Cost of Living Comparison Between Puerto la Cruz and Ajijic Cost of Living Comparison Between Puerto la Cruz and Ajijic

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $716 per month in Puerto la Cruz vs $1,182 in Ajijic, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,159 per month in Puerto la Cruz vs $1,939 in Ajijic, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,603 per month in Puerto la Cruz vs $2,696 in Ajijic, rent included.

Puerto la Cruz is about 39% cheaper than Ajijic, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Puerto la Cruz and Ajijic are more affordable than the global median – Puerto la Cruz 47% lower, Ajijic 12% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.35 VES 4,095

$7.91 MX$137

-7.08%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$55.1 VES 30.7K

$34.68 MX$600

58.94%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.11 VES 3,402

$6.80 MX$118

-10.15%

Cappuccino

$1.02 VES 569

$3.35 MX$58.0

-69.55%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.69 VES 384

$1.07 MX$18.53

-35.51%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.52 VES 292

$0.85 MX$14.66

-38.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.98 VES 547

$1.82 MX$31.55

-46.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.46 VES 815

$3.15 MX$54.5

-53.65%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 VES 1,052

$1.36 MX$23.44

38.97%

White Bread (500g)

$2.71 VES 1,510

$2.27 MX$39.33

19.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.47 VES 819

$1.08 MX$18.69

36.11%

Eggs

$2.79 VES 1,554

$2.00 MX$34.58

39.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.93 VES 5,535

$8.09 MX$140

22.74%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.32 VES 4,079

$7.23 MX$125

1.24%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.36 VES 4,104

$6.80 MX$118

8.24%

Apples (1kg)

$5.18 VES 2,885

$2.16 MX$37.31

139.81%

Banana (1kg)

$1.82 VES 1,013

$0.89 MX$15.41

104.49%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.28 VES 1,273

$0.91 MX$15.77

150.55%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.98 VES 1,103

$1.41 MX$24.44

40.43%

Potato (1kg)

$2.56 VES 1,424

$1.38 MX$23.84

85.51%

Onion (1kg)

$2.16 VES 1,205

$1.04 MX$17.98

107.69%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.31 VES 729

$0.87 MX$14.99

50.57%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.87 VES 1,041

$0.83 MX$14.28

125.30%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.89 VES 2,170

$4.07 MX$70.4

-4.42%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.84 VES 4,368

$9.31 MX$161

-15.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.46 VES 815

$1.40 MX$24.24

4.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.96 VES 1,091

$1.68 MX$29.05

16.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.24 VES 133

$0.61 MX$10.56

-60.66%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.04 VES 1,694

$1.09 MX$18.85

178.90%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.77 VES 1,544

$1.58 MX$27.38

75.32%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.02 VES 2,797

$3.18 MX$55.1

57.86%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.49 VES 271

$1.31 MX$22.59

-62.60%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$25.3K VES 14.1M

$18.8K MX$324.7K

35.00%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$39.3K VES 21.9M

$18.9K MX$326.6K

108.00%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$20.59 VES 11.5K

$44.74 MX$774

-53.98%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$10.07 VES 5,613

$16.21 MX$280

-37.88%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.12 VES 14.0K

$25.54 MX$442

-1.64%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$24.01 MX$415

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.24 MX$90.7

Cinema Ticket

$5.86 VES 3,264

$4.29 MX$74.2

36.60%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$60.2 VES 33.5K

$179 MX$3,095

-66.38%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,418 VES 3.0M

$2,654 MX$45.9K

104.15%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.11 VES 25.1K

$41.62 MX$720

8.39%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.43 VES 20.9K

$16.17 MX$280

131.48%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$44.15 VES 24.6K

$65.2 MX$1,128

-32.33%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.16 VES 22.4K

$54.1 MX$935

-25.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$180 VES 100.2K

$812 MX$14.0K

-77.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$186 VES 103.8K

$633 MX$10.9K

-70.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$443 VES 246.7K

$1,597 MX$27.6K

-72.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$198 VES 110.4K

$1,401 MX$24.2K

-85.86%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$522 VES 290.9K

$3,248 MX$56.2K

-83.93%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$302 VES 168.4K

$1,742 MX$30.1K

-82.66%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$221 VES 123.2K

$583 MX$10.1K

-62.07%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

21.33

11.24

89.77%

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

Last update for Puerto la Cruz: June 2, 2026

Last update for Ajijic: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $180 in Puerto la Cruz versus $812 in Ajijic. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 164% higher in Ajijic, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $55.0 in Puerto la Cruz versus $35.00 in Ajijic. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $274 vs $205 – making Ajijic the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Puerto la Cruz vs Ajijic: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Ajijic is pricier by about 65%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,074 per month in Puerto la Cruz and $1,773 in Ajijic. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Puerto la Cruz, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $716 in Puerto la Cruz and $1,182 in Ajijic. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $60.2 per month in Puerto la Cruz and $179 in Ajijic. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Puerto la Cruz, where all-in costs run around $716, than in Ajijic at $1,182. In Puerto la Cruz it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ajijic it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Puerto la Cruz – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Puerto la Cruz. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ajijic makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.