Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Big Bend and Mexico City

For one person, living is cheaper in Big Bend: $707 a month against $1,674 in Mexico City, rent and utilities included – about $11,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

34

Cost of Living Index in Big Bend
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Big Bend Living Index
80

Cost of Living Index in Mexico City
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Mexico City Living Index

Jump to prices

Big Bend

🇸🇿 Eswatini

$707

/mo nomad

Mexico City

🇲🇽 Mexico

$1,674

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Big Bend and in Mexico City

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Big Bend and in Mexico City actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $707 per month in Big Bend vs $1,674 in Mexico City, rent included.

Big Bend $707
Mexico City $1,674

A couple spends around $1,392 per month in Big Bend vs $2,606 in Mexico City, rent included.

Big Bend $1,392
Mexico City $2,606

A family of three spends $2,076 per month in Big Bend vs $3,537 in Mexico City, rent included.

Big Bend $2,076
Mexico City $3,537

Big Bend is about 58% cheaper than Mexico City, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Big Bend sits 48% below the global median, while Mexico City is 24% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.95 SZL 65.8

$10.59 MX$197

-62.70%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.97 SZL 449

$52.0 MX$967

-48.09%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.93 SZL 82.1

$10.73 MX$200

-54.05%

Cappuccino

$1.47 SZL 24.54

$3.80 MX$70.6

-61.32%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 SZL 11.64

$1.61 MX$30.01

-56.52%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.44 SZL 7.29

$1.21 MX$22.55

-63.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.48 SZL 24.69

$3.18 MX$59.1

-53.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.54 SZL 25.68

$5.44 MX$101

-71.69%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.22 SZL 20.24

$1.72 MX$31.96

-29.07%

White Bread (500g)

$0.86 SZL 14.33

$2.97 MX$55.2

-71.04%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.58 SZL 26.30

$1.93 MX$35.84

-18.13%

Eggs

$4.62 SZL 76.9

$2.77 MX$51.6

66.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$18.22 SZL 303

$11.67 MX$217

56.13%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.19 SZL 203

$9.48 MX$176

28.59%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.74 SZL 79.0

$15.37 MX$286

-69.16%

Apples (1kg)

$4.22 SZL 70.3

$3.10 MX$57.8

36.13%

Banana (1kg)

$0.57 SZL 9.54

$1.96 MX$36.49

-70.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.82 SZL 30.23

$1.98 MX$36.88

-8.08%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.17 SZL 19.50

$2.34 MX$43.46

-50.00%

Potato (1kg)

$2.45 SZL 40.71

$2.02 MX$37.66

21.29%

Onion (1kg)

$2.14 SZL 35.66

$1.82 MX$33.95

17.58%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.92 SZL 15.25

$1.54 MX$28.74

-40.26%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.89 SZL 14.74

$1.31 MX$24.42

-32.06%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.71 SZL 95.1

$5.35 MX$99.6

6.73%

Wine (Bottle)

$3.63 SZL 60.5

$16.19 MX$301

-77.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 SZL 9.80

$1.96 MX$36.46

-69.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.93 SZL 15.41

$4.35 MX$81.0

-78.62%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.22 SZL 20.40

$0.30 MX$5.67

306.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.66 SZL 394

$19.49 MX$363

21.40%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.82 SZL 30.29

$1.92 MX$35.68

-5.21%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.47 SZL 24.40

$0.47 MX$8.80

212.77%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.51 SZL 58.4

$5.41 MX$101

-35.12%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.11 SZL 18.40

$1.48 MX$27.61

-25.00%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$12.0K SZL 200.3K

$21.4K MX$397.7K

-43.72%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$18.2K SZL 303.5K

$23.8K MX$442.1K

-23.27%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$127 SZL 2,122

$62.0 MX$1,154

105.63%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$24.33 SZL 405

$28.47 MX$530

-14.54%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.83 SZL 397

$34.11 MX$635

-30.14%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$17.76 SZL 296

$58.4 MX$1,087

-69.58%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$2.38 SZL 39.55

$24.50 MX$456

-90.29%

Cinema Ticket

$2.99 SZL 49.86

$6.59 MX$123

-54.63%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$434 MX$8,081

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.0K MX$261.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.69 SZL 594

$68.4 MX$1,272

-47.78%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.82 SZL 397

$54.8 MX$1,020

-56.53%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$35.60 SZL 593

$111 MX$2,063

-67.88%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$54.8 SZL 912

$116 MX$2,158

-52.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$109 SZL 1,817

$1,179 MX$21.9K

-90.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$72.5 SZL 1,208

$771 MX$14.3K

-90.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,068 SZL 17.8K

$2,570 MX$47.8K

-58.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$708 SZL 11.8K

$1,420 MX$26.4K

-50.15%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$198 SZL 3,302

$3,586 MX$66.7K

-94.47%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$143 SZL 2,388

$2,064 MX$38.4K

-93.05%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$798 SZL 13.3K

$1,003 MX$18.7K

-20.46%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.35

-20.70%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Big Bend: November 1, 2026

Last update for Mexico City: November 1, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Groceries & Markets

Big Bend

$251 35.5%

Mexico City

$324 19.3% 28.9% $73

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Big Bend

$176 24.8%

Mexico City

$125 7.4% 29.1% $51

Eating Out

Big Bend

$79 11.2%

Mexico City

$201 12% 153% $121

Accommodation & Living

Big Bend

$73 10.3%

Mexico City

$771 46.1% 963% $698

Clothing & Footwear

Big Bend

$67 9.5%

Mexico City

$158 9.4% 134% $90

Getting Around

Big Bend

$38 5.3%

Mexico City

$25 1.5% 33.7% $13

Sport & Entertainment

Big Bend

$24 3.4%

Mexico City

$72 4.3% 201% $48

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $109 in Big Bend versus $1,179 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 26% 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 $27 in Big Bend versus $52 in Mexico City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $251 vs $324 – making Big Bend the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇸🇿 Big Bend

🇲🇽 Mexico City

🕒 Local time

01:48 1:48 AM

17:48 5:48 PM

8 h behind Big Bend

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

6,433

9,209,944 Capital

💱 Currency

Eswatini Lilangeni SZL L

Mexican Peso MXN $

📈 Exchange rate

100 SZL = 6.01 USD

100 SZL = 5.37 EUR

100 MXN = 5.37 USD

100 MXN = 4.81 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

MXN, USD, EUR to SZL – Eswatini Lilangeni Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇸🇿 Eswatini Lilangeni (L)

Eswatini Lilangeni exchange rates as of November 3, 2026: 1 USD = 16.65 SZL (100 SZL = 6.01 USD). 1 EUR = 18.62 SZL (100 SZL = 5.37 EUR).

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of November 3, 2026: 1 USD = 18.61 MXN (100 MXN = 5.37 USD). 1 EUR = 20.81 MXN (100 MXN = 4.81 EUR).

USD to SZL in detail →

On the map

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Highest

Between locations

Big Bend Mexico City 14,970 km ≈ 19 h nonstop flight

From you

Big Bend
Mexico City

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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

Big Bend vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $707 in Big Bend, $1,674 in Mexico City – Big Bend comes out roughly 58% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in eating out.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,061 per month in Big Bend and $2,510 in Mexico City. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Big Bend, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $109 there versus $1,179 in Mexico City.

Public transport costs about 18% less in Mexico City. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Groceries cost about 29% more in Mexico City, though the gap depends on what you buy.

A $1,200 monthly budget goes further in Big Bend, where all-in costs run around $707, than in Mexico City at $1,674. In Big Bend it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mexico City it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Mexico City has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $707 in Big Bend to $1,674 in Mexico City. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Big Bend. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Mexico City makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.