How much do you need to earn to live here, after Mexico takes its share?
Here's the gross monthly salary that covers rent, food, transport, and utilities once Mexico's tax system has taken its cut. (2026)
The floor in Cancún is roughly $23,440/month gross, on a lean budget.
For something that feels comfortable, think $38,786/month gross ($35,735 net after ~5% tax).
| Expense | Budget | Comfortable | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent (1BR) | $8,500 Cheapest neighborhood (Alfredo V. Bonfil) | $20,500 Median neighborhood | $41,000 Premium neighborhood (Puerto Cancún) |
| Groceries | $5,500 | $6,600 | $8,250 |
| Transport | $1,265 | $1,265 | $1,265 |
| Utilities | $2,090 | $2,090 | $2,090 |
| Dining & Entertainment | $4,400 | $5,280 | $6,600 |
| Total Monthly Expenses | $21,755 | $35,735 | $59,205 |
$23,440/month gross
$38,786/month gross
$64,550/month gross
Second-hand 1BR rents across 5 neighborhoods in Cancún.
Alfredo V. Bonfil
25 min by bus
$8,500 - $12,000
SM 500 / Huayacán
20 min by bus
$10,000 - $14,000
Centro
0 min by walk
$17,000 - $24,000
Puerto Cancún
15 min by car
$34,000 - $48,000
Zona Hotelera
25 min by bus
$29,000 - $42,000
Centro
0 min by walk
$17,000 - $24,000
All 5 neighborhoods, the full expense sheet, and what you could save.
Explore CancúnPlug in what you'd really earn. Get your take-home pay, neighborhoods within reach, and monthly savings.
Open calculatorTaxes, nearby cities, and side-by-sides.
We add up monthly expenses (rent, groceries, transport, utilities, dining out) for each lifestyle tier, then work backwards to find the gross salary that lands on that number after Mexico's income tax and social contributions. Rent data reflects second-hand listings, which is what expats actually pay. All figures come from 2026 official government statistics. Full attribution lives on our data sources page.
On a budget lifestyle, you need at least $23,440/month gross salary to cover basic expenses in Cancún. For a comfortable lifestyle, aim for $38,786/month gross. These figures include rent, food, transport, utilities, and dining out, with taxes calculated for Mexico.
The average 1-bedroom rent across 5 neighborhoods in Cancún is approximately $23,850/month. Rents range from $8,500 in Alfredo V. Bonfil to $48,000 in Puerto Cancún.
Monthly groceries for a single person in Cancún cost approximately $5,500. This covers basic home cooking. Dining out and premium food will add to this budget.
Tax rates in Mexico are progressive. At the budget salary level of $23,440/month, the effective tax rate is approximately 5%. At the comfortable level of $38,786/month, it rises to approximately 5%. This includes income tax and social contributions.