Cost of Living Comparison Between San José and Mexico City Cost of Living Comparison Between San José and Mexico City

😐 Solo nomad: San José is 6.5% more expensive than Mexico City without rent, and 30.8% cheaper with rent.
😐 Family of 3: San José is 2.2% more expensive than Mexico City without rent, and 33.5% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
San José
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.87 UYU 652
$13.38 MX$253
18.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$54.1 UYU 2,222
$52.7 MX$997
2.54%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.18 UYU 460
$9.31 MX$176
20.09%
Cappuccino
$4.26 UYU 175
$3.61 MX$68.3
18.01%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17 UYU 89
$1.64 MX$30.91
32.32%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.77 UYU 72.6
$1.12 MX$21.14
58.04%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.33 UYU 178
$3.26 MX$61.7
32.82%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.74 UYU 154
$4.82 MX$91.1
-22.41%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
San José
Mexico City
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.99 UYU 40.62
$1.65 MX$31.24
-40.00%
White Bread (500g)
$1.91 UYU 78.6
$2.74 MX$51.7
-30.29%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.46 UYU 59.8
$1.92 MX$36.28
-23.96%
Eggs
$2.51 UYU 103
$2.51 MX$47.53
-
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.42 UYU 510
$9.89 MX$187
25.58%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.13 UYU 293
$8.39 MX$159
-15.02%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.19 UYU 460
$11.95 MX$226
-6.36%
Apples (1kg)
$1.19 UYU 49.1
$2.87 MX$54.3
-58.54%
Banana (1kg)
$1.49 UYU 61
$1.74 MX$32.85
-14.37%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.19 UYU 49
$2 MX$37.81
-40.50%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.49 UYU 61.3
$2.07 MX$39.14
-28.02%
Potato (1kg)
$0.93 UYU 38.35
$2.05 MX$38.78
-54.63%
Onion (1kg)
$1.2 UYU 49.51
$2.18 MX$41.22
-44.95%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.32 UYU 54.4
$1.38 MX$26.16
-4.35%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.66 UYU 68.2
$1.11 MX$21.06
49.55%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.01 UYU 206
$4.16 MX$78.6
20.43%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.91 UYU 407
$11.05 MX$209
-10.32%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 UYU 96.5
$1.75 MX$33.16
34.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.01 UYU 124
$3.7 MX$70
-18.65%
🚌 Getting Around
San José
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.24 UYU 50.9
$0.38 MX$7.25
226.32%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$43.32 UYU 1,780
$18.97 MX$359
128.36%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.49 UYU 61.4
$1.36 MX$25.72
9.56%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.56 UYU 63.9
$0.28 MX$5.25
457.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$11.22 UYU 461
$5.3 MX$100
111.70%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.82 UYU 74.9
$1.36 MX$25.63
33.82%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.4K UYU 1.4M
$18.8K MX$354.6K
83.50%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.7K UYU 1.5M
$23.4K MX$441.7K
57.02%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
San José
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$172 UYU 7,055
$39.97 MX$756
329.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.75 UYU 688
$27.48 MX$519
-39.05%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$49 UYU 2,014
$30.22 MX$571
62.14%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
San José
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$52.6 MX$994
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$26.84 MX$507
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.6 UYU 435
$6.32 MX$120
67.72%
🧸 Childcare & Education
San José
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$483 UYU 19.9K
$437 MX$8,258
10.67%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,821 UYU 362.5K
$10.6K MX$199.9K
-16.56%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
San José
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$91.7 UYU 3,768
$57.2 MX$1,082
60.24%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.8 UYU 1,923
$45.14 MX$853
3.68%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$115 UYU 4,739
$102 MX$1,928
13.09%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$123 UYU 5,072
$109 MX$2,056
13.51%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
San José
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,000 MX$18.9K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$622 MX$11.8K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$2,160 MX$40.8K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,235 MX$23.3K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$3,566 MX$67.4K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$2,480 MX$46.9K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
San José
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$867 MX$16.4K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.68
11.34
-49.91%

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

Last update for San José: October 28, 2025

Last update for Mexico City: October 28, 2025

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