$2,204
-5.54%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Port Macquarie
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,379 A$1,962
$1,113 MX$20.9K
23.89%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,248 A$1,776
$710 MX$13.4K
75.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,153 A$3,062
$2,588 MX$48.6K
-16.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,740 A$2,475
$1,406 MX$26.4K
23.78%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,822 A$8,280
$3,631 MX$68.2K
60.33%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,964 A$7,060
$2,135 MX$40.1K
132.49%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Port Macquarie
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,785 A$3,961
$946 MX$17.8K
194.32%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.33
11.35
-53.04%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Port Macquarie: October 26, 2026

Last update for Mexico City: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Port Macquarie
$1.2K
Mexico City
$710 43.1% $538
Groceries & Markets
Port Macquarie
$354
Mexico City
$320 9.8% $35
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Port Macquarie
$300
Mexico City
$126 58% $174
Eating Out
Port Macquarie
$278
Mexico City
$199 28.5% $79
Clothing & Footwear
Port Macquarie
$161
Mexico City
$156 2.9% $4.7
Getting Around
Port Macquarie
$115
Mexico City
$25 77.9% $90
Sport & Entertainment
Port Macquarie
$73
Mexico City
$72 2.4% $1.8

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,379 in Port Macquarie and $1,113 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Port Macquarie pays about 2.9 times more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $88 in Port Macquarie vs $48 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $354 vs $320 per month, with Mexico City cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇦🇺 Port Macquarie
🇲🇽 Mexico City
🕒 Local time
23:31 11:31 PM
06:31 6:31 AM
17 h behind Port Macquarie
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
47,793
9,209,944 Capital
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

MXN, USD, EUR to AUD – Australian Dollar Converter

Australian Dollar exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 1.42 AUD (1 AUD = 0.703 USD). 1 EUR = 1.59 AUD (1 AUD = 0.63 EUR).

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 18.79 MXN (100 MXN = 5.32 USD). 1 EUR = 20.97 MXN (100 MXN = 4.77 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Port Macquarie Mexico City 12,780 km ≈ 16 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Port Macquarie
  • Mexico City

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
Port Macquarie vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Port Macquarie and in Mexico City?
Total monthly costs including rent come to $2,530 in Port Macquarie and $1,608 in Mexico City, so Mexico City is about 36% cheaper – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Port Macquarie or Mexico City?
Average pay in Port Macquarie is about 2.9 times higher, 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 Port Macquarie and in Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,379 in Port Macquarie versus $1,113 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Port Macquarie and in Mexico City?
A monthly transit pass in Mexico City runs roughly 79% less than in Port Macquarie. The price difference matters if you commute daily and watch your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Port Macquarie and Mexico City?
Childcare runs $2,172 in Port Macquarie versus $432 in Mexico City. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How far does $3,000 go in Port Macquarie compared to Mexico City?
Either city works on $3,000 a month, though Mexico City gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
How does quality of life compare between Port Macquarie 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: Port Macquarie or Mexico City?
Expats usually find Mexico City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 36% less than in Port Macquarie. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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