😐A single person spends $2,182 per month in Bologna vs $1,467 in Mexico City, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,410 per month in Bologna vs $2,371 in Mexico City, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,639 per month in Bologna vs $3,274 in Mexico City, rent included.
😐Bologna costs about 49% more than Mexico City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Bologna and Mexico City sit above the global median – Bologna by 63%, Mexico City by 10%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bologna
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$23.28€20.05
$13.18MX$228
76.63%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$82.6€71.1
$53.9MX$934
53.25%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.06€10.38
$9.42MX$163
28.03%
Cappuccino
$2.06€1.77
$3.55MX$61.5
-41.97%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.54€3.05
$1.62MX$28.03
118.52%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.39€1.19
$1.11MX$19.31
25.23%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.67€4.88
$3.12MX$54.1
81.73%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.90€5.08
$4.63MX$80.2
27.43%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bologna
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.75€1.51
$1.70MX$29.48
2.94%
White Bread(500g)
$3.02€2.60
$2.72MX$47.10
11.03%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.29€2.84
$1.91MX$33.13
72.25%
Eggs
$4.19€3.61
$2.54MX$43.94
64.96%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$21.88€18.84
$10.03MX$174
118.15%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$13.99€12.04
$8.09MX$140
72.93%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$23.40€20.15
$11.62MX$201
101.38%
Apples(1kg)
$3.04€2.62
$2.97MX$51.4
2.36%
Banana(1kg)
$2.89€2.49
$1.81MX$31.30
59.67%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.60€3.10
$2.01MX$34.88
79.10%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.46€3.84
$2.03MX$35.26
119.70%
Potato(1kg)
$2.42€2.08
$2.12MX$36.82
14.15%
Onion(1kg)
$2.04€1.76
$2.27MX$39.32
-10.13%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.42€1.22
$1.40MX$24.26
1.43%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51€0.44
$1.13MX$19.59
-54.87%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.12€6.13
$4.27MX$74.0
66.74%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.38€6.35
$15.56MX$270
-52.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.84€1.58
$1.76MX$30.44
4.55%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.12€2.69
$3.60MX$62.3
-13.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Bologna
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.63€2.27
$0.38MX$6.64
592.11%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.69€35.90
$19.18MX$332
117.36%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.67€4.88
$1.38MX$23.84
310.87%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.47€1.27
$0.28MX$4.79
425.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$30.96€26.66
$5.45MX$94.4
468.07%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.03€1.75
$1.30MX$22.60
56.15%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.6K€33.2K
$18.7KMX$323.8K
106.61%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.4K€33.0K
$23.1KMX$400.8K
65.85%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bologna
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$230€198
$40.86MX$708
462.80%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.26€9.69
$26.81MX$465
-58.00%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.03€28.44
$29.96MX$519
10.25%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bologna
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$68.0€58.6
$52.0MX$901
30.78%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$33.96€29.24
$26.84MX$465
26.53%
Cinema Ticket
$12.55€10.81
$6.30MX$109
99.21%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bologna
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$917€789
$436MX$7,558
110.20%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$27.8K€23.9K
$10.4KMX$180.5K
166.94%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bologna
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$101€87.2
$56.7MX$982
78.73%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.6€44.44
$44.38MX$769
16.29%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$121€104
$103MX$1,784
17.40%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$194€167
$106MX$1,829
83.75%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bologna
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,107€953
$1,022MX$17.7K
8.34%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$862€742
$631MX$10.9K
36.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,022€1,741
$2,136MX$37.0K
-5.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,475€1,270
$1,243MX$21.5K
18.69%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,365€4,620
$3,903MX$67.6K
37.47%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,022€3,463
$2,064MX$35.8K
94.82%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bologna
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,201€1,895
$1,115MX$19.3K
97.41%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.17
11.34
-63.23%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Bologna: June 1, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,107 in Bologna 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 97% higher in Bologna, 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 $83.0 in Bologna versus $54.0 in Mexico City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $406 vs $288 – making Mexico City 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
Bologna vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Bologna or Mexico City?
Bologna costs about 49% more than Mexico City, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Bologna vs Mexico City?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,272 per month in Bologna and $2,201 in Mexico City. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Bologna or Mexico City?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Mexico City, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How expensive is transport in Bologna vs Mexico City?
Public transport costs about 117% less in Mexico City. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
How do childcare costs compare in Bologna and Mexico City?
Kindergarten costs $917 per month in Bologna and $436 in Mexico City. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Bologna or Mexico City?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Mexico City, where all-in costs run around $1,467, than in Bologna at $2,182. In Mexico City it covers expenses comfortably, while in Bologna it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Bologna or Mexico City?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Mexico City costs $1,467 versus $2,182 in Bologna. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Bologna compared to 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.
Should I move to Bologna or Mexico City?
If budget matters most, go with Mexico City. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Bologna makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.