🙂A single person spends $905 per month in Bacau vs $1,456 in Mexico City, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,462 per month in Bacau vs $2,361 in Mexico City, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $2,019 per month in Bacau vs $3,266 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 9% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bacau
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.74RON 53.8
$13.07MX$229
-10.18%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.80RON 210
$53.8MX$943
-14.79%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.16RON 37.40
$9.68MX$170
-15.70%
Cappuccino
$2.30RON 10.55
$3.74MX$65.6
-38.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.20RON 10.11
$1.62MX$28.34
35.80%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86RON 8.51
$1.16MX$20.37
60.34%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.32RON 10.64
$3.23MX$56.6
-28.17%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.54RON 16.26
$4.74MX$83.1
-25.32%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bacau
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.34RON 6.16
$1.65MX$28.89
-18.79%
White Bread(500g)
$0.84RON 3.86
$2.75MX$48.30
-69.45%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.71RON 7.86
$1.87MX$32.87
-8.56%
Eggs
$3.67RON 16.82
$2.50MX$43.86
46.80%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.33RON 38.22
$10.20MX$179
-18.33%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.22RON 28.51
$8.25MX$145
-24.61%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.10RON 41.74
$11.82MX$207
-23.01%
Apples(1kg)
$1.26RON 5.80
$3.01MX$52.8
-58.14%
Banana(1kg)
$1.62RON 7.43
$1.81MX$31.77
-10.50%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.73RON 7.94
$2.00MX$35.07
-13.50%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.83RON 8.38
$2.00MX$35.00
-8.50%
Potato(1kg)
$0.93RON 4.27
$2.08MX$36.56
-55.29%
Onion(1kg)
$0.83RON 3.83
$2.27MX$39.85
-63.44%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.71RON 3.24
$1.46MX$25.55
-51.37%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.74RON 3.38
$1.08MX$18.88
-31.48%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.85RON 26.84
$4.35MX$76.3
34.48%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.58RON 30.16
$16.99MX$298
-61.27%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.87RON 3.98
$1.73MX$30.40
-49.71%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.34RON 6.14
$3.58MX$62.7
-62.57%
🚌 Getting Around
Bacau
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.63RON 2.89
$0.39MX$6.79
61.54%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$32.12RON 147
$18.69MX$328
71.86%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.62RON 2.85
$1.33MX$23.25
-53.38%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.64RON 2.95
$0.28MX$4.91
128.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.44RON 34.12
$5.25MX$92.1
41.71%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.60RON 7.34
$1.34MX$23.44
19.40%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.3KRON 129.6K
$19.4KMX$340.5K
45.64%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7KRON 122.3K
$23.8KMX$418.0K
11.87%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bacau
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$116RON 532
$40.69MX$714
184.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.53RON 39.13
$26.87MX$471
-68.25%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$5.26RON 24.14
$30.51MX$535
-82.76%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bacau
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$24.94RON 114
$52.8MX$926
-52.75%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.39RON 107
$26.65MX$467
-12.23%
Cinema Ticket
$6.81RON 31.22
$6.51MX$114
4.61%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bacau
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$654RON 3,001
$428MX$7,508
52.88%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,516RON 25.3K
$10.5KMX$184.2K
-47.46%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bacau
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$90.4RON 415
$57.3MX$1,004
57.97%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.38RON 162
$45.50MX$798
-22.24%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$63.7RON 292
$104MX$1,825
-38.83%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$99.0RON 454
$108MX$1,891
-8.15%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bacau
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$325RON 1,492
$1,003MX$17.6K
-67.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$183RON 839
$623MX$10.9K
-70.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$501RON 2,299
$2,109MX$37.0K
-76.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$366RON 1,677
$1,218MX$21.4K
-69.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,828RON 8,382
$3,885MX$68.1K
-52.95%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,217RON 5,581
$2,033MX$35.7K
-40.13%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bacau
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,022RON 4,687
$1,038MX$18.2K
-1.53%
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: July 12, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $325 in Bacau 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 2% 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: $195 vs $292 – 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 $1,357 per month in Bacau and $2,185 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 in 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 and in Mexico City?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $905 in Bacau and $1,456 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 living in Bacau or in Mexico City?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Bacau, where all-in costs run around $905, than in Mexico City at $1,456. 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.