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

😐 Solo nomad: San Jose is 20.2% more expensive than Mexico City without rent, and 7% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: San Jose is 17.9% more expensive than Mexico City without rent, and 6% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
San Jose
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.95 ₡5,023
$13.29 MX$230
-17.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$58.6 ₡26.9K
$53.8 MX$929
9.08%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.24 ₡4,695
$9.29 MX$161
10.23%
Cappuccino
$3.94 ₡1,809
$3.61 MX$62.4
9.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.07 ₡950
$1.56 MX$26.92
32.69%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.59 ₡728
$1.12 MX$19.38
41.96%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.94 ₡1,349
$3.13 MX$54.0
-6.07%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.70 ₡2,156
$4.71 MX$81.4
-0.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
San Jose
Mexico City
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.05 ₡941
$1.70 MX$29.42
20.59%
White Bread (500g)
$2.86 ₡1,311
$2.77 MX$47.84
3.25%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.16 ₡991
$1.96 MX$33.91
10.20%
Eggs
$2.98 ₡1,367
$2.60 MX$45.03
14.62%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.24 ₡4,699
$9.94 MX$172
3.02%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.10 ₡4,173
$8.10 MX$140
12.35%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.81 ₡6,333
$11.50 MX$199
20.09%
Apples (1kg)
$4.37 ₡2,006
$2.87 MX$49.64
52.26%
Banana (1kg)
$1.50 ₡689
$1.73 MX$29.95
-13.29%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.38 ₡2,011
$2.00 MX$34.59
119.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.46 ₡1,586
$2.04 MX$35.24
69.61%
Potato (1kg)
$3.54 ₡1,624
$2.08 MX$36.00
70.19%
Onion (1kg)
$3.22 ₡1,477
$2.20 MX$37.96
46.36%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.97 ₡445
$1.45 MX$25.13
-33.10%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.89 ₡1,327
$1.07 MX$18.56
170.09%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.15 ₡2,361
$4.27 MX$73.9
20.61%
Wine (Bottle)
$21.98 ₡10.1K
$14.32 MX$248
53.49%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.49 ₡1,143
$1.76 MX$30.50
41.48%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.85 ₡1,306
$3.70 MX$63.9
-22.97%
🚌 Getting Around
San Jose
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.03 ₡474
$0.35 MX$6.10
194.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$40.58 ₡18.6K
$19.19 MX$332
111.46%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.87 ₡859
$1.34 MX$23.09
39.55%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.81 ₡829
$0.28 MX$4.81
546.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.12 ₡3,724
$5.33 MX$92.2
52.35%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.44 ₡663
$1.34 MX$23.18
7.46%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.2K ₡17.5M
$19.1K MX$330.6K
99.66%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.5K ₡14.9M
$23.9K MX$412.9K
35.98%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
San Jose
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$93.4 ₡42.8K
$39.86 MX$689
134.24%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.89 ₡11.9K
$26.78 MX$463
-3.32%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$59.5 ₡27.3K
$29.36 MX$508
102.76%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
San Jose
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.6 ₡26.4K
$53.4 MX$924
7.73%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$38.80 ₡17.8K
$26.09 MX$451
48.72%
Cinema Ticket
$9.78 ₡4,484
$6.40 MX$111
52.81%
🧸 Childcare & Education
San Jose
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$559 ₡256.5K
$440 MX$7,616
26.95%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.8K ₡5.9M
$10.8K MX$185.9K
19.24%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
San Jose
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$61.9 ₡28.4K
$57.6 MX$996
7.43%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.1 ₡23.5K
$45.02 MX$778
13.59%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$124 ₡56.7K
$104 MX$1,794
19.18%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106 ₡48.5K
$108 MX$1,866
-2.08%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
San Jose
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$885 ₡405.9K
$1,013 MX$17.5K
-12.64%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$540 ₡247.6K
$630 MX$10.9K
-14.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,438 ₡659.8K
$2,162 MX$37.4K
-33.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,038 ₡475.9K
$1,222 MX$21.1K
-15.08%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,292 ₡1.1M
$3,793 MX$65.6K
-39.56%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,773 ₡813.1K
$2,332 MX$40.3K
-23.99%
💵 Salaries & Financials
San Jose
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,007 ₡461.8K
$1,075 MX$18.6K
-6.32%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.17
11.34
-10.32%

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

Last update for San Jose: April 12, 2026

Last update for Mexico City: April 11, 2026

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

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