Mexico City vs Oaxaca — Cost of Living Comparison 2026
Which city is cheaper, safer, and better for remote workers? Here's the data.
Mexico City
Mexico
COL Index
42
affordable
Oaxaca
Mexico
COL Index
30
very affordable
NoodlePants Verdict — generated from live data
Oaxaca edges out Mexico City on affordability with a NoodlePants COL Index of 30 vs 41.8 (very affordable vs affordable). Mexico City scores higher on safety (47/100), and Mexico City wins on internet at ~90 Mbps. Overall, Mexico City takes the Nomad Score crown with 81/100 — best for remote worker and foodies.
* Some figures are country averages — full city-level data coming soon.Pro members get neighbourhood-level breakdowns.
Metric
Mexico City
Oaxaca
Avg Rent 1BR (city centre)
$950
$500
Avg Rent 1BR (outside centre)
$580
$350
NoodlePants COL Index
42
30
Safety Score
47/100
—
Internet Speed
90 Mbps
—
Nomad Score
81/100
—
Healthcare Score
72/100
—
Digital Nomad Visa
Not available
Not available
Who is each city for?
Oaxaca is better for…
See the Mexico country profileAlso compare
See full city data — neighbourhood breakdowns, internet speeds & coworking scores
Pro unlocks 100+ nomad cities & neighbourhoods, district-level rent maps, live coworking inventory and PDF exports.