Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Arbon and Mexico City

For one person, living is cheaper in Mexico City: $1,567 a month against $3,464 in Arbon, rent and utilities included – about $22,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Arbon
🇨🇭 Switzerland
$3,464
/mo nomad
Mexico City
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,567
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Arbon and in Mexico City

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Arbon and in Mexico City actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,464 per month in Arbon vs $1,567 in Mexico City, rent included.

  • Arbon $3,464
  • Mexico City $1,567

A couple spends around $5,192 per month in Arbon vs $2,450 in Mexico City, rent included.

  • Arbon $5,192
  • Mexico City $2,450

A family of three spends $6,920 per month in Arbon vs $3,333 in Mexico City, rent included.

  • Arbon $6,920
  • Mexico City $3,333

Arbon costs about 121% more than Mexico City, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Arbon and Mexico City sit above the global median – Arbon by 157%, Mexico City by 16%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Arbon
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$29.53 CHF 24.33
$10.75 MX$199
174.70%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$144 CHF 118
$50.3 MX$929
185.67%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$18.95 CHF 15.61
$11.10 MX$205
70.72%
Cappuccino
$6.11 CHF 5.03
$3.68 MX$68.1
66.03%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.74 CHF 4.73
$1.65 MX$30.42
247.88%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.09 CHF 4.19
$1.30 MX$24.08
291.54%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$9.00 CHF 7.42
$3.32 MX$61.3
171.08%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.17 CHF 5.08
$5.54 MX$102
11.37%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Arbon
Mexico City
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.16 CHF 1.78
$1.77 MX$32.68
22.03%
White Bread (500g)
$3.15 CHF 2.60
$3.05 MX$56.4
3.28%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.79 CHF 3.12
$2.01 MX$37.20
88.56%
Eggs
$7.88 CHF 6.49
$2.77 MX$51.1
184.48%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$25.14 CHF 20.71
$11.91 MX$220
111.08%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$28.42 CHF 23.41
$9.33 MX$172
204.61%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$41.09 CHF 33.84
$15.02 MX$278
173.57%
Apples (1kg)
$3.42 CHF 2.82
$3.08 MX$56.8
11.04%
Banana (1kg)
$2.00 CHF 1.65
$1.95 MX$35.97
2.56%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.39 CHF 1.97
$2.03 MX$37.54
17.73%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.28 CHF 4.35
$2.21 MX$40.92
138.91%
Potato (1kg)
$2.04 CHF 1.68
$2.02 MX$37.41
0.99%
Onion (1kg)
$2.19 CHF 1.80
$1.82 MX$33.67
20.33%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.28 CHF 1.88
$1.52 MX$28.07
50.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.22 CHF 1.01
$1.28 MX$23.65
-4.69%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.64 CHF 8.77
$5.27 MX$97.4
101.90%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.47 CHF 13.57
$16.12 MX$298
2.17%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.12 CHF 1.75
$1.95 MX$36.05
8.72%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25 CHF 1.85
$4.25 MX$78.6
-47.06%
🚌 Getting Around
Arbon
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$4.81 CHF 3.96
$0.31 MX$5.82
1451.61%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$96.0 CHF 79.1
$19.85 MX$367
383.83%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$6.50 CHF 5.35
$2.00 MX$36.93
225.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$4.73 CHF 3.89
$0.53 MX$9.86
792.45%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$36.17 CHF 29.79
$5.62 MX$104
543.59%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.29 CHF 1.89
$1.52 MX$28.07
50.66%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.5K CHF 28.4K
$21.0K MX$388.7K
63.80%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.3K CHF 32.4K
$25.2K MX$465.3K
56.03%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Arbon
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$275 CHF 227
$62.5 MX$1,155
340.69%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$38.11 CHF 31.39
$28.77 MX$532
32.46%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$54.4 CHF 44.78
$34.45 MX$637
57.82%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Arbon
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$90.0 CHF 74.1
$57.1 MX$1,055
57.62%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$39.06 CHF 32.17
$24.81 MX$458
57.44%
Cinema Ticket
$23.43 CHF 19.29
$6.67 MX$123
251.27%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Arbon
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,250 CHF 1,853
$431 MX$7,964
422.02%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$31.3K CHF 25.8K
$11.7K MX$216.9K
166.86%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Arbon
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$143 CHF 118
$70.8 MX$1,308
102.19%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$65.1 CHF 53.6
$51.8 MX$958
25.53%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$143 CHF 118
$109 MX$2,011
31.70%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$177 CHF 146
$112 MX$2,076
57.92%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Arbon
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,561 CHF 1,286
$1,051 MX$19.4K
48.48%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,521 CHF 1,253
$665 MX$12.3K
128.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,904 CHF 2,392
$2,346 MX$43.3K
23.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,322 CHF 1,912
$1,227 MX$22.7K
89.31%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$13.9K CHF 11.5K
$3,554 MX$65.7K
292.23%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$13.6K CHF 11.2K
$1,977 MX$36.5K
590.25%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Arbon
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$11.1K CHF 9,124
$975 MX$18.0K
1036.56%
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: October 10, 2026

Last update for Mexico City: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Arbon
$1.5K
Mexico City
$665 56.3% $856
Groceries & Markets
Arbon
$588
Mexico City
$323 45.1% $265
Eating Out
Arbon
$467
Mexico City
$203 56.5% $264
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Arbon
$368
Mexico City
$126 65.8% $242
Clothing & Footwear
Arbon
$238
Mexico City
$155 35% $83
Getting Around
Arbon
$145
Mexico City
$26 82.3% $120
Sport & Entertainment
Arbon
$137
Mexico City
$70 48.5% $66

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,561 in Arbon versus $1,051 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 1037% 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 $144 in Arbon versus $50.0 in Mexico City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $588 vs $323 – making Mexico City the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇭 Arbon
🇲🇽 Mexico City
🕒 Local time
11:29 11:29 AM
03:29 3:29 AM
8 h behind Arbon
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
15,853
9,209,944 Capital
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

MXN, USD, EUR to CHF – Swiss Franc Converter

Swiss Franc exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 0.824 CHF (1 CHF = 1.21 USD). 1 EUR = 0.926 CHF (1 CHF = 1.08 EUR).

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 18.48 MXN (100 MXN = 5.41 USD). 1 EUR = 20.77 MXN (100 MXN = 4.81 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Arbon Mexico City 9,740 km ≈ 13 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Arbon
  • Mexico City

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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: $3,464 in Arbon, $1,567 in Mexico City – roughly 121% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.
What salary covers living expenses in Arbon compared to Mexico City?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,197 per month in Arbon and $2,351 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 $3,464 in Arbon and $1,567 in Mexico City. That's a gap of about 121%.
How do commuting costs compare in Arbon and in Mexico City?
Public transport costs about 384% less in Mexico City. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Mexico City, where all-in costs run around $1,567, than in Arbon at $3,464. 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 $1,567 in Mexico City to $3,464 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.

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