Cost of Living Comparison Between Puerto Montt and Mexico City Cost of Living Comparison Between Puerto Montt and Mexico City

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,074 in Puerto Montt versus $1,472 in Mexico City.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,632 in Puerto Montt versus $2,359 in Mexico City.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,190 in Puerto Montt versus $3,245 in Mexico City.

Living in Puerto Montt costs roughly 27% less than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Puerto Montt is 19% below, Mexico City is 11% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Puerto Montt
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.59 CLP 7,996
$13.14 MX$227
-34.63%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$37.14 CLP 34.6K
$53.5 MX$926
-30.62%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.58 CLP 7,056
$9.33 MX$161
-18.76%
Cappuccino
$2.89 CLP 2,694
$3.70 MX$64.0
-21.89%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.98 CLP 915
$1.60 MX$27.76
-38.75%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.98 CLP 914
$1.12 MX$19.34
-12.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.22 CLP 2,993
$3.14 MX$54.3
2.55%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.24 CLP 3,943
$4.85 MX$83.9
-12.58%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Puerto Montt
Mexico City
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.22 CLP 1,139
$1.65 MX$28.61
-26.06%
White Bread (500g)
$1.50 CLP 1,398
$2.71 MX$46.96
-44.65%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.86 CLP 1,730
$1.91 MX$33.03
-2.62%
Eggs
$3.43 CLP 3,192
$2.59 MX$44.81
32.43%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.63 CLP 10.8K
$9.81 MX$170
18.55%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.53 CLP 6,073
$8.43 MX$146
-22.54%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.91 CLP 10.1K
$11.93 MX$206
-8.55%
Apples (1kg)
$1.83 CLP 1,706
$2.95 MX$51.1
-37.97%
Banana (1kg)
$1.44 CLP 1,340
$1.74 MX$30.10
-17.24%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.59 CLP 1,482
$2.04 MX$35.38
-22.06%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.91 CLP 1,780
$2.06 MX$35.64
-7.28%
Potato (1kg)
$1.23 CLP 1,147
$2.15 MX$37.20
-42.79%
Onion (1kg)
$1.35 CLP 1,252
$2.26 MX$39.02
-40.27%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.32 CLP 1,231
$1.39 MX$23.97
-5.04%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.52 CLP 1,410
$1.12 MX$19.31
35.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.98 CLP 4,633
$4.22 MX$73.0
18.01%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.78 CLP 5,379
$17.51 MX$303
-66.99%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.48 CLP 1,381
$1.71 MX$29.58
-13.45%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24 CLP 2,083
$3.63 MX$62.8
-38.29%
🚌 Getting Around
Puerto Montt
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.61 CLP 569
$0.35 MX$6.10
74.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$19.32 MX$334
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.47 CLP 435
$1.38 MX$23.80
-65.94%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$0.28 MX$4.77
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$5.28 MX$91.3
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.37 CLP 1,274
$1.36 MX$23.50
0.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.8K CLP 18.4M
$19.1K MX$330.5K
3.47%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.6K CLP 20.1M
$23.6K MX$408.4K
-8.49%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Puerto Montt
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$130 CLP 120.8K
$40.53 MX$701
220.28%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.91 CLP 11.1K
$27.38 MX$474
-56.50%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$21.93 CLP 20.4K
$30.38 MX$526
-27.81%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Puerto Montt
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.08 CLP 36.4K
$52.2 MX$903
-25.16%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.29 CLP 19.8K
$26.48 MX$458
-19.60%
Cinema Ticket
$5.54 CLP 5,151
$6.19 MX$107
-10.50%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Puerto Montt
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$439 CLP 408.0K
$425 MX$7,355
3.16%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$10.7K MX$185.7K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Puerto Montt
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.6 CLP 47.1K
$58.3 MX$1,009
-13.15%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.76 CLP 28.6K
$44.57 MX$771
-30.98%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$62.9 CLP 58.5K
$103 MX$1,791
-39.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$80.9 CLP 75.3K
$109 MX$1,881
-25.59%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Puerto Montt
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$487 CLP 453.6K
$1,014 MX$17.5K
-51.92%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$380 CLP 353.7K
$623 MX$10.8K
-38.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$878 CLP 816.9K
$2,119 MX$36.7K
-58.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$591 CLP 549.5K
$1,223 MX$21.2K
-51.73%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$3,792 MX$65.6K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$2,110 MX$36.5K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Puerto Montt
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$1,052 MX$18.2K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.18
11.34
-54.32%

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

Last update for Puerto Montt: July 26, 2026

Last update for Mexico City: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $487 in Puerto Montt and $1,014 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $37.00 in Puerto Montt vs $54.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $236 vs $293 per month, with Puerto Montt 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
Puerto Montt vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Puerto Montt and in Mexico City?
Puerto Montt and Mexico City differ by about 37% in total monthly costs ($1,074 vs $1,472 including rent). Puerto Montt is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Puerto Montt compared to Mexico City?
You'd need roughly $1,611 in Puerto Montt and $2,208 in Mexico City to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Puerto Montt and in Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $487 in Puerto Montt versus $1,014 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Puerto Montt and Mexico City?
Childcare runs $439 in Puerto Montt versus $425 in Mexico City. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Puerto Montt – a meal for two runs $37.00 versus $54.0 in Mexico City. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $1,074 in Puerto Montt versus $1,472 in Mexico City, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Puerto Montt but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Puerto Montt the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Puerto Montt 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: Puerto Montt or Mexico City?
Expats usually find Puerto Montt gentler on the wallet – expenses run 37% 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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