😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,131 in Buchs versus $1,646 in Mexico City.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,705 in Buchs versus $2,613 in Mexico City.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,279 in Buchs versus $3,580 in Mexico City.
🌍Living in Buchs is roughly 90% more expensive than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Buchs128% above, Mexico City20% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Buchs
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$24.41CHF 19.75
$12.11MX$204
101.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$87.8CHF 71.0
$52.2MX$881
68.08%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$15.70CHF 12.70
$10.90MX$184
44.04%
Cappuccino
$4.65CHF 3.77
$4.05MX$68.4
14.81%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.99CHF 3.23
$1.72MX$28.95
131.98%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.26CHF 2.64
$1.38MX$23.25
136.23%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.22CHF 5.03
$3.47MX$58.5
79.25%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.59CHF 4.52
$5.81MX$98.1
-3.79%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Buchs
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.06CHF 1.66
$1.85MX$31.28
11.35%
White Bread(500g)
$4.03CHF 3.26
$3.22MX$54.4
25.16%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.70CHF 3.80
$2.09MX$35.20
124.88%
Eggs
$7.49CHF 6.06
$2.91MX$49.10
157.39%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$33.16CHF 26.83
$12.49MX$211
165.49%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$18.51CHF 14.97
$10.11MX$171
83.09%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$33.43CHF 27.05
$15.89MX$268
110.38%
Apples(1kg)
$3.50CHF 2.83
$3.31MX$56.0
5.74%
Banana(1kg)
$2.29CHF 1.86
$2.13MX$35.90
7.51%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.23CHF 2.61
$2.19MX$36.97
47.49%
Tomato(1kg)
$6.98CHF 5.65
$2.45MX$41.31
184.90%
Potato(1kg)
$1.81CHF 1.46
$2.19MX$36.95
-17.35%
Onion(1kg)
$2.69CHF 2.17
$1.90MX$32.15
41.58%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.61CHF 2.11
$1.62MX$27.26
61.11%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.24CHF 1.00
$1.35MX$22.78
-8.15%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$11.24CHF 9.09
$5.43MX$91.6
107.00%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.38CHF 10.83
$17.59MX$297
-23.93%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.16CHF 2.56
$2.07MX$34.90
52.66%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.00CHF 3.24
$4.75MX$80.1
-15.79%
🚌 Getting Around
Buchs
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$5.16CHF 4.18
$0.34MX$5.74
1417.65%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$21.58MX$364
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.56CHF 4.50
$2.04MX$34.44
172.55%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.45CHF 2.79
$0.58MX$9.75
494.83%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$60.9CHF 49.28
$5.97MX$101
920.27%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.29CHF 1.86
$1.62MX$27.27
41.36%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$43.4KCHF 35.1K
$22.8KMX$385.0K
90.42%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.6KCHF 32.9K
$26.7KMX$450.0K
52.42%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Buchs
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$183CHF 148
$65.2MX$1,101
180.90%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$32.10CHF 25.97
$29.87MX$504
7.47%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$69.1CHF 55.9
$36.55MX$617
89.11%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Buchs
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$61.0MX$1,030
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$26.70MX$451
-
Cinema Ticket
$15.71CHF 12.71
$6.85MX$116
129.34%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Buchs
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$620CHF 501
$453MX$7,652
36.69%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$20.9KCHF 16.9K
$13.4KMX$225.7K
56.13%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Buchs
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$111CHF 89.5
$75.0MX$1,265
47.55%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.98CHF 20.21
$55.3MX$933
-54.82%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.0CHF 80.1
$114MX$1,917
-12.87%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$175CHF 141
$123MX$2,070
42.48%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Buchs
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,827CHF 1,478
$1,134MX$19.1K
61.18%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,623CHF 1,313
$712MX$12.0K
127.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,796CHF 2,262
$2,571MX$43.4K
8.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,828CHF 2,288
$1,311MX$22.1K
115.69%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,993MX$67.4K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,095MX$35.4K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Buchs
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$8,717CHF 7,052
$1,047MX$17.7K
732.63%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
1.93
11.3
-82.92%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Buchs: September 1, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: August 29, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,827 in Buchs and $1,134 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Buchs pays 733% 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: $88.0 in Buchs vs $52.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $568 vs $345 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
Buchs vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Buchs and in Mexico City?
Buchs and Mexico City differ by about 90% in total monthly costs ($3,131 vs $1,646 including rent). Mexico City is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Buchs or Mexico City?
Average pay runs 733% higher in Buchs, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Buchs and in Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,827 in Buchs versus $1,134 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Buchs and Mexico City?
Childcare runs $620 in Buchs versus $453 in Mexico City. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Mexico City – a meal for two runs $52.0 versus $88.0 in Buchs. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
At $1,646 in Mexico City versus $3,131 in Buchs, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Mexico City but tight or insufficient in Buchs. The gap between the two cities makes Mexico City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Buchs and Mexico City?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Buchs or Mexico City safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Buchs 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.
Where should expats move: Buchs or Mexico City?
Expats usually find Mexico City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 90% less than in Buchs. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.