Cost of living in Mexico
Summary of cost of living in Mexico
- Family of four estimated monthly costs: Mex$ 47,422
- Single person estimated monthly costs: Mex$ 22,374
- Cost of living in Mexico is cheaper than in 64% of countries in Latin America (9 out of 14)
- Cost of living in Mexico is cheaper than in 75% of countries in the World (58 out of 77)
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| Food | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic lunchtime menu (including a drink) in the business district | Mex$ 259 | ||
| Combo meal in fast food restaurant (big mac meal or similar) | Mex$ 144 | ||
| 500 gr (1 lb.) of boneless chicken breast | Mex$ 64 | ||
| 1 liter (1 qt.) of whole fat milk | Mex$ 24 | ||
| 12 eggs, large | Mex$ 42 | ||
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of tomatoes | Mex$ 25 | ||
| 500 gr (16 oz.) of local cheese | Mex$ 78 | ||
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of apples | Mex$ 48 | ||
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of potatoes | Mex$ 30 | ||
| 0.5 l (16 oz) domestic beer in the supermarket | Mex$ 25 | ||
| 1 bottle of red table wine, good quality | Mex$ 285 | ||
| 2 liters of coca-cola | Mex$ 34 | ||
| Bread for 2 people for 1 day | Mex$ 22 | ||
| Housing | |||
| Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in expensive area | Mex$ 18,909 | ||
| Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in normal area | Mex$ 9,023 | ||
| Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 2 people in 85m2 flat | Mex$ 1,019 | ||
| Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in expensive area | Mex$ 12,036 | ||
| Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in normal area | Mex$ 6,527 | ||
| Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 1 person in 45 m2 (480 sqft) studio | Mex$ 700 | ||
| Internet 8 mbps (1 month) | Mex$ 385 | ||
| 40” flat screen tv | Mex$ 7,439 | ||
| Microwave 800/900 watt (bosch, panasonic, lg, sharp, or equivalent brands) | Mex$ 2,432 | ||
| Laundry detergent (3 l. ~ 100 oz.) | Mex$ 113 | ||
| Hourly rate for cleaning help | Mex$ 120 | ||
| Clothes | |||
| 1 pair of jeans (levis 501 or similar) | Mex$ 926 | ||
| 1 summer dress in a high street store (zara, h&m or similar retailers) | Mex$ 699 | ||
| 1 pair of sport shoes (nike, adidas, or equivalent brands) | Mex$ 1,616 | ||
| 1 pair of men’s leather business shoes | Mex$ 1,274 | ||
| Transportation | |||
| Volkswagen golf 1.4 tsi 150 cv (or equivalent), with no extras, new | Mex$ 351,338 | ||
| 1 liter (1/4 gallon) of gas | Mex$ 22 | ||
| Monthly ticket public transport | Mex$ 548 | ||
| Personal Care | |||
| Cold medicine for 6 days (tylenol, frenadol, coldrex, or equivalent brands) | Mex$ 85 | ||
| 1 box of antibiotics (12 doses) | Mex$ 180 | ||
| Short visit to private doctor (15 minutes) | Mex$ 615 | ||
| 1 box of 32 tampons (tampax, ob, ...) | Mex$ 72 | ||
| Deodorant, roll-on (50ml ~ 1.5 oz.) | Mex$ 57 | ||
| Hair shampoo 2-in-1 (400 ml ~ 12 oz.) | Mex$ 64 | ||
| 4 rolls of toilet paper | Mex$ 32 | ||
| Tube of toothpaste | Mex$ 36 | ||
| Standard men's haircut in expat area of the city | Mex$ 220 | ||
| Entertainment | |||
| Basic dinner out for two in neighborhood pub | Mex$ 354 | ||
| 2 tickets to the movies | Mex$ 160 | ||
| 2 tickets to the theater (best available seats) | Mex$ 823 | ||
| Dinner for two at an italian restaurant in the expat area including appetisers, main course, wine and dessert | Mex$ 790 | ||
| 1 cocktail drink in downtown club | Mex$ 148 | ||
| Cappuccino in expat area of the city | Mex$ 84 | ||
| 1 beer in neighbourhood pub (500ml or 1pt.) | Mex$ 44 | ||
| Ipad wi-fi 128gb | Mex$ 13,012 | ||
| 1 min. of prepaid mobile tariff (no discounts or plans) | Mex$ 2.62 | ||
| 1 month of gym membership in business district | Mex$ 889 | ||
| 1 package of marlboro cigarettes | Mex$ 69 | ||
Moving to Mexico with your children?
International Schools in Mexico
Map of Cost of Living in Mexico
This map shows only the top cities in Mexico. We also have on this page a list of all the cities available in Expatistan:
List of all the cities available in Expatistan
The color of each marker corresponds with the cost of living in the city red markers show more expensive cities green ones show cheaper cities
Moving the mouse on top of a city will show its name and the Cost of Living Index of that city.
What is the Cost of Living Index? To calculate each city's Price Index value, we start by assigning a value of 100 to a
central reference city (that happens to be Prague).
Once the reference point has been established, the Price Index value of every other city in the
database is calculated by comparing their cost of living to the cost of living in Prague.
Therefore, if a city has a Price Index of 134, that means that living there is 34% more expensive than living in Prague.
Cost of Living Ranking in Mexico
(top cities by data quality)
| Ranking | City | Price Index * |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Monterrey | 106 |
| 2nd | Cancún | 99 |
| 3rd | Mexico City | 94 |
| 4th | Zapopan | 94 |
| 5th | Mérida | 92 |
| 6th | Puerto Vallarta | 91 |
| 7th | Queretaro | 90 |
| 8th | Guadalajara | 86 |
| 9th | Puebla | 84 |
| 10th | Playa del Carmen | 82 |
| 11th | Mazatlán | 82 |
| 12th | Villahermosa | 81 |
| 13th | Ensenada | 80 |
| 14th | Culiacán | 76 |
| 15th | Veracruz | 72 |
| 16th | Tampico | 71 |
| 17th | Cuautitlán Izcalli | 71 |
| 18th | Aguascalientes | 70 |
| 19th | Xalapa | 66 |
Price Index:
To calculate each city's Price Index value, we start by assigning a value of 100 to a central reference city (that happens to be Prague). Once the reference point has been established, the Price Index value of every other city in the database is calculated by comparing their cost of living to the cost of living in Prague.Therefore, if a city has a Price Index of 134, that means that living there is 34% more expensive than living in Prague.
Are you moving to Mexico? Do you know how much money you will need there to maintain your current standard of living?
Find out what is the real equivalent in Mexico of your current salary and improve your chances of a happy relocation.
Get a salary calculation for:
List of all cities available in Mexico
Recent Comparisons
- Cost of living in Puerto Vallarta is 59% cheaper than in Washington D.C.
- Cost of living in Mexico City is 37% more expensive than in Bogotá
- Cost of living in Mexico City is 7% cheaper than in Santiago
- Cost of living in Mexico City is 88% more expensive than in Buenos Aires
- Cost of living in Guadalajara is 10% cheaper than in Mexico City
- Cost of living in Mexico City is 37% cheaper than in Detroit, Michigan
- Cost of living in Reynosa is 27% cheaper than in Tijuana
- Cost of living in Monterrey is 4% more expensive than in Mexico City
- Cost of living in Ensenada is 22% cheaper than in Buenos Aires
- Cost of living in Mexico City is 22% cheaper than in San Jose, Costa Rica
- Cost of living in Mexico City is 31% cheaper than in Montevideo
- Cost of living in Veracruz is 25% cheaper than in Mexico City
- Cost of living in Puebla is 13% cheaper than in Mexico City
- Cost of living in Mexico City is 59% cheaper than in Miami, Florida
- Cost of living in Xalapa is about the same as in Celaya
Compare other countries
Prices recently added
- 500 ml beer in neighbourhood pub in Mexico City costs Mex$ 60 (1 day ago)
- Cappuccino in expat area of the city in Mexico City costs Mex$ 70 (1 day ago)
- Cocktail drink in downtown club in Mexico City costs Mex$ 150 (1 day ago)
- Nice dinner at an italian restaurant, dinner for two in Mexico City costs Mex$ 600 (1 day ago)
- 2 tickets to the movies in Mexico City costs Mex$ 200 (1 day ago)
- Basic dinner out in neighborhood pub, dinner for two in Mexico City costs Mex$ 200 (1 day ago)
- Standard men's haircut in expat area of the city in Mexico City costs Mex$ 250 (1 day ago)
- 75 ml tube of toothpaste in Mexico City costs Mex$ 25 (1 day ago)
- 4 rolls of toilet paper in Mexico City costs Mex$ 30 (1 day ago)
- 400 ml hair shampoo 2-in-1 in Mexico City costs Mex$ 50 (1 day ago)