😐A single person spends $3,362 per month in Arbon vs $1,467 in Mexico City, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $5,166 per month in Arbon vs $2,371 in Mexico City, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $6,970 per month in Arbon vs $3,274 in Mexico City, rent included.
😐Arbon costs about 129% more than Mexico City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Arbon and Mexico City sit above the global median – Arbon by 151%, Mexico City by 10%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Arbon
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$30.71CHF 24.21
$13.18MX$228
133.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$140CHF 110
$53.9MX$932
159.61%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$17.11CHF 13.49
$9.42MX$163
81.63%
Cappuccino
$6.33CHF 4.99
$3.55MX$61.4
78.31%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.27CHF 4.15
$1.62MX$27.98
225.31%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.33CHF 3.41
$1.11MX$19.27
290.09%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.71CHF 6.08
$3.12MX$54.0
147.12%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.51CHF 5.92
$4.63MX$80.1
62.20%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Arbon
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.17CHF 1.71
$1.70MX$29.43
27.65%
White Bread(500g)
$2.66CHF 2.10
$2.72MX$47.02
-2.21%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.64CHF 2.87
$1.91MX$33.07
90.58%
Eggs
$7.87CHF 6.20
$2.54MX$43.86
209.84%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$27.41CHF 21.61
$10.03MX$174
173.28%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$31.88CHF 25.14
$8.09MX$140
294.07%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$40.41CHF 31.86
$11.62MX$201
247.76%
Apples(1kg)
$3.14CHF 2.47
$2.97MX$51.3
5.72%
Banana(1kg)
$1.84CHF 1.45
$1.81MX$31.24
1.66%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.55CHF 2.01
$2.01MX$34.82
26.87%
Tomato(1kg)
$6.51CHF 5.14
$2.03MX$35.20
220.69%
Potato(1kg)
$2.50CHF 1.97
$2.12MX$36.75
17.92%
Onion(1kg)
$2.28CHF 1.80
$2.27MX$39.25
0.44%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.55CHF 2.01
$1.40MX$24.22
82.14%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.15CHF 0.90
$1.13MX$19.55
1.77%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$10.80CHF 8.51
$4.27MX$73.9
152.93%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.87CHF 9.36
$15.56MX$269
-23.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.25CHF 1.77
$1.76MX$30.39
27.84%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29CHF 1.81
$3.60MX$62.2
-36.39%
🚌 Getting Around
Arbon
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.90CHF 3.07
$0.38MX$6.62
926.32%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$100CHF 79.2
$19.18MX$332
423.72%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.74CHF 5.32
$1.38MX$23.79
388.41%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$4.26CHF 3.36
$0.28MX$4.78
1421.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$80.5CHF 63.5
$5.45MX$94.2
1376.88%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.11CHF 1.66
$1.30MX$22.55
62.31%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$40.5KCHF 31.9K
$18.7KMX$323.2K
116.48%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$43.1KCHF 34.0K
$23.1KMX$400.1K
86.22%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Arbon
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$248CHF 196
$40.86MX$707
508.15%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$59.2CHF 46.67
$26.81MX$464
120.78%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$53.7CHF 42.31
$29.96MX$518
79.14%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Arbon
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$87.6CHF 69.1
$52.0MX$900
68.47%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$26.84MX$464
-
Cinema Ticket
$22.44CHF 17.69
$6.30MX$109
256.19%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Arbon
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$2,843CHF 2,242
$436MX$7,544
551.96%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$43.5KCHF 34.3K
$10.4KMX$180.2K
317.51%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Arbon
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$140CHF 111
$56.7MX$980
147.63%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$65.8CHF 51.9
$44.38MX$768
48.26%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$133CHF 105
$103MX$1,780
29.28%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$162CHF 127
$106MX$1,825
53.15%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Arbon
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,683CHF 1,327
$1,022MX$17.7K
64.69%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,492CHF 1,176
$631MX$10.9K
136.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,865CHF 2,259
$2,136MX$36.9K
34.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,423CHF 1,910
$1,243MX$21.5K
94.93%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$14.2KCHF 11.2K
$3,903MX$67.5K
264.41%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$11.6KCHF 9,140
$2,064MX$35.7K
461.57%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Arbon
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$11.4KCHF 8,986
$1,115MX$19.3K
922.13%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
2.5
11.34
-77.95%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Arbon: June 1, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,683 in Arbon versus $1,022 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 922% 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 $140 in Arbon versus $54.0 in Mexico City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $602 vs $288 – 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 Mexico City compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $3,362 in Arbon, $1,467 in Mexico City – roughly 129% apart. Arbon costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Arbon compared to Mexico City?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,043 per month in Arbon and $2,201 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 $3,362 in Arbon and $1,467 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 Mexico City?
Public transport costs about 424% 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 $1,467, than in Arbon at $3,362. 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 $1,467 in Mexico City to $3,362 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.