🙂A single person spends $912 per month in Bacau vs $1,467 in Mexico City, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,474 per month in Bacau vs $2,371 in Mexico City, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $2,037 per month in Bacau vs $3,274 in Mexico City, rent included.
🙂Bacau is about 38% cheaper than Mexico City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Bacau sits 32% below the global median, while Mexico City is 10% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bacau
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.60RON 52.5
$13.18MX$228
-11.99%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.83RON 207
$53.9MX$932
-14.97%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.27RON 37.38
$9.42MX$163
-12.21%
Cappuccino
$2.32RON 10.47
$3.55MX$61.4
-34.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.18RON 9.85
$1.62MX$27.98
34.57%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.83RON 8.28
$1.11MX$19.27
64.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.26RON 10.24
$3.12MX$54.0
-27.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.64RON 16.45
$4.63MX$80.1
-21.38%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bacau
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.37RON 6.20
$1.70MX$29.43
-19.41%
White Bread(500g)
$0.89RON 4.03
$2.72MX$47.02
-67.28%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.72RON 7.75
$1.91MX$33.07
-9.95%
Eggs
$3.79RON 17.12
$2.54MX$43.86
49.21%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.37RON 37.84
$10.03MX$174
-16.55%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.14RON 27.73
$8.09MX$140
-24.10%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.44RON 42.69
$11.62MX$201
-18.76%
Apples(1kg)
$1.25RON 5.66
$2.97MX$51.3
-57.91%
Banana(1kg)
$1.57RON 7.10
$1.81MX$31.24
-13.26%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.74RON 7.85
$2.01MX$34.82
-13.43%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.93RON 8.70
$2.03MX$35.20
-4.93%
Potato(1kg)
$0.90RON 4.09
$2.12MX$36.75
-57.55%
Onion(1kg)
$0.84RON 3.81
$2.27MX$39.25
-63.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.67RON 3.03
$1.40MX$24.22
-52.14%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79RON 3.55
$1.13MX$19.55
-30.09%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.69RON 25.71
$4.27MX$73.9
33.26%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.72RON 30.37
$15.56MX$269
-56.81%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.88RON 3.97
$1.76MX$30.39
-50.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.34RON 6.07
$3.60MX$62.2
-62.78%
🚌 Getting Around
Bacau
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.63RON 2.85
$0.38MX$6.62
65.79%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$31.81RON 144
$19.18MX$332
65.85%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.61RON 2.77
$1.38MX$23.79
-55.80%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.60RON 2.71
$0.28MX$4.78
114.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.71RON 34.85
$5.45MX$94.2
41.47%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.58RON 7.14
$1.30MX$22.55
21.54%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.1KRON 127.1K
$18.7KMX$323.2K
50.46%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8KRON 121.0K
$23.1KMX$400.1K
15.73%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bacau
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$114RON 516
$40.86MX$707
179.12%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.19RON 37.03
$26.81MX$464
-69.45%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$5.23RON 23.62
$29.96MX$518
-82.54%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bacau
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.17RON 114
$52.0MX$900
-51.61%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.37RON 106
$26.84MX$464
-12.93%
Cinema Ticket
$6.77RON 30.61
$6.30MX$109
7.46%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bacau
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$654RON 2,958
$436MX$7,544
50.05%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,513RON 24.9K
$10.4KMX$180.2K
-47.07%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bacau
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$90.4RON 409
$56.7MX$980
59.61%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.64RON 161
$44.38MX$768
-19.69%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$62.4RON 282
$103MX$1,780
-39.35%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$98.2RON 444
$106MX$1,825
-6.94%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bacau
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$321RON 1,449
$1,022MX$17.7K
-68.64%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$187RON 844
$631MX$10.9K
-70.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$507RON 2,290
$2,136MX$36.9K
-76.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$368RON 1,662
$1,243MX$21.5K
-70.42%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,893RON 8,559
$3,903MX$67.5K
-51.49%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,242RON 5,612
$2,064MX$35.7K
-39.86%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bacau
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,020RON 4,609
$1,115MX$19.3K
-8.56%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.5
11.34
-42.68%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Bacau: May 31, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $321 in Bacau 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 9% higher in Mexico City, 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 $46.00 in Bacau versus $54.0 in Mexico City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $198 vs $288 – making Bacau 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
Bacau vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mexico City cheaper than Bacau?
Yes – Mexico City is pricier by about 61%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,368 per month in Bacau and $2,201 in Mexico City. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Bacau, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Bacau or Mexico City?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $46.00 in Bacau and $54.0 in Mexico City. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Bacau vs Mexico City?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $912 in Bacau and $1,467 in Mexico City. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Bacau or Mexico City?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Bacau, where all-in costs run around $912, than in Mexico City at $1,467. In Bacau it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mexico City it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Bacau or Mexico City more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Bacau – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Bacau or Mexico City?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Bacau. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Mexico City makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.