Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Quilmes and Mexico City

For one person, living is cheaper in Quilmes: $957 a month against $1,608 in Mexico City, rent and utilities included – about $7,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Quilmes, Argentina
Mexico City, Mexico
Quilmes
🇦🇷 Argentina
$957
/mo nomad
Mexico City
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,608
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $957 in Quilmes versus $1,608 in Mexico City.

  • Quilmes $957
  • Mexico City $1,608

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,615 in Quilmes versus $2,549 in Mexico City.

  • Quilmes $1,615
  • Mexico City $2,549

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,273 in Quilmes versus $3,490 in Mexico City.

  • Quilmes $2,273
  • Mexico City $3,490

Living in Quilmes costs roughly 40% less than in Mexico City, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Quilmes is 30% below, Mexico City is 18% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Quilmes
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.55 ARS 8,543
$10.62 MX$198
-47.74%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.20 ARS 54.1K
$48.35 MX$901
-27.20%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.82 ARS 13.6K
$10.35 MX$193
-14.78%
Cappuccino
$2.93 ARS 4,501
$3.69 MX$68.8
-20.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.71 ARS 2,634
$1.67 MX$31.07
2.40%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.63 ARS 2,500
$1.27 MX$23.59
28.35%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.90 ARS 5,993
$3.19 MX$59.5
22.26%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29 ARS 3,519
$5.31 MX$98.9
-56.87%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Quilmes
Mexico City
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.97 ARS 1,495
$1.72 MX$32.15
-43.60%
White Bread (500g)
$1.58 ARS 2,426
$3.04 MX$56.7
-48.03%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.58 ARS 2,425
$1.94 MX$36.19
-18.56%
Eggs
$2.28 ARS 3,508
$2.89 MX$53.8
-21.11%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.31 ARS 20.5K
$10.97 MX$205
21.33%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.11 ARS 9,398
$9.25 MX$172
-33.95%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.80 ARS 15.1K
$15.13 MX$282
-35.23%
Apples (1kg)
$1.96 ARS 3,016
$3.05 MX$56.8
-35.74%
Banana (1kg)
$1.53 ARS 2,350
$1.94 MX$36.19
-21.13%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.01 ARS 1,557
$2.03 MX$37.75
-50.25%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.95 ARS 4,538
$2.31 MX$43.15
27.71%
Potato (1kg)
$0.92 ARS 1,412
$2.04 MX$37.94
-54.90%
Onion (1kg)
$0.64 ARS 990
$1.80 MX$33.55
-64.44%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.72 ARS 1,111
$1.48 MX$27.58
-51.35%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.69 ARS 1,060
$1.27 MX$23.63
-45.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.99 ARS 7,671
$5.30 MX$98.9
-5.85%
Wine (Bottle)
$4.29 ARS 6,603
$16.10 MX$300
-73.35%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.23 ARS 1,896
$1.98 MX$36.97
-37.88%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.89 ARS 2,904
$4.25 MX$79.3
-55.53%
🚌 Getting Around
Quilmes
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.02 ARS 1,574
$0.31 MX$5.69
229.03%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$19.73 MX$368
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.49 ARS 2,285
$1.84 MX$34.25
-19.02%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.02 ARS 1,576
$0.53 MX$9.94
92.45%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$5.30 MX$98.7
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.14 ARS 1,756
$1.51 MX$28.16
-24.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$50.3K ARS 77.4M
$21.8K MX$405.5K
131.43%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.0K ARS 58.4M
$24.0K MX$447.1K
58.22%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Quilmes
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$60.2 ARS 92.6K
$63.0 MX$1,174
-4.43%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.48 ARS 22.3K
$27.39 MX$511
-47.13%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$21.58 ARS 33.2K
$35.67 MX$665
-39.50%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Quilmes
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$26.79 ARS 41.2K
$58.9 MX$1,099
-54.55%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.31 ARS 28.2K
$23.64 MX$441
-22.55%
Cinema Ticket
$10.13 ARS 15.6K
$6.40 MX$119
58.28%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Quilmes
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$240 ARS 369.2K
$432 MX$8,045
-44.39%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,307 ARS 6.6M
$11.4K MX$212.9K
-62.30%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Quilmes
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$95.2 ARS 146.4K
$68.2 MX$1,272
39.48%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.45 ARS 53.0K
$53.1 MX$990
-35.16%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$62.9 ARS 96.8K
$108 MX$2,009
-41.62%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.1 ARS 107.8K
$117 MX$2,186
-40.25%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Quilmes
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$518 ARS 796.8K
$1,113 MX$20.8K
-53.48%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$330 ARS 507.0K
$710 MX$13.2K
-53.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,058 ARS 1.6M
$2,588 MX$48.2K
-59.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$817 ARS 1.3M
$1,406 MX$26.2K
-41.91%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,378 ARS 3.7M
$3,631 MX$67.7K
-34.52%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,264 ARS 1.9M
$2,135 MX$39.8K
-40.81%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Quilmes
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,102 ARS 1.7M
$946 MX$17.6K
16.51%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
100
11.35
781.06%

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

Last update for Quilmes: 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
Quilmes
$330
Mexico City
$710 116% $381
Groceries & Markets
Quilmes
$212
Mexico City
$320 50.5% $107
Eating Out
Quilmes
$143
Mexico City
$199 38.5% $55
Clothing & Footwear
Quilmes
$118
Mexico City
$156 31.9% $38
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Quilmes
$96
Mexico City
$126 31% $30
Sport & Entertainment
Quilmes
$47
Mexico City
$72 52.5% $25
Getting Around
Quilmes
$11 *
Mexico City
$25 138% $15

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $518 in Quilmes and $1,113 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Quilmes pays 17% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $35 in Quilmes vs $48 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $212 vs $320 per month, with Quilmes cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇦🇷 Quilmes
🇲🇽 Mexico City
🕒 Local time
11:04 11:04 AM
08:04 8:04 AM
3 h behind Quilmes
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
230,810
9,209,944 Capital
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

MXN, USD, EUR to ARS – Argentine Peso Converter

Argentine Peso exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 1,538 ARS (10,000 ARS = 6.5 USD). 1 EUR = 1,712 ARS (10,000 ARS = 5.84 EUR).

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 18.64 MXN (100 MXN = 5.36 USD). 1 EUR = 20.75 MXN (100 MXN = 4.82 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Quilmes Mexico City 7,410 km ≈ 10 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Quilmes
  • 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
Quilmes vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Quilmes and in Mexico City?
Quilmes and Mexico City differ by about 68% in total monthly costs ($957 vs $1,608 including rent). Quilmes is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Quilmes or Mexico City?
Average pay runs 17% higher in Quilmes, 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 Quilmes and in Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $518 in Quilmes versus $1,113 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 Quilmes and Mexico City?
Childcare runs $240 in Quilmes versus $432 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 Quilmes – a meal for two runs $35 versus $48 in Mexico City. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is feasible on a $800 budget?
Both cities are expensive relative to $800. Quilmes is the more realistic option, but even there you’ll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
How does quality of life compare between Quilmes 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.

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