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

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: San Jose is 20.4% more expensive than Mexico City without rent, and 9.9% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: San Jose is 14.4% more expensive than Mexico City without rent, and 6.4% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
San Jose
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.76 โ‚ก5,385
$13.38 MX$253
-19.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$59 โ‚ก29.5K
$52.7 MX$997
11.89%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.85 โ‚ก4,931
$9.31 MX$176
5.80%
Cappuccino
$3.88 โ‚ก1,942
$3.61 MX$68.3
7.48%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96 โ‚ก983
$1.64 MX$30.91
19.51%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.59 โ‚ก794
$1.12 MX$21.14
41.96%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.04 โ‚ก1,522
$3.26 MX$61.7
-6.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.59 โ‚ก2,300
$4.82 MX$91.1
-4.77%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
San Jose
Mexico City
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.02 โ‚ก1,013
$1.65 MX$31.24
22.42%
White Bread (500g)
$2.88 โ‚ก1,443
$2.74 MX$51.7
5.11%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.13 โ‚ก1,067
$1.92 MX$36.28
10.94%
Eggs
$2.94 โ‚ก1,472
$2.51 MX$47.53
17.13%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.69 โ‚ก4,852
$9.89 MX$187
-2.02%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.22 โ‚ก4,617
$8.39 MX$159
9.89%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.64 โ‚ก6,831
$11.95 MX$226
14.14%
Apples (1kg)
$4.47 โ‚ก2,238
$2.87 MX$54.3
55.75%
Banana (1kg)
$1.45 โ‚ก728
$1.74 MX$32.85
-16.67%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.38 โ‚ก2,192
$2 MX$37.81
119.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.55 โ‚ก1,779
$2.07 MX$39.14
71.50%
Potato (1kg)
$3.55 โ‚ก1,777
$2.05 MX$38.78
73.17%
Onion (1kg)
$3.25 โ‚ก1,628
$2.18 MX$41.22
49.08%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.04 โ‚ก519
$1.38 MX$26.16
-24.64%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.8 โ‚ก1,403
$1.11 MX$21.06
152.25%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.43 โ‚ก2,716
$4.16 MX$78.6
30.53%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.98 โ‚ก9,503
$11.05 MX$209
71.76%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.41 โ‚ก1,205
$1.75 MX$33.16
37.71%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92 โ‚ก1,461
$3.7 MX$70
-21.08%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
San Jose
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1 โ‚ก501
$0.38 MX$7.25
163.16%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.57 โ‚ก20.8K
$18.97 MX$359
119.14%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.88 โ‚ก939
$1.36 MX$25.72
38.24%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.86 โ‚ก930
$0.28 MX$5.25
564.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.8 โ‚ก3,904
$5.3 MX$100
47.17%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.4 โ‚ก699
$1.36 MX$25.63
2.94%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.7K โ‚ก18.9M
$18.8K MX$354.6K
101.07%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.7K โ‚ก16.4M
$23.4K MX$441.7K
40.03%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
San Jose
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$92.9 โ‚ก46.5K
$39.97 MX$756
132.30%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.98 โ‚ก13K
$27.48 MX$519
-5.46%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$60.2 โ‚ก30.1K
$30.22 MX$571
99.17%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
San Jose
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$56.2 โ‚ก28.2K
$52.6 MX$994
6.92%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$38.51 โ‚ก19.3K
$26.84 MX$507
43.48%
Cinema Ticket
$9.89 โ‚ก4,953
$6.32 MX$120
56.49%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
San Jose
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$567 โ‚ก283.6K
$437 MX$8,258
29.71%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.8K โ‚ก6.4M
$10.6K MX$199.9K
21.48%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
San Jose
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.5 โ‚ก31.8K
$57.2 MX$1,082
11.05%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.8 โ‚ก25.4K
$45.14 MX$853
12.56%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$125 โ‚ก62.6K
$102 MX$1,928
22.64%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107 โ‚ก53.7K
$109 MX$2,056
-1.42%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
San Jose
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$865 โ‚ก433K
$1,000 MX$18.9K
-13.46%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$536 โ‚ก268.3K
$622 MX$11.8K
-13.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,427 โ‚ก714.5K
$2,160 MX$40.8K
-33.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,034 โ‚ก517.9K
$1,235 MX$23.3K
-16.24%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,869 โ‚ก1.4M
$3,566 MX$67.4K
-19.54%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,697 โ‚ก849.3K
$2,480 MX$46.9K
-31.59%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
San Jose
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$996 โ‚ก498.4K
$867 MX$16.4K
14.77%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.17
11.34
-10.32%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for San Jose: October 29, 2025

Last update for Mexico City: October 28, 2025

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