Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Portsmouth and Mexico City

For one person, living is cheaper in Portsmouth: $927 a month against $1,567 in Mexico City, rent and utilities included – about $7,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Portsmouth
🇩🇲 Dominica
$927
/mo nomad
Mexico City
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,567
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Portsmouth 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 Portsmouth and in Mexico City actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $927 in Portsmouth versus $1,567 in Mexico City.

  • Portsmouth $927
  • Mexico City $1,567

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,640 in Portsmouth versus $2,450 in Mexico City.

  • Portsmouth $1,640
  • Mexico City $2,450

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,353 in Portsmouth versus $3,333 in Mexico City.

  • Portsmouth $2,353
  • Mexico City $3,333

Living in Portsmouth costs roughly 41% less than in Mexico City, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Portsmouth is 31% below, Mexico City is 16% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Portsmouth
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.40 EC$14.57
$10.75 MX$199
-49.77%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$56.3 EC$152
$50.3 MX$929
12.04%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.78 EC$18.29
$11.10 MX$205
-38.92%
Cappuccino
$2.60 EC$7.02
$3.68 MX$68.1
-29.35%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26 EC$6.11
$1.65 MX$30.42
36.97%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.88 EC$5.07
$1.30 MX$24.08
44.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.57 EC$6.94
$3.32 MX$61.3
-22.59%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.65 EC$9.85
$5.54 MX$102
-34.12%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Portsmouth
Mexico City
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.80 EC$7.57
$1.77 MX$32.68
58.19%
White Bread (500g)
$2.16 EC$5.83
$3.05 MX$56.4
-29.18%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.00 EC$5.39
$2.01 MX$37.20
-0.50%
Eggs
$6.51 EC$17.58
$2.77 MX$51.1
135.02%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$2.58 EC$6.96
$11.91 MX$220
-78.34%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.45 EC$14.73
$9.33 MX$172
-41.59%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
-
$15.02 MX$278
-
Apples (1kg)
$7.27 EC$19.63
$3.08 MX$56.8
136.04%
Banana (1kg)
$2.65 EC$7.15
$1.95 MX$35.97
35.90%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.20 EC$11.33
$2.03 MX$37.54
106.90%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.10 EC$11.07
$2.21 MX$40.92
85.52%
Potato (1kg)
$2.89 EC$7.80
$2.02 MX$37.41
43.07%
Onion (1kg)
$2.92 EC$7.88
$1.82 MX$33.67
60.44%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.90 EC$5.12
$1.52 MX$28.07
25.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.88 EC$5.09
$1.28 MX$23.65
46.87%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
-
$5.27 MX$97.4
-
Wine (Bottle)
$11.14 EC$30.09
$16.12 MX$298
-30.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.87 EC$5.06
$1.95 MX$36.05
-4.10%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.52 EC$6.79
$4.25 MX$78.6
-40.71%
🚌 Getting Around
Portsmouth
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.77 EC$2.08
$0.31 MX$5.82
148.39%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$19.85 MX$367
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.64 EC$9.83
$2.00 MX$36.93
82.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.76 EC$10.15
$0.53 MX$9.86
609.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$5.62 MX$104
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
-
$1.52 MX$28.07
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$21.0K MX$388.7K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$25.2K MX$465.3K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Portsmouth
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
-
$62.5 MX$1,155
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$41.16 EC$111
$28.77 MX$532
43.07%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$64.6 EC$175
$34.45 MX$637
87.63%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Portsmouth
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$36.88 EC$99.6
$57.1 MX$1,055
-35.41%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$24.81 MX$458
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.06 EC$29.87
$6.67 MX$123
65.82%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Portsmouth
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
-
$431 MX$7,964
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$11.7K MX$216.9K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Portsmouth
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.4 EC$150
$70.8 MX$1,308
-21.78%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$23.82 EC$64.3
$51.8 MX$958
-54.04%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$56.3 EC$152
$109 MX$2,011
-48.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$65.5 EC$177
$112 MX$2,076
-41.68%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Portsmouth
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$255 EC$689
$1,051 MX$19.4K
-75.74%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$226 EC$609
$665 MX$12.3K
-66.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$655 EC$1,767
$2,346 MX$43.3K
-72.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$628 EC$1,696
$1,227 MX$22.7K
-48.78%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$3,554 MX$65.7K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,977 MX$36.5K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Portsmouth
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$640 EC$1,729
$975 MX$18.0K
-34.30%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
0
11.3
-

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

Last update for Portsmouth: October 13, 2026

Last update for Mexico City: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Portsmouth
–
Mexico City
$665
Groceries & Markets
Portsmouth
–
Mexico City
$323
Eating Out
Portsmouth
–
Mexico City
$203
Clothing & Footwear
Portsmouth
–
Mexico City
$155
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Portsmouth
–
Mexico City
$126
Sport & Entertainment
Portsmouth
–
Mexico City
$70
Getting Around
Portsmouth
–
Mexico City
$26

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $255 in Portsmouth and $1,051 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Mexico City pays 52% 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: $56.0 in Portsmouth vs $50.0 in Mexico City. Groceries flip the comparison at $290 vs $323, with Portsmouth cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇩🇲 Portsmouth
🇲🇽 Mexico City
🕒 Local time
00:49 12:49 AM
22:49 10:49 PM
2 h behind Portsmouth
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
3,633
9,209,944 Capital
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

MXN, USD, EUR to XCD – East Caribbean Dollar Converter

East Caribbean Dollar exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 2.7 XCD (1 XCD = 0.37 USD). 1 EUR = 3.04 XCD (1 XCD = 0.329 EUR).

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 18.48 MXN (100 MXN = 5.41 USD). 1 EUR = 20.77 MXN (100 MXN = 4.81 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Portsmouth Mexico City 4,010 km ≈ 6 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Portsmouth
  • 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
Portsmouth vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Portsmouth and in Mexico City?
Portsmouth and Mexico City differ by about 69% in total monthly costs ($927 vs $1,567 including rent). Portsmouth 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 52% 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 Portsmouth and in Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $255 in Portsmouth versus $1,051 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Portsmouth – a meal for two runs $56.0 versus $50.0 in Mexico City. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Portsmouth or Mexico City?
All in, you'll spend $927 per month in Portsmouth versus $1,567 in Mexico City – a 69% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $927 in Portsmouth versus $1,567 in Mexico City, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Portsmouth but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Portsmouth the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Portsmouth 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.
Is Portsmouth or Mexico City safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Portsmouth and Mexico City are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Portsmouth or Mexico City?
Expats usually find Portsmouth gentler on the wallet – expenses run 69% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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