😐A single person spends $2,219 per month in Bologna vs $1,646 in Mexico City, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,491 per month in Bologna vs $2,613 in Mexico City, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,764 per month in Bologna vs $3,580 in Mexico City, rent included.
😐Bologna costs about 35% more than Mexico City, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Bologna and Mexico City sit above the global median – Bologna by 62%, Mexico City by 20%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bologna
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$23.38€20.10
$12.11MX$205
93.06%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$93.6€80.5
$52.2MX$883
79.26%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.98€12.02
$10.90MX$184
28.26%
Cappuccino
$2.26€1.95
$4.05MX$68.5
-44.20%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72€3.20
$1.72MX$29.00
116.28%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.88€1.61
$1.38MX$23.29
36.23%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.90€5.93
$3.47MX$58.6
98.85%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.86€5.04
$5.81MX$98.2
0.86%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bologna
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43€1.23
$1.85MX$31.33
-22.70%
White Bread(500g)
$3.13€2.69
$3.22MX$54.5
-2.80%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.09€2.66
$2.09MX$35.25
47.85%
Eggs
$4.14€3.56
$2.91MX$49.18
42.27%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$21.07€18.12
$12.49MX$211
68.69%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.79€11.00
$10.11MX$171
26.51%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$21.97€18.89
$15.89MX$269
38.26%
Apples(1kg)
$2.51€2.16
$3.31MX$56.0
-24.17%
Banana(1kg)
$2.44€2.10
$2.13MX$35.95
14.55%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.82€2.43
$2.19MX$37.03
28.77%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.61€3.11
$2.45MX$41.37
47.35%
Potato(1kg)
$1.92€1.65
$2.19MX$37.00
-12.33%
Onion(1kg)
$1.85€1.59
$1.90MX$32.20
-2.63%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.44€1.24
$1.62MX$27.31
-11.11%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.57€0.49
$1.35MX$22.82
-57.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.40€6.36
$5.43MX$91.7
36.28%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.04€6.91
$17.59MX$297
-54.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.01€1.73
$2.07MX$34.96
-2.90%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.85€2.45
$4.75MX$80.2
-40.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Bologna
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.61€2.24
$0.34MX$5.75
667.65%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.90€39.46
$21.58MX$365
112.70%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.77€4.10
$2.04MX$34.49
133.82%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.71€1.47
$0.58MX$9.77
194.83%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$33.87€29.12
$5.97MX$101
467.34%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.15€1.84
$1.62MX$27.31
32.72%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.5K€32.2K
$22.8KMX$385.6K
64.37%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.2K€32.0K
$26.7KMX$450.7K
39.55%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bologna
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$255€219
$65.2MX$1,103
290.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.63€10.00
$29.87MX$505
-61.06%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.90€27.43
$36.55MX$618
-12.72%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bologna
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$66.8€57.4
$61.0MX$1,031
9.44%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$27.56€23.69
$26.70MX$451
3.22%
Cinema Ticket
$10.59€9.11
$6.85MX$116
54.60%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bologna
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$792€681
$453MX$7,664
74.78%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.8K€14.4K
$13.4KMX$226.0K
25.64%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bologna
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$96.9€83.3
$75.0MX$1,267
29.31%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.47€41.67
$55.3MX$935
-12.33%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$120€104
$114MX$1,920
6.00%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$155€134
$123MX$2,073
26.75%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bologna
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,180€1,014
$1,134MX$19.2K
4.10%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$908€781
$712MX$12.0K
27.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,191€1,883
$2,571MX$43.5K
-14.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,647€1,416
$1,311MX$22.2K
25.63%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,201€4,471
$3,993MX$67.5K
30.27%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,918€3,368
$2,095MX$35.4K
86.99%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bologna
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,252€1,936
$1,047MX$17.7K
115.15%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.22
11.3
-71.50%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Bologna: August 31, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: August 29, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,180 in Bologna versus $1,134 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 115% 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 $94.0 in Bologna versus $52.0 in Mexico City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $378 vs $345 – 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 35% more than Mexico City, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. 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 and in Mexico City?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,329 per month in Bologna and $2,469 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 compared to Mexico City?
Public transport costs about 113% 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 in Mexico City?
Kindergarten costs $792 per month in Bologna and $453 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 $3,000/month in Bologna or in Mexico City?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Mexico City, where all-in costs run around $1,646, than in Bologna at $2,219. 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 $1,646 versus $2,219 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 to 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.