Cost of Living Comparison Between Tortola and Mexico City Cost of Living Comparison Between Tortola and Mexico City

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,550 in Tortola versus $1,472 in Mexico City.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,311 in Tortola versus $2,359 in Mexico City.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,072 in Tortola versus $3,245 in Mexico City.

Living in Tortola is roughly 73% more expensive than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Tortola 92% above, Mexico City 11% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$28.72 $28.72

$13.14 MX$229

118.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$77.1 $77.1

$53.5 MX$934

44.05%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.73 $14.73

$9.33 MX$163

57.88%

Cappuccino

$7.36 $7.36

$3.70 MX$64.5

98.92%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.81 $1.81

$1.60 MX$27.98

13.12%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.32 $1.32

$1.12 MX$19.49

17.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.41 $3.41

$3.14 MX$54.7

8.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.08 $4.08

$4.85 MX$84.5

-15.88%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.62 $2.62

$1.65 MX$28.84

58.79%

White Bread (500g)

$5.34 $5.34

$2.71 MX$47.34

97.05%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.89 $6.89

$1.91 MX$33.29

260.73%

Eggs

$7.13 $7.13

$2.59 MX$45.17

175.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.23 $13.23

$9.81 MX$171

34.86%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.77 $12.77

$8.43 MX$147

51.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.98 $19.98

$11.93 MX$208

67.48%

Apples (1kg)

$3.33 $3.33

$2.95 MX$51.5

12.88%

Banana (1kg)

$3.89 $3.89

$1.74 MX$30.35

123.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.96 $1.96

$2.04 MX$35.66

-3.92%

Tomato (1kg)

$7.42 $7.42

$2.06 MX$35.93

260.19%

Potato (1kg)

$5.96 $5.96

$2.15 MX$37.49

177.21%

Onion (1kg)

$4.94 $4.94

$2.26 MX$39.33

118.58%

Lettuce (1 head)

$12.15 $12.15

$1.39 MX$24.17

774.10%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.12 MX$19.47

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.87 $4.87

$4.22 MX$73.6

15.40%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.10 $11.10

$17.51 MX$305

-36.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.04 $4.04

$1.71 MX$29.82

136.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 MX$63.4

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.35 MX$6.15

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.32 MX$337

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.38 MX$24.00

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.28 MX$4.81

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.28 MX$92.0

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 MX$23.69

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$19.1K MX$333.2K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$23.6K MX$411.7K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$124 $124

$40.53 MX$707

205.82%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$101 $101

$27.38 MX$478

269.43%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$117 $117

$30.38 MX$530

284.76%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$120 $120

$52.2 MX$911

130.72%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.48 MX$462

Cinema Ticket

$14.90 $14.90

$6.19 MX$108

140.71%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$425 MX$7,414

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.7K MX$187.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.3 MX$1,017

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.57 MX$777

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$179 $179

$103 MX$1,805

72.92%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 $109

$109 MX$1,897

0.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,253 $1,253

$1,014 MX$17.7K

23.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$995 $995

$623 MX$10.9K

59.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,013 $3,013

$2,119 MX$37.0K

42.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,750 $2,750

$1,223 MX$21.3K

124.78%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,792 MX$66.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$10.6K $10.6K

$2,110 MX$36.8K

402.22%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,842 $1,842

$1,052 MX$18.4K

75.06%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.5

11.34

-51.50%

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

Last update for Tortola: July 27, 2026

Last update for Mexico City: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,253 in Tortola and $1,014 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Tortola pays 75% 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: $77.0 in Tortola vs $54.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $503 vs $293 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

Tortola vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Tortola and Mexico City differ by about 73% in total monthly costs ($2,550 vs $1,472 including rent). Mexico City is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 75% higher in Tortola, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,253 in Tortola versus $1,014 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Mexico City – a meal for two runs $54.0 versus $77.0 in Tortola. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,550 per month in Tortola versus $1,472 in Mexico City – a 73% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,472 in Mexico City versus $2,550 in Tortola, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Mexico City but tight or insufficient in Tortola. The gap between the two cities makes Mexico City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Safety-wise, Tortola 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.

Expats usually find Mexico City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 73% less than in Tortola. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.