🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,048 in Zacapoaxtla versus $1,677 in Mexico City.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,718 in Zacapoaxtla versus $2,608 in Mexico City.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,387 in Zacapoaxtla versus $3,540 in Mexico City.
🌍Living in Zacapoaxtla costs roughly 37% less than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Zacapoaxtla is 24% below, Mexico City is 22% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Zacapoaxtla
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.14MX$86.8
$12.14MX$205
-57.66%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$52.1MX$879
$53.9MX$910
-3.43%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.90MX$99.6
$11.09MX$187
-46.80%
Cappuccino
$2.10MX$35.44
$4.10MX$69.2
-48.78%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.02MX$17.21
$1.68MX$28.40
-39.29%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38MX$23.23
$1.39MX$23.44
-0.72%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.30MX$21.96
$3.33MX$56.2
-60.96%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37MX$40.00
$5.88MX$99.3
-59.69%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Zacapoaxtla
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38MX$23.31
$1.85MX$31.26
-25.41%
White Bread(500g)
$1.28MX$21.61
$3.17MX$53.5
-59.62%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.21MX$20.45
$2.07MX$34.96
-41.55%
Eggs
$1.83MX$30.87
$2.93MX$49.44
-37.54%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.85MX$217
$12.59MX$213
2.07%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.02MX$84.8
$10.11MX$171
-50.35%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$5.33MX$90.0
$16.09MX$272
-66.87%
Apples(1kg)
$1.71MX$28.86
$3.39MX$57.2
-49.56%
Banana(1kg)
$1.39MX$23.53
$2.08MX$35.09
-33.17%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.60MX$10.16
$2.12MX$35.80
-71.70%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.78MX$13.19
$2.41MX$40.76
-67.63%
Potato(1kg)
$0.85MX$14.34
$2.13MX$35.95
-60.09%
Onion(1kg)
$1.16MX$19.60
$2.01MX$33.86
-42.29%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.08MX$18.32
$1.55MX$26.09
-30.32%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.04MX$17.63
$1.36MX$23.04
-23.53%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.72MX$79.7
$5.77MX$97.4
-18.20%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.36MX$242
$17.74MX$300
-19.05%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20MX$20.28
$2.07MX$34.95
-42.03%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.80MX$81.1
$4.61MX$77.9
4.12%
🚌 Getting Around
Zacapoaxtla
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.69MX$11.71
$0.37MX$6.18
86.49%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$21.18MX$358
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.21MX$20.50
$2.05MX$34.68
-40.98%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.57MX$9.69
$0.58MX$9.74
-1.72%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.98MX$101
$6.07MX$103
-1.48%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.62MX$27.38
$1.55MX$26.22
4.52%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$15.1KMX$255.4K
$22.9KMX$386.2K
-33.88%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.3KMX$460.1K
$27.2KMX$459.8K
0.07%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Zacapoaxtla
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$46.91MX$792
$67.4MX$1,138
-30.41%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.57MX$499
$30.62MX$517
-3.43%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.85MX$588
$37.24MX$629
-6.42%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Zacapoaxtla
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$36.66MX$619
$61.5MX$1,038
-40.35%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.59MX$365
$27.12MX$458
-20.39%
Cinema Ticket
$7.01MX$118
$7.11MX$120
-1.41%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Zacapoaxtla
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$469MX$7,914
$456MX$7,703
2.74%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,001MX$84.4K
$13.7KMX$231.2K
-63.48%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Zacapoaxtla
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$74.5MX$1,258
$74.2MX$1,253
0.46%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$56.2MX$949
$57.0MX$963
-1.44%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115MX$1,944
$115MX$1,949
-0.26%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$125MX$2,110
$122MX$2,052
2.84%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Zacapoaxtla
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$658MX$11.1K
$1,148MX$19.4K
-42.70%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$422MX$7,125
$709MX$12.0K
-40.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,104MX$18.6K
$2,577MX$43.5K
-57.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$815MX$13.8K
$1,295MX$21.9K
-37.04%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,942MX$32.8K
$4,005MX$67.6K
-51.53%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,249MX$21.1K
$2,130MX$36.0K
-41.36%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Zacapoaxtla
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$636MX$10.7K
$1,082MX$18.3K
-41.23%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.3
11.3
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Zacapoaxtla: September 8, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: September 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $658 in Zacapoaxtla and $1,148 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 70% 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: $52.0 in Zacapoaxtla vs $54.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $208 vs $345 per month, with Zacapoaxtla 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
Zacapoaxtla vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Zacapoaxtla and in Mexico City?
Zacapoaxtla and Mexico City differ by about 60% in total monthly costs ($1,048 vs $1,677 including rent). Zacapoaxtla is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 70% lower in Mexico City. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Zacapoaxtla and in Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $658 in Zacapoaxtla versus $1,148 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Zacapoaxtla and Mexico City?
Childcare runs $469 in Zacapoaxtla versus $456 in Mexico City. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Zacapoaxtla – a meal for two runs $52.0 versus $54.0 in Mexico City. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $1,048 in Zacapoaxtla versus $1,677 in Mexico City, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Zacapoaxtla but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Zacapoaxtla the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Zacapoaxtla 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: Zacapoaxtla or Mexico City?
Expats usually find Zacapoaxtla gentler on the wallet – expenses run 60% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Zacapoaxtla vs other spots: cost of living compared