😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,326 in Badajoz versus $1,238 in Zapopan.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,943 in Badajoz versus $1,822 in Zapopan.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,559 in Badajoz versus $2,406 in Zapopan.
🌍Living in Badajoz is roughly 7% more expensive than in Zapopan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Badajoz1% lower, Zapopan7% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Badajoz
Zapopan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.05€12.27
$10.63MX$186
32.17%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.21€37.75
$39.03MX$682
10.71%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.60€9.26
$9.61MX$168
10.30%
Cappuccino
$1.81€1.58
$3.26MX$57.1
-44.48%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13€1.86
$1.39MX$24.26
53.24%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.37€1.20
$1.25MX$21.92
9.60%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.28€1.99
$2.17MX$38.03
5.07%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.49€3.05
$3.90MX$68.2
-10.51%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Badajoz
Zapopan
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.13€0.99
$1.43MX$25.03
-20.98%
White Bread(500g)
$1.20€1.05
$2.60MX$45.52
-53.85%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.64€1.44
$1.61MX$28.21
1.86%
Eggs
$2.76€2.41
$2.29MX$39.98
20.52%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.06€12.29
$9.67MX$169
45.40%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.87€6.88
$9.17MX$160
-14.18%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.47€10.90
$10.23MX$179
21.90%
Apples(1kg)
$2.37€2.07
$2.72MX$47.50
-12.87%
Banana(1kg)
$2.07€1.81
$1.38MX$24.12
50.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.72€1.50
$1.64MX$28.70
4.88%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.65€2.32
$2.24MX$39.11
18.30%
Potato(1kg)
$1.70€1.49
$2.17MX$38.01
-21.66%
Onion(1kg)
$1.85€1.62
$2.67MX$46.75
-30.71%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.92€0.80
$1.55MX$27.12
-40.65%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.57€0.50
$1.11MX$19.49
-48.65%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.71€4.99
$4.55MX$79.5
25.49%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.96€6.08
$11.03MX$193
-36.90%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38€1.21
$2.04MX$35.71
-32.35%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28€1.99
$3.28MX$57.3
-30.49%
🚌 Getting Around
Badajoz
Zapopan
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.37€1.20
$0.51MX$8.94
168.63%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.35€25.65
$26.17MX$458
12.15%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.25€2.84
$2.60MX$45.45
25.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.04€0.91
$2.35MX$41.06
-55.74%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$22.04€19.25
$10.64MX$186
107.14%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.82€1.59
$1.31MX$22.97
38.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.3K€23.0K
$21.0KMX$367.6K
25.31%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.6K€21.5K
$23.0KMX$402.7K
6.74%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Badajoz
Zapopan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$110€96.3
$94.8MX$1,658
16.23%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$24.52€21.43
$24.18MX$423
1.41%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$35.79€31.27
$31.36MX$548
14.13%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Badajoz
Zapopan
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.61€37.23
$43.14MX$754
-1.23%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.66€4.07
$14.62MX$256
-68.13%
Cinema Ticket
$8.62€7.53
$5.36MX$93.8
60.82%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Badajoz
Zapopan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$365€319
$190MX$3,319
92.08%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,792€4,186
$6,439MX$112.6K
-25.58%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Badajoz
Zapopan
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$83.7€73.1
$49.86MX$872
67.89%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.20€27.26
$28.71MX$502
8.67%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$59.7€52.1
$98.1MX$1,716
-39.22%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$73.0€63.8
$90.5MX$1,583
-19.41%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Badajoz
Zapopan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$605€529
$665MX$11.6K
-8.94%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$498€435
$399MX$6,978
24.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$939€821
$1,068MX$18.7K
-12.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$682€596
$610MX$10.7K
11.85%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,675€1,463
$5,974MX$104.5K
-71.97%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,357€1,186
$1,587MX$27.7K
-14.47%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Badajoz
Zapopan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,497€1,308
$946MX$16.5K
58.17%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.02
11.48
-73.69%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Badajoz: July 12, 2026
Last update for Zapopan: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $605 in Badajoz and $665 in Zapopan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Badajoz pays 58% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $43.00 in Badajoz vs $39.00 in Zapopan. Groceries flip the comparison at $249 vs $271, with Badajoz cheaper for home cooking.
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
Badajoz vs Zapopan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Zapopan cheaper than Badajoz?
Zapopan is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 7% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Badajoz or Zapopan?
Average pay runs 58% higher in Badajoz, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Badajoz and Zapopan?
Rent for a central apartment: $605 in Badajoz versus $665 in Zapopan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Badajoz and in Zapopan?
All in, you'll spend $1,326 per month in Badajoz versus $1,238 in Zapopan – a 7% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Zapopan runs roughly 12% less than in Badajoz. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Badajoz or in Zapopan?
At $1,238 in Zapopan versus $1,326 in Badajoz, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Zapopan but tight or insufficient in Badajoz. The gap between the two cities makes Zapopan the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Badajoz or Zapopan more family-friendly?
For families, Zapopan is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Badajoz, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Badajoz or Zapopan?
Safety-wise, Badajoz and Zapopan are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Zapopan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 7% less than in Badajoz. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.