Mexico & Central America

Cost of living in Mexico

Capital: Mexico CitySpanishUpdated October 2026

54%of US price level

Is Mexico expensive?

Prices in Mexico are about 54% of US price levels (World Bank PPP). The most affordable place we cover is Palenque, at about $769–1,210 a month for a comfortable life.

Cost of living in Mexico, by place

One person, rent included. SoloSquare estimates in US$.

Place	Month, comfortable	1-bed rent, center	Local meal	Value
Palenque	$769–1,210	$247–494	$3.3–6.0	82/100
San Cristóbal de las Casas	$988–1,540	$439–878	$3.3–6.6	70/100
Guanajuato	$988–1,540	$439–824	$3.3–6.0	83/100
Mazunte	$988–1,540	$439–824	$3.8–6.6	80/100
Campeche	$988–1,540	$384–769	$3.3–6.0	80/100
Valladolid	$1,100–1,650	$384–769	$3.8–7.1	72/100
Puebla	$1,100–1,760	$494–988	$3.3–6.0	71/100
Acapulco	$1,100–1,760	$494–988	$3.8–6.6	42/100
Huatulco	$1,100–1,760	$494–878	$3.8–7.1	69/100
Zihuatanejo	$1,100–1,760	$494–933	$3.8–6.6	61/100
Morelia	$1,100–1,760	$494–988	$3.3–6.0	64/100
Cuernavaca	$1,210–1,920	$439–988	$3.8–6.6	56/100
Mazatlán	$1,320–2,090	$549–1,100	$3.8–7.1	52/100
Querétaro	$1,320–2,090	$659–1,210	$3.8–6.6	64/100
Ajijic	$1,320–2,090	$659–1,210	$4.4–7.7	66/100
Bacalar	$1,370–2,200	$439–878	$3.8–7.7	58/100
La Paz	$1,430–2,200	$659–1,210	$4.4–7.7	55/100
Tijuana	$1,430–2,200	$659–1,320	$4.4–7.7	51/100
Oaxaca	$1,430–2,310	$549–1,100	$3.3–6.6	41/100
Puerto Escondido	$1,430–2,310	$494–988	$3.8–7.1	36/100
Guadalajara	$1,480–2,310	$604–1,210	$3.3–6.6	37/100
Mérida	$1,480–2,310	$549–1,100	$3.3–6.6	52/100
Monterrey	$1,540–2,470	$769–1,540	$4.4–7.7	43/100
Ensenada	$1,540–2,470	$659–1,370	$3.3–7.1	41/100
Puerto Peñasco	$1,540–2,470	$549–1,210	$3.8–7.7	39/100
Cozumel	$1,650–2,640	$549–1,100	$4.4–8.2	44/100
Isla Mujeres	$1,650–2,640	$549–1,100	$4.4–8.2	43/100
Puerto Morelos	$1,650–2,640	$769–1,430	$4.9–8.8	42/100
Todos Santos	$1,650–2,640	$824–1,540	$4.9–8.8	43/100
Holbox	$1,760–2,750	—	$5.5–9.9	40/100
San Miguel de Allende	$1,760–2,850	$769–1,540	$4.4–8.2	43/100
Sayulita	$1,870–3,020	$769–1,650	$4.9–9.3	26/100
Mexico City	$1,920–3,020	$878–1,760	$3.8–7.7	24/100
Cancún	$1,920–3,020	$769–1,540	$4.4–8.2	23/100
Puerto Vallarta	$1,920–3,020	$769–1,540	$4.4–8.2	20/100
Playa del Carmen	$2,090–3,290	$878–1,760	$4.9–8.8	20/100
Tulum	$2,310–3,840	$988–2,090	$4.9–9.3	11/100
Cabo San Lucas	$2,470–4,120	$988–2,090	$5.5–9.9	12/100

Cost of living by place

Sources

Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.