😐A single person spends $3,446 per month in Arbon vs $1,646 in Mexico City, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $5,324 per month in Arbon vs $2,613 in Mexico City, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $7,202 per month in Arbon vs $3,580 in Mexico City, rent included.
😐Arbon costs about 109% more than Mexico City, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Arbon and Mexico City sit above the global median – Arbon by 151%, Mexico City by 20%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Arbon
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$31.29CHF 25.44
$12.11MX$206
158.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$150CHF 122
$52.2MX$887
187.71%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$19.92CHF 16.19
$10.90MX$185
82.75%
Cappuccino
$6.29CHF 5.11
$4.05MX$68.8
55.31%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.09CHF 4.95
$1.72MX$29.13
254.07%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.47CHF 4.44
$1.38MX$23.40
296.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$9.32CHF 7.57
$3.47MX$58.9
168.59%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.35CHF 5.16
$5.81MX$98.7
9.29%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Arbon
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.27CHF 1.85
$1.85MX$31.48
22.70%
White Bread(500g)
$3.17CHF 2.58
$3.22MX$54.7
-1.55%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.73CHF 3.04
$2.09MX$35.42
78.47%
Eggs
$8.07CHF 6.56
$2.91MX$49.41
177.32%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$25.89CHF 21.05
$12.49MX$212
107.29%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$28.96CHF 23.54
$10.11MX$172
186.45%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$42.89CHF 34.87
$15.89MX$270
169.92%
Apples(1kg)
$3.64CHF 2.96
$3.31MX$56.3
9.97%
Banana(1kg)
$2.02CHF 1.64
$2.13MX$36.12
-5.16%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.39CHF 1.94
$2.19MX$37.20
9.13%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.35CHF 4.35
$2.45MX$41.57
118.37%
Potato(1kg)
$2.00CHF 1.62
$2.19MX$37.18
-8.68%
Onion(1kg)
$2.27CHF 1.85
$1.90MX$32.35
19.47%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.33CHF 1.89
$1.62MX$27.44
43.83%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.22CHF 1.00
$1.35MX$22.92
-9.63%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$11.34CHF 9.22
$5.43MX$92.1
108.84%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.57CHF 14.28
$17.59MX$299
-0.11%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.27CHF 1.85
$2.07MX$35.12
9.66%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.32CHF 1.88
$4.75MX$80.6
-51.16%
🚌 Getting Around
Arbon
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.22CHF 3.43
$0.34MX$5.77
1141.18%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$91.0CHF 74.0
$21.58MX$366
321.69%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.63CHF 5.39
$2.04MX$34.65
225.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$4.70CHF 3.82
$0.58MX$9.82
710.34%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$81.2CHF 66.0
$5.97MX$101
1260.13%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.33CHF 1.89
$1.62MX$27.44
43.83%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.4KCHF 29.6K
$22.8KMX$387.4K
59.42%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.9KCHF 33.3K
$26.7KMX$452.8K
53.59%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Arbon
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$228CHF 186
$65.2MX$1,108
249.80%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$38.84CHF 31.58
$29.87MX$507
30.03%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$56.5CHF 45.93
$36.55MX$621
54.58%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Arbon
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$79.5CHF 64.6
$61.0MX$1,036
30.33%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$53.5CHF 43.48
$26.70MX$453
100.30%
Cinema Ticket
$24.06CHF 19.56
$6.85MX$116
251.24%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Arbon
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$2,309CHF 1,877
$453MX$7,700
409.27%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$32.3KCHF 26.2K
$13.4KMX$227.1K
141.32%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Arbon
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$146CHF 118
$75.0MX$1,273
94.22%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$66.2CHF 53.8
$55.3MX$939
19.70%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$149CHF 121
$114MX$1,929
31.53%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$188CHF 153
$123MX$2,083
53.21%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Arbon
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,556CHF 1,265
$1,134MX$19.3K
37.26%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,342CHF 1,091
$712MX$12.1K
88.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,878CHF 2,340
$2,571MX$43.7K
11.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,721CHF 2,212
$1,311MX$22.3K
107.50%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$18.4KCHF 15.0K
$3,993MX$67.8K
361.59%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$11.5KCHF 9,379
$2,095MX$35.6K
450.59%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Arbon
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$11.6KCHF 9,446
$1,047MX$17.8K
1009.80%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
1.9
11.3
-83.19%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Arbon: August 29, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: August 29, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,556 in Arbon versus $1,134 in Mexico City. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 1010% higher in Arbon, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $150 in Arbon versus $52.0 in Mexico City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $605 vs $345 – making Mexico City the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Arbon vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Arbon and in Mexico City compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $3,446 in Arbon, $1,646 in Mexico City – roughly 109% apart. Arbon costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Arbon compared to Mexico City?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,170 per month in Arbon and $2,469 in Mexico City. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Arbon and Mexico City?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Mexico City, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Arbon or Mexico City?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,446 in Arbon and $1,646 in Mexico City. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do commuting costs compare in Arbon and in Mexico City?
Public transport costs about 322% less in Mexico City. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Mexico City, where all-in costs run around $1,646, than in Arbon at $3,446. In Mexico City it covers expenses comfortably, while in Arbon it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Arbon and Mexico City?
It depends on your priorities. Mexico City has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,646 in Mexico City to $3,446 in Arbon. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Arbon or Mexico City safer for residents?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
How do I decide between Arbon and Mexico City?
If budget matters most, go with Mexico City. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Arbon makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.