😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,593 in Port of Spain versus $1,456 in Mexico City.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,747 in Port of Spain versus $2,361 in Mexico City.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,901 in Port of Spain versus $3,266 in Mexico City.
🌍Living in Port of Spain is roughly 9% more expensive than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Port of Spain19% above, Mexico City9% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Port of Spain
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.50TTD 70.8
$13.07MX$229
-19.66%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$89.6TTD 604
$53.8MX$943
66.62%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.27TTD 49.00
$9.68MX$170
-24.90%
Cappuccino
$3.73TTD 25.16
$3.74MX$65.6
-0.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10TTD 7.42
$1.62MX$28.34
-32.10%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76TTD 5.15
$1.16MX$20.37
-34.48%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.90TTD 12.83
$3.23MX$56.6
-41.18%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02TTD 20.38
$4.74MX$83.1
-36.29%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Port of Spain
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.71TTD 18.28
$1.65MX$28.89
64.24%
White Bread(500g)
$2.82TTD 19.02
$2.75MX$48.30
2.55%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.61TTD 17.61
$1.87MX$32.87
39.57%
Eggs
$5.14TTD 34.65
$2.50MX$43.86
105.60%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.77TTD 52.4
$10.20MX$179
-23.82%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.60TTD 71.5
$8.25MX$145
28.48%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.37TTD 96.9
$11.82MX$207
21.57%
Apples(1kg)
$5.79TTD 39.05
$3.01MX$52.8
92.36%
Banana(1kg)
$2.54TTD 17.09
$1.81MX$31.77
40.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.24TTD 28.60
$2.00MX$35.07
112.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.87TTD 32.83
$2.00MX$35.00
143.50%
Potato(1kg)
$1.48TTD 9.97
$2.08MX$36.56
-28.85%
Onion(1kg)
$1.67TTD 11.29
$2.27MX$39.85
-26.43%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.94TTD 13.06
$1.46MX$25.55
32.88%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.42TTD 9.55
$1.08MX$18.88
31.48%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.06TTD 40.85
$4.35MX$76.3
39.31%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.02TTD 128
$16.99MX$298
11.95%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.22TTD 14.95
$1.73MX$30.40
28.32%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.73TTD 18.43
$3.58MX$62.7
-23.74%
🚌 Getting Around
Port of Spain
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.05TTD 7.05
$0.39MX$6.79
169.23%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$99.0TTD 667
$18.69MX$328
429.64%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.02TTD 6.86
$1.33MX$23.25
-23.31%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.29TTD 8.66
$0.28MX$4.91
360.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.61TTD 98.5
$5.25MX$92.1
178.29%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.14TTD 7.67
$1.34MX$23.44
-14.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.4KTTD 231.8K
$19.4KMX$340.5K
77.14%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.3KTTD 257.8K
$23.8KMX$418.0K
60.50%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Port of Spain
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$79.6TTD 537
$40.69MX$714
95.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$46.31TTD 312
$26.87MX$471
72.35%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$61.4TTD 414
$30.51MX$535
101.34%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Port of Spain
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$54.2TTD 365
$52.8MX$926
2.69%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.11TTD 88.4
$26.65MX$467
-50.81%
Cinema Ticket
$10.23TTD 69.0
$6.51MX$114
57.14%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Port of Spain
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$330TTD 2,225
$428MX$7,508
-22.87%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,163TTD 48.3K
$10.5KMX$184.2K
-31.78%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Port of Spain
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.1TTD 405
$57.3MX$1,004
4.94%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.87TTD 262
$45.50MX$798
-14.57%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$143TTD 967
$104MX$1,825
37.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$128TTD 861
$108MX$1,891
18.54%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Port of Spain
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$765TTD 5,155
$1,003MX$17.6K
-23.77%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$483TTD 3,254
$623MX$10.9K
-22.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,824TTD 12.3K
$2,109MX$37.0K
-13.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,285TTD 8,664
$1,218MX$21.4K
5.54%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,344TTD 29.3K
$3,885MX$68.1K
11.84%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,726TTD 11.6K
$2,033MX$35.7K
-15.08%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Port of Spain
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$770TTD 5,188
$1,038MX$18.2K
-25.83%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.38
11.34
-52.56%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Port of Spain: July 13, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $765 in Port of Spain and $1,003 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 35% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $90.0 in Port of Spain vs $54.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $378 vs $292 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
Port of Spain vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Port of Spain and in Mexico City?
Port of Spain and Mexico City differ by about 9% in total monthly costs ($1,593 vs $1,456 including rent). Mexico City is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 35% lower in Mexico City. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Port of Spain and in Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $765 in Port of Spain versus $1,003 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 of Spain and in Mexico City?
A monthly transit pass in Mexico City runs roughly 430% less than in Port of Spain. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Port of Spain and Mexico City?
Childcare runs $330 in Port of Spain versus $428 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 $2,000 per month?
At $1,456 in Mexico City versus $1,593 in Port of Spain, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Mexico City but tight or insufficient in Port of Spain. The gap between the two cities makes Mexico City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Port of Spain 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 of Spain or Mexico City?
Expats usually find Mexico City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 9% less than in Port of Spain. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Port of Spain vs other spots: cost of living compared