Cost of Living in Mexico for 6 Weeks: Our Detailed Breakdown
If you’re considering living in Mexico – whether as a digital nomad, expat, or part-time traveler – you’re probably trying to figure out: What’s the real cost of living in Mexico? We’re Jeff and Sandra, American expats and nomads. We spent 6 weeks (46 nights) living in two very different Mexican cities: Guanajuato and Mexico City. Here’s exactly what we spent – and why. If you’re looking for real-world examples and transparency around food, rent, and lifestyle choices, keep reading.
We’re not on a luxury travel budget or backpacker shoestring – our monthly cost of living target is $2,700 for all living expenses (excluding the cost of moving between locations). This is not just a travel budget – it’s our full-time cost-of-living budget, covering everything from rent to groceries and insurance.
Where We Stayed and What It Cost
We split our 46-night stay between:
- Mexico City (5 nights): $547
- Guanajuato (41 nights): $1,783
That’s $2,330 total for 46 nights, or about $50 per night.
💡 Our accommodation goal is $900 per month – or $30 per night – so we were over our target.
Why the splurge?
In Guanajuato, we paid more for a huge apartment, walkable to everything – but not right in the noisy heart of downtown. Worth every peso.
In Mexico City, we stayed just a block from Zócalo in the Historic Center. We only had five nights, and we wanted to make the most of them – explore on foot, not in stuck in traffic.
We stayed at Hotel Catedral in Mexico City – rooftop terrace, steps from Metropolitan Cathedral.
Cost of Living: Food – Eating Out & Groceries
Over the 46 days, we ate 23 meals out and spent $495 total – under our dining out target of $613. 🎉
We’re casual eaters – think tortas, street-food and (the best!) pancakes, not multi-course tasting menus. In Guanajuato, tortas were a staple, and we found a favorite pancake place we visited several times. Our most expensive meal was $51 at a trendy rooftop restaurant in Mexico City, but most meals ranged from $5 to $20.
For meals at home, we estimate 90 to 95 during our stay. Groceries totaled $563, also under our $613 target. We include household items like toothpaste and foil in that grocery category because…who has time to separate that cost from the actual grocery-groceries stuff?
Total food spending: $1,058
Target for 46 days: $1,226
✔️ We came in under budget!
Cost of Living: Activities and Local Travel
This is where we blew the budget. Our spending of $652 here far exceeded our $300/month budget.
While we don’t normally do tons of sightseeing, Mexico inspired us. We did:
- Two guided tours
- A silversmithing class (we made our own sterling silver rings!)
Totally worth it. We’re not “tourist activity” people by default, but Mexico won us over.
Create Your Own Silver Ring: Private Jewelry Workshop
You will visit a local jewelry school in the heart Guanajuato, a few steps from the iconic Juárez Theater. You’ll design and create your own handcrafted sterling silver ring using over ten different silversmithing techniques.
Cost of Living: Technology & Health Care
- Technology: $109 (includes replacement earbuds, Google Workspace subscription, etc.)
- Health Care: $694 (mainly recurring health insurance premiums, both US and international)
Our international health insurance is billed annually but budgeted at about $201/month for planning purposes.
Cost of Living: Miscellaneous Expenses
Miscellaneous costs (insurance, life policies, odds and ends) totaled $635, higher than usual due to a semi-annual car insurance payment for a truck my grandpa bought new off the lot in 1984, that is stored at our son’s place back in the US.
Cost of Living in Mexico: Recap
So, how did we do ?
Our total cost of living in Mexico for 46 nights was $5478
Since our monthly ‘cost of living’ target was $4140 ($90 per day) we were about $1338 ‘over budget’. But we’re totally making up for that here in Albania and future travels!
Final Thoughts: Is Living in Mexico Affordable for Nomads?
Yes – and no. It depends on your lifestyle, priorities, and location. We chose to spend more for walkability, comfort, and a few memorable experiences.
If you’re on a tighter budget, Mexico can absolutely fit into a your travel plans.
Guanajuato: Historic Mines Private Tour
Explore the heritage of Guanajuato on a private tour of historic mines. Marvel at the plazas and architecture of historic buildings, and learn about how mining shaped the city’s economy and culture.
Want More?
We’re planning to share full cost of living breakdowns like this for every country we visit. Follow along as we explore one country at a time – budget in hand, curiosity wide open.
Have questions or feedback? We’re committed to sharing our real costs of full-time travel, the decisions behind our moves, and what it’s really like to retire abroad as nomads. With that in mind, we’re pretty new to doing these cost of living breakdowns so we’d love your feedback! Are there areas where we should drill down or is this kind of overview helpful enough? Let us know or find us on Facebook or YouTube if you have questions or want us to dig deeper into any category.
You may also be interested in reading:
Our Favorite Travel Planning Resources
From Chile to Guanajuato: Why Mexico City Was the Perfect Stop for Nomads Like Us
What to Do
3 Days in Mexico City: A Budget-Friendly Itinerary
An Itinerary for One Day in Guanajuato
Top 10+ Places to Visit & Things to Do in Guanajuato
A Budget-Foodie’s Guide to Guanajuato: Local Dishes You Can’t Miss
Our Day Trip to the Pyramids from Mexico City
Exploring Palacio de Bellas Artes – Mexico City, Mexico
Budget-Friendly Adventures in Mexico City
Where to Stay
Where to Stay in Guanajuato City
General Guanajuato
Why We Chose Guanajuato: 5 Compelling Reasons to Visit
Getting to Guanajuato
How to Get to Guanajuato By Bus & What to Expect at the Bus Station
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