๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,320 in Saguenay versus $1,484 in Mexico City.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,369 in Saguenay versus $2,342 in Mexico City.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,418 in Saguenay versus $3,199 in Mexico City.
๐Living in Saguenay costs roughly 11% less than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Getting Around.
๐The two cities straddle the global median: Saguenay is 2% below, Mexico City is 10% above.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Saguenay
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.38CA$18.34
$13.29MX$231
0.68%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.87CA$61.5
$53.8MX$933
-16.52%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.13CA$15.25
$9.29MX$161
19.81%
Cappuccino
$3.78CA$5.18
$3.61MX$62.6
4.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.52CA$2.08
$1.56MX$27.03
-2.56%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.30CA$1.78
$1.12MX$19.46
16.07%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.39CA$7.39
$3.13MX$54.3
72.20%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.29CA$7.25
$4.71MX$81.7
12.31%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Saguenay
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.17CA$2.97
$1.70MX$29.54
27.65%
White Bread(500g)
$2.98CA$4.08
$2.77MX$48.03
7.58%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.45CA$6.09
$1.96MX$34.05
127.04%
Eggs
$2.53CA$3.47
$2.60MX$45.21
-2.69%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.77CA$17.50
$9.94MX$173
28.47%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.89CA$12.19
$8.10MX$141
9.75%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.86CA$18.99
$11.50MX$200
20.52%
Apples(1kg)
$4.15CA$5.68
$2.87MX$49.84
44.60%
Banana(1kg)
$1.32CA$1.81
$1.73MX$30.07
-23.70%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.13CA$5.66
$2.00MX$34.73
106.50%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.10CA$5.61
$2.04MX$35.38
100.98%
Potato(1kg)
$1.84CA$2.53
$2.08MX$36.14
-11.54%
Onion(1kg)
$1.65CA$2.26
$2.20MX$38.12
-25.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.61CA$3.58
$1.45MX$25.24
80.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84CA$1.15
$1.07MX$18.63
-21.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$12.16CA$16.66
$4.27MX$74.2
184.78%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.04CA$15.13
$14.32MX$249
-22.91%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.09CA$4.23
$1.76MX$30.62
75.57%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.97CA$2.71
$3.70MX$64.2
-46.76%
๐ Getting Around
Saguenay
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.71CA$3.72
$0.35MX$6.12
674.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$56.1CA$76.8
$19.19MX$333
192.24%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.64CA$4.99
$1.34MX$23.18
171.64%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.03CA$2.78
$0.28MX$4.83
625.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$30.86CA$42.28
$5.33MX$92.6
478.99%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.16CA$1.59
$1.34MX$23.27
-13.43%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.2KCA$34.5K
$19.1KMX$332.0K
31.62%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.5KCA$28.1K
$23.9KMX$414.5K
-14.15%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Saguenay
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$86.1CA$118
$39.86MX$692
116.01%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$38.78CA$53.1
$26.78MX$465
44.81%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$43.45CA$59.5
$29.36MX$510
47.99%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Saguenay
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$32.59CA$44.65
$53.4MX$927
-39.00%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.01CA$19.20
$26.09MX$453
-46.30%
Cinema Ticket
$9.55CA$13.09
$6.40MX$111
49.22%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Saguenay
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$600CA$822
$440MX$7,647
36.16%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,285CA$8,611
$10.8KMX$186.6K
-41.54%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Saguenay
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.5CA$82.9
$57.6MX$1,000
4.98%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.7CA$72.2
$45.02MX$781
17.06%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$97.1CA$133
$104MX$1,801
-6.36%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$129CA$177
$108MX$1,874
19.68%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Saguenay
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$614CA$841
$1,013MX$17.6K
-39.41%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$295CA$404
$630MX$10.9K
-53.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,308CA$1,792
$2,162MX$37.5K
-39.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,089CA$1,492
$1,222MX$21.2K
-10.84%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,853CA$8,019
$3,793MX$65.8K
54.32%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,609CA$4,944
$2,332MX$40.5K
54.75%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Saguenay
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,650CA$3,630
$1,075MX$18.7K
146.50%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.87
11.34
-39.42%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Saguenay: April 11, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: April 11, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $614 in Saguenay and $1,013 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
๐ฐSaguenay pays 147% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
๐Dining out: $45 in Saguenay vs $54 in Mexico City. Groceries flip the comparison at $340 vs $285, with Mexico City cheaper for home cooking.
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
Saguenay vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Saguenay and Mexico City?
Saguenay and Mexico City differ by about 12% in total monthly costs ($1,320 vs $1,484 including rent). Saguenay is meaningfully more affordable โ a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Saguenay or Mexico City?
Saguenay pays 147% more on average, 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 Saguenay and Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $614 in Saguenay versus $1,013 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Saguenay and Mexico City?
A monthly transit pass in Saguenay runs roughly 192% less than in Mexico City. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Saguenay and Mexico City?
Childcare runs $600 in Saguenay versus $440 in Mexico City. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,320 in Saguenay versus $1,484 in Mexico City, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Saguenay but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Saguenay the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Saguenay and Mexico City?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better โ the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Where should expats move: Saguenay or Mexico City?
Expats usually find Saguenay gentler on the wallet โ expenses run 12% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.