How Much Does It Cost to Live In Puebla?
Puebla is a great, fun university city in Mexico, that’s just a two-hour drive from the capital and it offers really an abundance of fun activities to its tourists.
The the food there is delicious, and it’s way cheaper than Mexico City, though it’s also smaller than Mexico City.
The people are very friendly and warm and the city is full of young people because of the low prices in the universities and campuses.
All in all, the amount of money you’ll spend really depends on your lifestyle and your entire situation.
Mexico : Cost of Living by City
Cost of Living in Mexico
RESTAURANTS
Puebla is great when it comes to food, it offers cheap university food like delicious Mexican sandwiches and tacos on the street kiosks, but it also offers many restaurants that are more expensive. If your’re planning on dining out anywhere in Puebla and yet saving some money in a decent yet inexpensive restaurant, prepare around 10$ for two!
MARKETS
The plus side of cooking your own food, apart from saving a lot of money, is that you know exactly what you’re eating. All basic ingredients in Puebla’s supermarkets cost less than 2$, and you can find fresh fruit and veggies on open markets. You can always get a membership card at Walmart, which costs around 25$ each year
TRANSPORTATION
If you prefer walking and taking the bus (or other forms of public transport), your transportation costs will be as little as 20$ per month, and if you want to drive a car, it will definitely cost you more – around 130$ per month. Monthly pass for public transport amounts to around 17$ and a one-way ticket costs less than a dollar.
UTILITIES (MONTHLY)
Utilities are shockingly cheap in Puebla! For an apartment of around 85m2, all basic utilities including electricity, gas, water, heating, cooling and garbage services, will cost you around 18$. Internet isn’t included in this, separately, it costs around 24$ which is more than all of the utilities put together!
SPORTS & LEISURE
Indulging in sports definitely takes a considerable toll on your wallet, and this is true in Puebla too, though it is definitely less expensive than in most countries. For example, a membership in a gym or a fitness club will cost you around 35$. Cinema tickets are much cheaper, however, costing only about 3$ each.
CLOTHING & SHOES
Shopping for clothes in Puebla is an excellent idea – it offers many shops and the prices aren’t too high. For example, shopping for quality jeans like Levi’s will cost you around 40$, while a pair of quality running shoes of brands like Nike will cost you less than 70$ which is a reasonable price. Dresses and shirts cost around 30$.
RENT PER MONTH
Rent is relatively cheap in Puebla. It all depends on where you want to live. If you’ve got your mind set on the city center, the average price will be around 230$. However, there are many charming little apartments that are a bit further away from the centers, and they cost considerably less – 150$ a month.
Cost of Living Averages Table for Puebla
*Note: All prices are indicated in USD.| Average Restaurant Prices | |
|---|---|
| Meal (Inexpensive Restaurant) | $4.19 |
| Domestic Beer (0.5 Liter) | $1.36 |
| Water (0.33 Liter) | $0.50 | Average Market Prices |
| Milk (1 Liter) | $0.84 |
| Loaf Bread (500g) | $1.41 |
| Eggs (12) | $1.23 | Average Transport Prices |
| One Way Ticket | $0.31 |
| Monthly Pass | $17.45 |
| Gasoline | $0.92 | Average Utilities Prices |
| Basic (Water, Electricity, Garbage, Heating, Cooling) | $18.09 |
| 1 min. of Prepaid Mobile Tariff Local | $0.09 |
| Internet (Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) | $24.33 | Average Leisure Prices |
| Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult | $36.32 |
| Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour) | $13.09 |
| Cinema, 1 Seat, International Release | $3.53 | Average Clothing Prices |
| 1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Comparable) | $42.08 |
| 1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, etc...) | $30.76 |
| 1 Pair of Adidas Walking Shoes (Mid-Range) | $75.54 | Average Rent Prices |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Center | $237.33 |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Center | $155.01 |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Center | $455.46 |
How Does the Average Person Spend Their Money in Puebla?
People of Puebla spend most of their money on food. Whether it’s in supermarkets or open “mercados”, people have to eat, and food is the most expensive necessity.
After food, rent is the biggest expense for people living in Puebla.
The rent isn’t the biggest problem financially for the people of Puebla, but it is a bit high and you have to set aside a large portion of your salary for it.
Restaurants and transportation are also significant expenses for an average person living in Puebla.
Average Costs Breakdown
Puebla: Average Salary, Minimum Wage & Mortgages
Minimum wage for a citizen of Puebla is only 136$ which basically means that many people have to work overtime or find another job to make ends meet.
Average monthly net salary is considerably higher and allows for people to pay for most of their necessities and not have to worry about the next day.
However, if you’re wondering how much money to bring for a month in Puebla, around 1000$ would probably suffice.
All in all, people of Puebla can find a way to manage their expenses with the salaries they get, though it probably isn’t easy.
Puebla Safety Overview
READ THE FULL REPORT: Puebla Safety Review
Safety Index:
- OVERALL RISK: MEDIUM
- TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW
- PICKPOCKETS RISK: MEDIUM
- NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: MEDIUM
- MUGGING RISK: MEDIUM
- TERRORISM RISK: LOW
- SCAMS RISK: MEDIUM
- WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW
Cost of Living by City in Puebla
| City | Cost of Living Index |
|---|---|
| Cancun | 31.35 |
| Guadalajara | 31.46 |
| Merida | 29.39 |
| Mexico City | 37.3 |
| Monterrey | 34.12 |
| Puerto Vallarta | 29.82 |
| Queretaro | 31.01 |
| Tijuana | 37.3 |
