Every day money stretches less! In Mexico, a person living in the city needs more than 4,000 pesos a month to afford basic necessities and pay for services, according to the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI).
How much does it cost to eat in Mexico? Here’s the exact figure per Mexican.
The report on Extreme Poverty Lines by Income, prepared by INEGI, revealed that a Mexican needs around 4,940.45 pesos a month to pay for basic necessities in urban areas, as of March 2026.
On the other hand, in rural areas, 3,553 pesos per person are needed to access these products and services.
Thus, the urban area registered a percentage change of 8.1%, while the rural area saw a 7.9% increase, compared to the same period of the previous year.
Is it time to tighten our belts? The products that saw a price increase in the third month of the year were tomatoes, which exceeded $60 pesos per kilo, followed by lemons, approaching $44 pesos per kilo.
On the other hand, the National Alliance of Small Businesses shared a list of products that saw a price surge in March 2026 in Mexico, but what are they?
Tomatoes – $19.90 to $69.90 pesos per kilo
Lemons – $25 to $60 pesos per kilo
Green tomatoes – $28 to $69.90 pesos per kilo
Potatoes – $20 to $42 pesos per kilo
Poblano peppers – $83 to $94 pesos per kilo
In some areas, the price of tomatoes is approaching $80 pesos per kilo, according to customers. Furthermore, some vendors report that sales have decreased due to the extreme price increase.
What is Mexico’s inflation rate in 2026?
The National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI) reported that Mexico’s inflation rate reached 4.59% in March 2026, up from 4.02% in February.
Meanwhile, core inflation, considered a better indicator of actual inflation, reached 4.45% in March.
The Bank of Mexico (Banxico) aims to reduce inflation to 3% by 2026. Here are some of the food items and products that saw price increases.
Source: tvazteca
