🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,142 in Centurion versus $1,456 in Mexico City.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,860 in Centurion versus $2,361 in Mexico City.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,577 in Centurion versus $3,266 in Mexico City.
🌍Living in Centurion costs roughly 22% less than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Centurion is 14% below, Mexico City is 9% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Centurion
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.55R 175
$13.07MX$229
-19.28%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.51R 555
$53.8MX$943
-37.66%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.63R 76.7
$9.68MX$170
-52.17%
Cappuccino
$2.10R 34.80
$3.74MX$65.6
-43.85%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.98R 16.30
$1.62MX$28.34
-39.51%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.80R 13.30
$1.16MX$20.37
-31.03%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.29R 37.85
$3.23MX$56.6
-29.10%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48R 41.09
$4.74MX$83.1
-47.68%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Centurion
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.19R 19.71
$1.65MX$28.89
-27.88%
White Bread(500g)
$1.03R 17.02
$2.75MX$48.30
-62.55%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.64R 27.21
$1.87MX$32.87
-12.30%
Eggs
$2.51R 41.49
$2.50MX$43.86
0.40%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.27R 137
$10.20MX$179
-18.92%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.89R 81.0
$8.25MX$145
-40.73%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.70R 111
$11.82MX$207
-43.32%
Apples(1kg)
$1.66R 27.48
$3.01MX$52.8
-44.85%
Banana(1kg)
$1.54R 25.55
$1.81MX$31.77
-14.92%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.66R 27.55
$2.00MX$35.07
-17.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.59R 26.27
$2.00MX$35.00
-20.50%
Potato(1kg)
$1.33R 22.07
$2.08MX$36.56
-36.06%
Onion(1kg)
$1.46R 24.17
$2.27MX$39.85
-35.68%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.09R 18.05
$1.46MX$25.55
-25.34%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.06R 17.54
$1.08MX$18.88
-1.85%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.13R 51.7
$4.35MX$76.3
-28.05%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.06R 100
$16.99MX$298
-64.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.44R 23.88
$1.73MX$30.40
-16.76%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.72R 28.43
$3.58MX$62.7
-51.96%
🚌 Getting Around
Centurion
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.22R 36.76
$0.39MX$6.79
469.23%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$88.7R 1,469
$18.69MX$328
374.64%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.14R 18.94
$1.33MX$23.25
-14.29%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.10R 18.16
$0.28MX$4.91
292.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.05R 67.0
$5.25MX$92.1
-22.86%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.25R 20.63
$1.34MX$23.44
-6.72%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.5KR 372.7K
$19.4KMX$340.5K
15.99%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.6KR 389.9K
$23.8KMX$418.0K
-1.18%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Centurion
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$116R 1,925
$40.69MX$714
185.77%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$37.89R 627
$26.87MX$471
41.01%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$41.49R 687
$30.51MX$535
35.99%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Centurion
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.87R 693
$52.8MX$926
-20.67%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$1.02R 16.89
$26.65MX$467
-96.17%
Cinema Ticket
$7.38R 122
$6.51MX$114
13.36%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Centurion
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$204R 3,379
$428MX$7,508
-52.31%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,328R 71.6K
$10.5KMX$184.2K
-58.78%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Centurion
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.82R 825
$57.3MX$1,004
-12.98%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.76R 542
$45.50MX$798
-28.00%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$88.1R 1,459
$104MX$1,825
-15.30%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.0R 1,440
$108MX$1,891
-19.35%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Centurion
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$314R 5,197
$1,003MX$17.6K
-68.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$329R 5,447
$623MX$10.9K
-47.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$530R 8,772
$2,109MX$37.0K
-74.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$811R 13.4K
$1,218MX$21.4K
-33.38%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$530R 8,769
$3,885MX$68.1K
-86.36%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$602R 9,971
$2,033MX$35.7K
-70.37%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Centurion
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,165R 35.8K
$1,038MX$18.2K
108.65%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.69
11.34
3.09%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Centurion: July 14, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $314 in Centurion and $1,003 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Centurion pays 109% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $34.00 in Centurion vs $54.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $187 vs $292 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 27% 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 109% 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: $314 in Centurion versus $1,003 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 $204 in Centurion versus $428 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 $1,142 in Centurion versus $1,456 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 $1,142 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 27% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.