🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,434 in Centurion versus $1,677 in Mexico City.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,285 in Centurion versus $2,608 in Mexico City.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,136 in Centurion versus $3,540 in Mexico City.
🌍Living in Centurion costs roughly 14% less than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Centurion4% above, Mexico City22% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Centurion
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.24R 358
$12.14MX$206
83.20%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.63R 670
$53.9MX$914
-22.76%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.18R 99.5
$11.09MX$188
-44.27%
Cappuccino
$2.73R 43.99
$4.10MX$69.5
-33.41%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.00R 16.13
$1.68MX$28.53
-40.48%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.89R 14.34
$1.39MX$23.55
-35.97%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.25R 36.26
$3.33MX$56.5
-32.43%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.51R 40.50
$5.88MX$99.7
-57.31%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Centurion
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.26R 20.35
$1.85MX$31.41
-31.89%
White Bread(500g)
$1.29R 20.77
$3.17MX$53.8
-59.31%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.20R 35.36
$2.07MX$35.13
6.28%
Eggs
$3.15R 50.7
$2.93MX$49.67
7.51%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.29R 166
$12.59MX$214
-18.27%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.88R 111
$10.11MX$172
-31.95%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.25R 117
$16.09MX$273
-54.94%
Apples(1kg)
$1.88R 30.21
$3.39MX$57.5
-44.54%
Banana(1kg)
$1.85R 29.76
$2.08MX$35.26
-11.06%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.30R 36.98
$2.12MX$35.97
8.49%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.18R 35.06
$2.41MX$40.95
-9.54%
Potato(1kg)
$1.65R 26.64
$2.13MX$36.11
-22.54%
Onion(1kg)
$1.95R 31.34
$2.01MX$34.02
-2.99%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.40R 22.47
$1.55MX$26.21
-9.68%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.52R 24.49
$1.36MX$23.15
11.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.79R 61.1
$5.77MX$97.8
-34.32%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.37R 103
$17.74MX$301
-64.09%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.63R 26.26
$2.07MX$35.11
-21.26%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.11R 34.05
$4.61MX$78.3
-54.23%
🚌 Getting Around
Centurion
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.46R 39.65
$0.37MX$6.21
564.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$101R 1,620
$21.18MX$359
375.02%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.21R 19.53
$2.05MX$34.84
-40.98%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.22R 19.62
$0.58MX$9.79
110.34%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$9.14R 147
$6.07MX$103
50.58%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.42R 22.82
$1.55MX$26.34
-8.39%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.6KR 588.9K
$22.9KMX$388.1K
59.87%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.6KR 540.9K
$27.2KMX$462.0K
23.32%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Centurion
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$146R 2,344
$67.4MX$1,144
115.90%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$31.61R 509
$30.62MX$520
3.23%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$42.69R 687
$37.24MX$632
14.63%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Centurion
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$45.99R 741
$61.5MX$1,043
-25.17%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$27.12MX$460
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.11R 179
$7.11MX$121
56.26%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Centurion
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$319R 5,140
$456MX$7,739
-30.03%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,504R 72.5K
$13.7KMX$232.3K
-67.11%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Centurion
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.7R 978
$74.2MX$1,259
-18.18%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.61R 735
$57.0MX$967
-20.00%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$122R 1,970
$115MX$1,958
6.00%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108R 1,735
$122MX$2,061
-11.32%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Centurion
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$349R 5,623
$1,148MX$19.5K
-69.57%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$391R 6,298
$709MX$12.0K
-44.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$604R 9,724
$2,577MX$43.7K
-76.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$925R 14.9K
$1,295MX$22.0K
-28.54%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$543R 8,743
$4,005MX$67.9K
-86.45%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$638R 10.3K
$2,130MX$36.1K
-70.06%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Centurion
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,456R 39.6K
$1,082MX$18.4K
127.01%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.5
11.3
-7.08%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Centurion: September 7, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: September 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $349 in Centurion and $1,148 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Centurion pays 127% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $42.00 in Centurion vs $54.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $232 vs $345 per month, with Centurion 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
Centurion vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Centurion or Mexico City?
Centurion wins on cost – living expenses run 17% lower than in Mexico City. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Centurion the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Centurion or in Mexico City?
Average pay runs 127% higher in Centurion, 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 Centurion compared to Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $349 in Centurion versus $1,148 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Centurion compared to Mexico City?
A monthly transit pass in Centurion runs roughly 375% less than in Mexico City. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Centurion and in Mexico City?
Childcare runs $319 in Centurion versus $456 in Mexico City. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Centurion or in Mexico City?
At $1,434 in Centurion versus $1,677 in Mexico City, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Centurion but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Centurion the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Centurion or Mexico City?
Both work as nomad bases, but Centurion delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,434 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Centurion hard to pass up.
How safe is Centurion compared to Mexico City?
Safety-wise, Centurion 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 Centurion gentler on the wallet – expenses run 17% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.