The price of a two-liter bottle of Coca-Cola in Mexico is about 1.40 USD.
Soda in Mexico is cheaper than in the US by an average of about 0.70 price points. This means that soda costs are more than twice the price in the US than in Mexico.
So, how much does a soda cost in Mexico? Is it cheaper in the country, despite the infamous soda tax everyone read about a couple of years ago? If so, how does this tax make soda cheaper than in the US?
That’s what we will be discussing in this article. We will also talk about where and for how much you can buy soda in Mexico and what are the most famous drinks around the country.
While we will not go into many legal and financial technicalities, we will try to understand why soda is cheaper in Mexico and where you can find authentic alternatives to soda in the country. So, let’s dive deeper into this topic.
How Much Does A Bottle Of Soda Cost In Mexico?
The price of a two-liter bottle of Coca-Cola in Mexico is about 1.40 USD or 28 pesos.
You can find soda in every corner of Mexico. Be it around at the airport, a convenience store, or just some local diner (if you are at Al’s, soda is all-inclusive)
In Mexico City, the average price of a 2 liter of Coca-Cola is 28 pesos, or around $1.40 (based on an exchange rate of 1:20).
In Cabo, you can get a 2 liter of Coke for about 35 pesos, or $1.75. For smaller portions, such as a 12-oz can, 20-oz bottle, or 1-liter bottle, the price ranges between 10 and 20 pesos, but almost always under 1 USD.
The price of a bottle of soda generally depends on what size of bottle you are looking to buy and where you buy it from.
Suppose you buy a 600 ml bottle of Coke at Oxxo Mexico, a ubiquitous convenience store chain all around the country and Latin America. In that case, it costs around 28 pesos, about 1.40 USD.
If you buy it at a local market, it’s around 10.5 pesos or about 0.45 USD.
Smaller bottles and cans like the 355 ml bottles are less. One and two-liter bottles cost more.
Local supermarket stores sell soda for the lowest price.
However, sometimes these local stores sell cans for more price than compared to a two-liter bottle at about 20 pesos per can. This means a soda can often costs a little more than one American dollar at local stores.
Where Can You Buy Soda In Mexico?
You can find soda and carbonated drinks in Mexico almost everywhere, from airports to local convenience stores or supermarkets.
Suppose you buy a 600 ml bottle of Coke at Oxxo Mexico, a ubiquitous convenience store chain all around the country and Latin America. In that case, it costs around 28 pesos, about 1.40 USD.
If you are buying a bottle of Coca-Cola at the airport, it will cost you about 5 USD, on average.
If you buy it at a local market, it’s around 10.5 pesos or about 45 USD. But if you are at Al’s, a 20oz of Coca-Cola is all-inclusive.
The local markets are also where you will find the most discounted rates. It is an excellent, cheap place to buy soda in bulk, especially Coca-Cola, which is around 25% less expensive than corner convenience stores.
Smaller bottles and cans like the 355 ml bottles are less, and one and two-liter bottles cost more.
How Is Soda Cheaper In Mexico?
A bottle of soda is cheaper in Mexico than in the US, despite the heavy soda taxes.
Coca-Cola in Mexico is produced by a local bottling plant, which is why it is easier to find than bottled water and is almost as cheap, if not more reasonable.
Since Mexico joined NAFTA, thanks to Vicente Fox’s business strategies and election as President of Mexico, it became cheap to access and buy Coke in the country.
And it is not only a matter of prices, but also of accessibility. Some newspaper reports and articles even say that a bottle of coca-cola is more accessible in the country than bottled water.
Thus, as time passed, in a country with a significant water crisis, coupled with greater access to and affordability of Coke, bottled soda became cheaper than clean drinking water.
Does Mexico Have A Soda Tax?
To decrease soda consumption in the country, the government implemented a soda tax in 2014.
To reduce the consumption of beverages, the Mexican government implemented an excise tax of 1 peso per liter on all non-alcoholic drinks with added sugar in 2014, also known as the Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Tax or SSB tax.
The over-consumption of soda and other sweetened carbonated drinks in the country was a huge concern for health officials worldwide.
The better accessibility of soda than bottled water also occupies a large area of concern. Bottled soda became cheaper with time than clean drinking water in a country with a significant water crisis and greater access to and affordability of Coke.
However, since the sugar tax implementation in Mexico, there has been proof of the consumption of fewer soft drinks. So the effectiveness of the tax implementation is evident.
Authentic Alternatives To Soda In Mexico
Soda is a part of the staple diet in Mexico because of its easy accessibility in the country.
Given the popularity, there are several authentic Mexican alternatives to soda that are famous around the world.
1. Jarritos
Jarritos is a very popular Mexican soda. This is the most widely sold in North and Latin America regarding authentic Mexican beverages. The drinks are served in small bottles resembling jars and in vibrant colors. They pack personality into each flavor they offer.
2. Lift Soda
This Coca-Cola product has different flavors, like lemon, apple, guava, and more. It is best paired with salty, savory food that requires a highly acidic drink to cut through the dominating flavors.
3. Mundet Soda
Mundet soda is one of the most classic non-alcoholic beverages of the country that is stuck close to its roots. It is served best with salty, spicy traditional Mexican food items.
4. Sangria Señorial
Made of wine grapes, sangria senorial soda might be a little bit unfamiliar to the American taste but is a staple in a Mexican household. This soda is not as sweet as the super sweet sodas sold by American multinational beverage companies.
Final Remarks
There needs to be more compiled information regarding prices of stuff in different countries on the internet, especially for tourists who are more likely to get duped. In this article, I tackled that by creating a definitive guide on the subject.
Here’s a quick recap.
How much is soda in Mexico? The price of a two-liter bottle of Coca-Cola in Mexico is about 1.40 USD, but the price also depends on quantity.
My name is Jeyn Dashner and I am the founder of WanderFever. I have worked as a travel journalist for many years, and exploring new places is my greatest pleasure in life.