How much does food cost in Mexico?

The price for food in Mexico is probably no different than prices for food in the US. In fact, I would say, that generally speaking, labor is cheap, while goods in Mexico are expensive.
 
There are ways, if one is willing, to buy quite locally at a central market.  I don’t think there’s a city in Mexico that doesn’t have its own central market. If you want to spend less money, you can certainly buy the basics–vegetables, meat, fruits–...

The price for food in Mexico is probably no different than prices for food in the US. In fact, I would say, that generally speaking, labor is cheap, while goods in Mexico are expensive.
 
There are ways, if one is willing, to buy quite locally at a central market.  I don’t think there’s a city in Mexico that doesn’t have its own central market. If you want to spend less money, you can certainly buy the basics–vegetables, meat, fruits– and some other small items –rice, beans, spices, milk, butter– those kinds of things, in the central market and you can get them at a better price. If you go to the big grocery stores, you’re probably actually going for the most part pay a higher price than in the US.
 
I’ll give you an example.  We now can buy Tide laundry soap here. The small Tide costs around $23 in Mexico. That same size Tide at Walmart in the US is $11.  Goods like that that are imported are expensive.  A block of Tillamook cheddar cheese (which we don’t get very often) is somewhere around $8 and it’s just the regular size; it’s not like a big chunk. So there are certain items that are quite pricey. And generally speaking, groceries here are about the same price. You’re not going to save any money, unless you want to go to the market and get those things.  
 
When you go into the market, you can buy purses, dresses, blouses, jewelry, silver, and aloe vera, and one whole section is just groceries. They have fresh meat.  The vegetables are fresh, as they are brought in almost every single day.  The fruits are the same way.  It’s not quite as good of variety as you might find in the grocery store, but I can tell you it’s a lot fresher.
 
I don’t actually go to the market because it’s just crowded and right now, it’s too hot. Sometimes in the winter, I’ll go.  I’m just not going to go walk around in that sweltering building.  Also, I’m by myself so 2 apples is enough. If I were buying for a family, that would be a whole different thing. You know, a small box of rice is good enough for me. I don’t have to go over there and scoop a handful or scoopful of rice and beans. And I don’t cook very much, so I’m fine just going to the grocery store.  Mostly, that’s what works for me.
 
The grocery stores do have versions of the brands I would buy in the US at lower prices, but generally, I don’t like them. And, of course, I’m like a lot of American expats living in Mexico in that I make at least two trips a year in my car to the US, so I bring back my own laundry soap.
 
Where I live in Mazatlan (and I have no idea if this is typical all over Mexico), our water is really hard. As a result, your clothes just don’t last as long, and I don’t like the laundry soap here. (I’ve tried several) and I’m not going to spend $23 for Tide, so I buy Tide when I go to the US in a great big jug. And it will last me a year. 
 
I live in Mazatlan, which is a tourist destination beach community.  I’ve also lived in other tourist destination beach communities.  Anywhere in the world where you have this, you’re going to find that prices are a bit higher.  If you want to live further inland, I suspect you could buy at cheaper prices.
  

(Fruit stand in the central public market, Mazatlan, Mexico, pictured.)

 

Here in Mexico, you can spend 1,000 pesos (about US $60) per week for food and you will be fine. It will only be more expensive if you buy international products, like wine or French cheese. These products are expensive. The budget of 1000 pesos will be good for two people. Food, local products are inexpensive here in Oaxaca. Furniture, cleaning products are more expensive to buy. 
 
In Oaxaca, eggs are 2 pesos (12 cents) each. I go to the local market to buy eggs. I prefer...

Here in Mexico, you can spend 1,000 pesos (about US $60) per week for food and you will be fine. It will only be more expensive if you buy international products, like wine or French cheese. These products are expensive. The budget of 1000 pesos will be good for two people. Food, local products are inexpensive here in Oaxaca. Furniture, cleaning products are more expensive to buy. 
 
In Oaxaca, eggs are 2 pesos (12 cents) each. I go to the local market to buy eggs. I prefer buying eggs per piece rather than by the dozen because it is fresher that way. You could also go to Wal-Mart and buy eggs in trays. You can choose to buy twelve, twenty-four, or thirty-six eggs in one tray. If you buy fresh bread like bolillo (which is a roll of bread/sandwich), it also costs 12 cents per roll. There are foreigners or expats in Oaxaca who have their own bakeries in the centre and they sell loaves of bread. They are more expensive since they sell their bread at expat prices, around $1.50 for one loaf of bread.

Going to eat outside the house, in a restaurant, is very cheap in Oaxaca. Sometimes cheaper than to cook at home! In many local restaurants they sell menus for 60 pesos (3.3 USD), and they serve you a starter (salad or soup), main dish (fish/meat with vegetables), desert and a glass of fresh water made of fruits.

 

(Selling aqua de fresca, fruit drinks out of a VW bug in Oaxaca, Mexico, pictured.)

One Day Shopping for Groceries in the US and in Mexico

One Day Shopping for Groceries in the US and in Mexico

The cost of food in Mexico varies depending on what kind of food you’re going to purchase and where you are going to buy it.
 
The price of meat has increased recently. In our house, I spend about 3,200 pesos (about US $180) a month on food for a budget that covers my daughter, my husband and I. it doesn’t include our snacks but it includes the main meals – breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
 
Prices of common food items in the markets in Mexico are as...

The cost of food in Mexico varies depending on what kind of food you’re going to purchase and where you are going to buy it.
 
The price of meat has increased recently. In our house, I spend about 3,200 pesos (about US $180) a month on food for a budget that covers my daughter, my husband and I. it doesn’t include our snacks but it includes the main meals – breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
 
Prices of common food items in the markets in Mexico are as follows (price changes depending on the brand and whether it is locally made or imported and all us dollar prices are approximate and change depending in the exchange rate):

(Ad for meat at Calimax supermarket, Mexico, pictured.)

Here in (about 215 miles south-west of Tucson, Arizona, on the Sea of Cortez), our groceries cost about 40% less than in the States. Granted, not everything is available, but, for the most part, you can eat well till your tummy is full for a whole lot less than in the States.

 

 

(View from restaurant in Puerto Penasco, Mexico, pictured.)

 

Here in (about 215 miles south-west of Tucson, Arizona, on the Sea of Cortez), our groceries cost about 40% less than in the States. Granted, not everything is available, but, for the most part, you can eat well till your tummy is full for a whole lot less than in the States.

 

 

(View from restaurant in Puerto Penasco, Mexico, pictured.)