😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,767 in Road Town versus $1,456 in Mexico City.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,812 in Road Town versus $2,361 in Mexico City.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,857 in Road Town versus $3,266 in Mexico City.
🌍Living in Road Town is roughly 90% more expensive than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Road Town107% above, Mexico City9% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Road Town
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.91$19.91
$13.07MX$229
52.33%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$80.6$80.6
$53.8MX$940
49.99%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.31$11.31
$9.68MX$169
16.84%
Cappuccino
$4.82$4.82
$3.74MX$65.4
28.88%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.07$2.07
$1.62MX$28.25
27.78%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.71$1.71
$1.16MX$20.31
47.41%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.93$3.93
$3.23MX$56.4
21.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.78$1.78
$4.74MX$82.9
-62.45%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Road Town
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.39$2.39
$1.65MX$28.80
44.85%
White Bread(500g)
$4.68$4.68
$2.75MX$48.15
70.18%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.05$4.05
$1.87MX$32.77
116.58%
Eggs
$5.05$5.05
$2.50MX$43.72
102.00%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.03$18.03
$10.20MX$178
76.76%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.13$10.13
$8.25MX$144
22.79%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.78$14.78
$11.82MX$207
25.04%
Apples(1kg)
$3.76$3.76
$3.01MX$52.6
24.92%
Banana(1kg)
$2.98$2.98
$1.81MX$31.67
64.64%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.05$2.05
$2.00MX$34.96
2.50%
Tomato(1kg)
$6.52$6.52
$2.00MX$34.89
226.00%
Potato(1kg)
$4.68$4.68
$2.08MX$36.45
125.00%
Onion(1kg)
$3.59$3.59
$2.27MX$39.72
58.15%
Lettuce(1 head)
$6.22$6.22
$1.46MX$25.47
326.03%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.91$1.91
$1.08MX$18.82
76.85%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.04$5.04
$4.35MX$76.0
15.86%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.13$11.13
$16.99MX$297
-34.49%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$5.66$5.66
$1.73MX$30.31
227.17%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96$1.96
$3.58MX$62.5
-45.25%
🚌 Getting Around
Road Town
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.92$3.92
$0.39MX$6.77
905.13%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$18.69MX$327
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
-
$1.33MX$23.18
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$0.28MX$4.89
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$5.25MX$91.8
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.21$1.21
$1.34MX$23.37
-9.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$19.4KMX$339.4K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$23.8KMX$416.7K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Road Town
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$163$163
$40.69MX$712
300.64%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$81.5$81.5
$26.87MX$470
203.20%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$123$123
$30.51MX$534
303.21%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Road Town
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$119$119
$52.8MX$923
125.94%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.34$20.34
$26.65MX$466
-23.68%
Cinema Ticket
$9.93$9.93
$6.51MX$114
52.53%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Road Town
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$368$368
$428MX$7,485
-13.96%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.4K$10.4K
$10.5KMX$183.6K
-1.16%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Road Town
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.89$47.89
$57.3MX$1,001
-16.35%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$54.3$54.3
$45.50MX$796
19.34%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$128$128
$104MX$1,819
23.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$142$142
$108MX$1,885
31.55%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Road Town
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,670$1,670
$1,003MX$17.5K
66.49%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,392$1,392
$623MX$10.9K
123.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$4,415$4,415
$2,109MX$36.9K
109.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$3,638$3,638
$1,218MX$21.3K
198.72%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,885MX$67.9K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,033MX$35.5K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Road Town
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,665$1,665
$1,038MX$18.1K
60.44%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
0
11.34
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Road Town: July 12, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,670 in Road Town and $1,003 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Road Town pays 60% 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: $81.0 in Road Town vs $54.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $457 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
Road Town vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Road Town and in Mexico City?
Road Town and Mexico City differ by about 90% in total monthly costs ($2,767 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 pays better: Road Town or Mexico City?
Average pay runs 60% higher in Road Town, 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 Road Town and in Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,670 in Road Town versus $1,003 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 Road Town and Mexico City?
Childcare runs $368 in Road Town versus $428 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 Mexico City – a meal for two runs $54.0 versus $81.0 in Road Town. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,456 in Mexico City versus $2,767 in Road Town, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Mexico City but tight or insufficient in Road Town. The gap between the two cities makes Mexico City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Road Town 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 Road Town or Mexico City safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Road Town 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: Road Town or Mexico City?
Expats usually find Mexico City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 90% less than in Road Town. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.