Many people assume that Mexico City is a very cheap place to live, and whilst this can be true, this is not all that the city has to offer. In fact if you wish to spend $5,000 per month on your food and living costs then you can in fact do this with ease in many areas of the city. There are however many opportunities to live in the city without having to spend very much money at all, and these are some of the best ways in which you can save money on your lifestyle during your time in the city.
Eating and Buying Food
This is probably one of the few cities on the planet where it is in fact cheaper to eat out than it is to eat in. This is because of the fact that you have so much amazing street food which really costs very little money indeed. Another great option for eating out which will save you money is to go for comida corrida, which is served at restaurants called fondas. These are set menus which will give you a starter, a main and a dessert, all for less than $3. In terms of buying food you have a swathe of markets throughout the city which offer far better prices than grocery stores can, this is the best place to shop.
Transportation
Many areas of the city are not too friendly for pedestrians, but getting around is still very easy and low cost. The metro for example costs just 20 cents between any two stations, an incredibly low price. You also have the metrobus which has its own road lane and can take you around the city fast, this costs just 25 cents. And finally you could also look to use ride sharing apps which are significantly cheaper than anywhere else on the planet, a low cost and easy way to get around. Finally you can look into bike rental, which is also cheap and easy to use.
Promo Days
Always make sure that you keep an eye out for promos days throughout the city for when you want to get out and about. For example many cinemas do 2-for-1 on a Wednesday, or heavily discounted tickets. Another option is museums which often have low cost Tuesday options. If you are here on vacation and have plenty of time to spare, you can really take advantage of many of these promo opportunities.
Freebies
The best advice I got since I arrived here was from my friend Rose Burillo who put me on to all of these cool promo apps. Many of these actually offer free events and free items which you can buy, and all you have to do is download the app. There are also many free events which take place in the parks and the squares around the city, so be sure to keep your ear to the ground for them!
If you are looking to save money, this is the city to do just that.
