🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $315 in Yona versus $1,466 in Mexico City.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $677 in Yona versus $2,325 in Mexico City.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,039 in Yona versus $3,184 in Mexico City.
🙂Living in Yona costs roughly 79% less than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Yona is 76% below, Mexico City is 9% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Yona
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.11$20.11
$13.30MX$231
51.20%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$79.4$79.4
$53.8MX$932
47.63%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.77$11.77
$9.42MX$163
24.95%
Cappuccino
$6.09$6.09
$3.59MX$62.3
69.64%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96$1.96
$1.62MX$28.13
20.99%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51$1.51
$1.12MX$19.49
34.82%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.90$4.90
$3.25MX$56.3
50.77%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.02$7.02
$4.65MX$80.6
50.97%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Yona
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
-
$1.64MX$28.37
-
White Bread(500g)
-
$2.65MX$46.00
-
Rice(white)(1kg)
-
$1.96MX$33.99
-
Eggs
-
$2.54MX$44.08
-
Local Cheese(1kg)
-
$9.97MX$173
-
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
-
$8.39MX$145
-
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
-
$11.83MX$205
-
Apples(1kg)
-
$2.86MX$49.62
-
Banana(1kg)
-
$1.73MX$30.05
-
Oranges(1kg)
-
$1.99MX$34.50
-
Tomato(1kg)
-
$2.05MX$35.51
-
Potato(1kg)
-
$2.06MX$35.64
-
Onion(1kg)
-
$2.28MX$39.54
-
Lettuce(1 head)
-
$1.45MX$25.05
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.09MX$18.83
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
-
$4.27MX$73.9
-
Wine(Bottle)
-
$14.67MX$254
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.76MX$30.58
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.57MX$61.8
-
🚌 Getting Around
Yona
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.38MX$6.67
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$18.73MX$325
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
-
$1.39MX$24.09
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$0.30MX$5.26
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$5.41MX$93.8
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
-
$1.34MX$23.22
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$18.9KMX$326.7K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.1K$24.1K
$23.2KMX$402.0K
3.67%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Yona
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
-
$40.30MX$698
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$27.15MX$471
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
-
$29.46MX$510
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Yona
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$52.7MX$914
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$26.17MX$454
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$6.18MX$107
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Yona
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
-
$441MX$7,637
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$10.7KMX$185.4K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Yona
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$57.2MX$992
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$45.04MX$781
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
-
$103MX$1,793
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$109MX$1,884
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Yona
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,000MX$17.3K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$632MX$11.0K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$2,141MX$37.1K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,253MX$21.7K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,745MX$64.9K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,381MX$41.3K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Yona
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,207$3,207
$1,079MX$18.7K
197.18%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
0
11.34
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Yona: April 19, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: April 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $0 in Yona and $1,000 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Yona pays 197% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $79 in Yona vs $54 in Mexico City. Groceries flip the comparison at $0 vs $286, with Yona 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
Yona vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Yona and Mexico City?
Yona and Mexico City differ by about 365% in total monthly costs ($315 vs $1,466 including rent). Yona is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Yona or Mexico City?
Yona pays 197% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Yona – a meal for two runs $79.0 versus $54.0 in Mexico City. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Yona or Mexico City?
All in, you'll spend $315 per month in Yona versus $1,466 in Mexico City – a 365% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $315 in Yona versus $1,466 in Mexico City, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Yona but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Yona the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Yona and Mexico City?
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.
Where should expats move: Yona or Mexico City?
Expats usually find Yona gentler on the wallet – expenses run 365% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.