๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $657 in Bengbu versus $1,484 in Mexico City.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,050 in Bengbu versus $2,342 in Mexico City.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,443 in Bengbu versus $3,199 in Mexico City.
๐Living in Bengbu costs roughly 56% less than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Eating Out.
๐The two cities straddle the global median: Bengbu is 51% below, Mexico City is 10% above.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Bengbu
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.84ยฅ19.40
$13.29MX$231
-78.63%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$22.65ยฅ155
$53.8MX$933
-57.86%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.85ยฅ33.12
$9.29MX$161
-47.79%
Cappuccino
$3.11ยฅ21.26
$3.61MX$62.6
-13.85%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.45ยฅ3.05
$1.56MX$27.03
-71.15%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.24ยฅ1.63
$1.12MX$19.46
-78.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.80ยฅ5.47
$3.13MX$54.3
-74.44%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15ยฅ14.70
$4.71MX$81.7
-54.35%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Bengbu
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.06ยฅ14.07
$1.70MX$29.54
21.18%
White Bread(500g)
$1.01ยฅ6.92
$2.77MX$48.03
-63.54%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.67ยฅ4.54
$1.96MX$34.05
-65.82%
Eggs
$1.49ยฅ10.20
$2.60MX$45.21
-42.69%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.31ยฅ63.6
$9.94MX$173
-6.34%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.84ยฅ19.36
$8.10MX$141
-64.94%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.18ยฅ62.7
$11.50MX$200
-20.17%
Apples(1kg)
$1.36ยฅ9.32
$2.87MX$49.84
-52.61%
Banana(1kg)
$1.01ยฅ6.88
$1.73MX$30.07
-41.62%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.36ยฅ9.32
$2.00MX$34.73
-32.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.71ยฅ4.85
$2.04MX$35.38
-65.20%
Potato(1kg)
$0.58ยฅ3.93
$2.08MX$36.14
-72.12%
Onion(1kg)
$0.58ยฅ3.98
$2.20MX$38.12
-73.64%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.71ยฅ4.85
$1.45MX$25.24
-51.03%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.44ยฅ2.99
$1.07MX$18.63
-58.88%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.82ยฅ19.26
$4.27MX$74.2
-33.96%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.03ยฅ41.16
$14.32MX$249
-57.89%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.71ยฅ4.87
$1.76MX$30.62
-59.66%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.35ยฅ9.21
$3.70MX$64.2
-63.51%
๐ Getting Around
Bengbu
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.29ยฅ1.99
$0.35MX$6.12
-17.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$16.96ยฅ116
$19.19MX$333
-11.62%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.49ยฅ10.17
$1.34MX$23.18
11.19%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.33ยฅ2.22
$0.28MX$4.83
17.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.23ยฅ56.2
$5.33MX$92.6
54.41%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.18ยฅ8.05
$1.34MX$23.27
-11.94%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.1Kยฅ117.0K
$19.1KMX$332.0K
-10.43%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$14.2Kยฅ97.0K
$23.9KMX$414.5K
-40.52%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bengbu
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$34.29ยฅ234
$39.86MX$692
-13.97%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.94ยฅ33.73
$26.78MX$465
-81.55%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$8.48ยฅ57.9
$29.36MX$510
-71.12%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Bengbu
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.48ยฅ290
$53.4MX$927
-20.49%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.01ยฅ95.7
$26.09MX$453
-46.30%
Cinema Ticket
$5.65ยฅ38.59
$6.40MX$111
-11.72%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Bengbu
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$411ยฅ2,807
$440MX$7,647
-6.70%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$18.2Kยฅ124.2K
$10.8KMX$186.6K
69.17%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Bengbu
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.09ยฅ294
$57.6MX$1,000
-25.22%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.50ยฅ222
$45.02MX$781
-27.81%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$67.2ยฅ459
$104MX$1,801
-35.20%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$82.1ยฅ561
$108MX$1,874
-23.96%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Bengbu
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$282ยฅ1,929
$1,013MX$17.6K
-72.12%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$184ยฅ1,256
$630MX$10.9K
-70.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$593ยฅ4,053
$2,162MX$37.5K
-72.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$360ยฅ2,459
$1,222MX$21.2K
-70.53%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,185ยฅ21.8K
$3,793MX$65.8K
-16.01%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,807ยฅ12.3K
$2,332MX$40.5K
-22.50%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Bengbu
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$660ยฅ4,508
$1,075MX$18.7K
-38.59%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.87
11.34
-65.87%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Bengbu: April 14, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: April 11, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $282 in Bengbu and $1,013 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
๐ฐMexico City pays 63% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
๐Dining out: $23 in Bengbu vs $54 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $160 vs $285 per month, with Bengbu cheaper across the board.
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
Bengbu vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mexico City cheaper than Bengbu?
Bengbu is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 126% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Bengbu or Mexico City?
On paper, Mexico City earns 63% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Bengbu and Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $282 in Bengbu versus $1,013 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $411 in Bengbu versus $440 in Mexico City. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Bengbu and Mexico City?
Supermarket bills run roughly 78% higher in Mexico City. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Bengbu or Mexico City?
At $657 in Bengbu versus $1,484 in Mexico City, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Bengbu but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Bengbu the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Bengbu or Mexico City more family-friendly?
For families, Bengbu is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Mexico City, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Bengbu gentler on the wallet โ expenses run 126% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.