Cost of Living Comparison Between Arbon and Mexico City Cost of Living Comparison Between Arbon and Mexico City

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,361 per month in Arbon vs $1,456 in Mexico City, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,221 per month in Arbon vs $2,361 in Mexico City, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,082 per month in Arbon vs $3,266 in Mexico City, rent included.

Arbon costs about 131% more than Mexico City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Arbon and Mexico City sit above the global median – Arbon by 152%, Mexico City by 9%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Arbon
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$30.53 CHF 24.68
$13.07 MX$229
133.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$139 CHF 112
$53.8 MX$943
158.49%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$17.34 CHF 14.02
$9.68 MX$170
79.13%
Cappuccino
$6.16 CHF 4.98
$3.74 MX$65.6
64.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.35 CHF 4.32
$1.62 MX$28.34
230.25%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.35 CHF 3.52
$1.16 MX$20.37
275.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.72 CHF 6.24
$3.23 MX$56.6
139.01%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.19 CHF 5.82
$4.74 MX$83.1
51.69%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Arbon
Mexico City
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.28 CHF 1.84
$1.65 MX$28.89
38.18%
White Bread (500g)
$2.57 CHF 2.08
$2.75 MX$48.30
-6.55%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.63 CHF 2.93
$1.87 MX$32.87
94.12%
Eggs
$7.91 CHF 6.39
$2.50 MX$43.86
216.40%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$27.75 CHF 22.43
$10.20 MX$179
172.06%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$32.72 CHF 26.46
$8.25 MX$145
296.61%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$41.18 CHF 33.29
$11.82 MX$207
248.39%
Apples (1kg)
$3.19 CHF 2.58
$3.01 MX$52.8
5.98%
Banana (1kg)
$1.83 CHF 1.48
$1.81 MX$31.77
1.10%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.49 CHF 2.02
$2.00 MX$35.07
24.50%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.36 CHF 5.14
$2.00 MX$35.00
218.00%
Potato (1kg)
$2.49 CHF 2.01
$2.08 MX$36.56
19.71%
Onion (1kg)
$2.38 CHF 1.92
$2.27 MX$39.85
4.85%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.58 CHF 2.09
$1.46 MX$25.55
76.71%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.15 CHF 0.93
$1.08 MX$18.88
6.48%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.80 CHF 8.73
$4.35 MX$76.3
148.28%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.17 CHF 9.03
$16.99 MX$298
-34.26%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.25 CHF 1.82
$1.73 MX$30.40
30.06%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.33 CHF 1.88
$3.58 MX$62.7
-34.92%
🚌 Getting Around
Arbon
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.89 CHF 3.15
$0.39 MX$6.79
897.44%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$97.0 CHF 78.4
$18.69 MX$328
419.10%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$6.71 CHF 5.42
$1.33 MX$23.25
404.51%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$4.24 CHF 3.43
$0.28 MX$4.91
1414.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$78.8 CHF 63.7
$5.25 MX$92.1
1401.71%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.17 CHF 1.76
$1.34 MX$23.44
61.94%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.8K CHF 32.1K
$19.4K MX$340.5K
104.79%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$42.9K CHF 34.7K
$23.8K MX$418.0K
80.17%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Arbon
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$251 CHF 203
$40.69 MX$714
516.22%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$59.3 CHF 47.97
$26.87 MX$471
120.84%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$54.0 CHF 43.68
$30.51 MX$535
77.09%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Arbon
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$89.4 CHF 72.3
$52.8 MX$926
69.31%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$26.65 MX$467
-
Cinema Ticket
$22.30 CHF 18.03
$6.51 MX$114
242.55%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Arbon
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,789 CHF 2,255
$428 MX$7,508
551.64%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$42.8K CHF 34.6K
$10.5K MX$184.2K
308.01%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Arbon
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$137 CHF 111
$57.3 MX$1,004
138.95%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$64.4 CHF 52.1
$45.50 MX$798
41.63%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$131 CHF 106
$104 MX$1,825
25.63%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$161 CHF 130
$108 MX$1,891
49.16%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Arbon
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,702 CHF 1,376
$1,003 MX$17.6K
69.62%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,445 CHF 1,169
$623 MX$10.9K
132.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,874 CHF 2,324
$2,109 MX$37.0K
36.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,437 CHF 1,971
$1,218 MX$21.4K
100.11%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$14.8K CHF 12.0K
$3,885 MX$68.1K
281.77%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$10.6K CHF 8,587
$2,033 MX$35.7K
422.54%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Arbon
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$11.3K CHF 9,150
$1,038 MX$18.2K
990.46%
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: July 11, 2026

Last update for Mexico City: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,702 in Arbon versus $1,003 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 990% 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 $139 in Arbon versus $54.0 in Mexico City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $608 vs $292 – 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: $3,361 in Arbon, $1,456 in Mexico City – roughly 131% 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 $5,041 per month in Arbon and $2,185 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 $3,361 in Arbon and $1,456 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 419% 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 $1,456, than in Arbon at $3,361. 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 $1,456 in Mexico City to $3,361 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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