😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,221 in Bonn versus $1,448 in Mexico City.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,378 in Bonn versus $2,354 in Mexico City.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,534 in Bonn versus $3,260 in Mexico City.
😐Living in Bonn is roughly 53% more expensive than Mexico City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Bonn67% above, Mexico City9% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bonn
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.49€15.06
$12.96MX$223
34.95%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$80.8€69.6
$52.3MX$900
54.37%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.47€9.88
$9.69MX$167
18.37%
Cappuccino
$3.50€3.02
$3.75MX$64.6
-6.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.73€2.35
$1.56MX$26.91
75.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.20€1.90
$1.16MX$19.93
89.66%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.08€4.37
$3.24MX$55.8
56.79%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.34€4.60
$4.90MX$84.3
8.98%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bonn
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.33€1.14
$1.70MX$29.29
-21.76%
White Bread(500g)
$2.28€1.96
$2.67MX$45.90
-14.61%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.43€2.95
$1.89MX$32.49
81.48%
Eggs
$4.04€3.48
$2.52MX$43.37
60.32%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.85€12.79
$10.02MX$172
48.20%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$16.06€13.83
$8.53MX$147
88.28%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$21.90€18.85
$11.94MX$205
83.42%
Apples(1kg)
$3.24€2.79
$2.97MX$51.1
9.09%
Banana(1kg)
$1.80€1.55
$1.79MX$30.88
0.56%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.25€1.93
$2.00MX$34.40
12.50%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.37€4.62
$1.96MX$33.74
173.98%
Potato(1kg)
$1.60€1.38
$2.16MX$37.21
-25.93%
Onion(1kg)
$1.60€1.38
$2.27MX$39.04
-29.52%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.02€1.74
$1.40MX$24.14
44.29%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.16€1.00
$1.11MX$19.18
4.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.67€8.33
$4.20MX$72.2
130.24%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.94€5.11
$16.54MX$285
-64.09%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.11€0.95
$1.68MX$28.94
-33.93%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.77€1.52
$3.59MX$61.8
-50.70%
🚌 Getting Around
Bonn
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.91€3.37
$0.39MX$6.65
902.56%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$58.1€50.0
$19.19MX$330
202.81%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.70€4.05
$1.38MX$23.77
240.58%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.01€1.73
$0.30MX$5.19
570.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$36.99€31.85
$5.39MX$92.7
586.27%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.98€1.70
$1.29MX$22.13
53.49%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.8K€26.6K
$18.9KMX$325.1K
63.23%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.0K€32.8K
$23.8KMX$409.5K
59.85%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bonn
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$385€332
$39.86MX$686
866.28%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.73€24.74
$27.83MX$479
3.23%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$51.1€43.96
$29.77MX$512
71.48%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bonn
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$43.15€37.16
$52.0MX$894
-16.96%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$37.36€32.17
$26.22MX$451
42.49%
Cinema Ticket
$15.96€13.74
$6.27MX$108
154.55%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bonn
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$559€482
$433MX$7,443
29.33%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.6K€12.6K
$10.5KMX$181.3K
38.80%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bonn
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$80.5€69.3
$57.0MX$981
41.14%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.56€34.06
$45.33MX$780
-12.73%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$98.1€84.5
$102MX$1,753
-3.72%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120€103
$109MX$1,867
10.34%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bonn
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$977€841
$994MX$17.1K
-1.70%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$798€688
$617MX$10.6K
29.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,990€1,713
$2,086MX$35.9K
-4.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,583€1,363
$1,256MX$21.6K
26.09%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,380€5,494
$3,936MX$67.7K
62.09%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,532€3,903
$2,089MX$35.9K
116.99%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bonn
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,644€3,138
$1,131MX$19.5K
222.05%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.98
11.34
-64.90%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Bonn: June 13, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: June 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $977 in Bonn and $994 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Bonn pays 222% 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: $81.0 in Bonn vs $52.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $370 vs $292 per month, with Mexico City 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
Bonn vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Bonn or Mexico City?
Mexico City wins on cost – living expenses run 53% lower than in Bonn. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Mexico City the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Bonn or Mexico City?
Bonn pays 222% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Bonn vs Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $977 in Bonn versus $994 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Bonn and Mexico City?
Childcare runs $559 in Bonn versus $433 in Mexico City. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Are groceries more expensive in Bonn or Mexico City?
Supermarket bills run roughly 27% higher in Bonn. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Bonn or Mexico City?
At $1,448 in Mexico City versus $2,221 in Bonn, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Mexico City but tight or insufficient in Bonn. The gap between the two cities makes Mexico City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Bonn or Mexico City?
Both work as nomad bases, but Mexico City delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,448 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Mexico City hard to pass up.
How safe is Bonn compared to Mexico City?
Safety-wise, Bonn and Mexico City 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Mexico City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 53% less than in Bonn. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.