🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,139 in Centurion versus $1,467 in Mexico City.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,860 in Centurion versus $2,371 in Mexico City.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,580 in Centurion versus $3,274 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 15% below, Mexico City is 10% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Centurion
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.55R 171
$13.18MX$228
-19.95%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.64R 547
$53.9MX$932
-37.59%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.79R 77.8
$9.42MX$163
-49.15%
Cappuccino
$2.03R 33.03
$3.55MX$61.4
-42.82%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.02R 16.59
$1.62MX$27.98
-37.04%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.81R 13.13
$1.11MX$19.27
-27.03%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.22R 36.14
$3.12MX$54.0
-28.85%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48R 40.32
$4.63MX$80.1
-46.44%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Centurion
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.19R 19.34
$1.70MX$29.43
-30.00%
White Bread(500g)
$1.06R 17.19
$2.72MX$47.02
-61.03%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.66R 26.98
$1.91MX$33.07
-13.09%
Eggs
$2.43R 39.47
$2.54MX$43.86
-4.33%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.14R 132
$10.03MX$174
-18.84%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.84R 78.7
$8.09MX$140
-40.17%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.66R 108
$11.62MX$201
-42.69%
Apples(1kg)
$1.62R 26.37
$2.97MX$51.3
-45.45%
Banana(1kg)
$1.48R 24.06
$1.81MX$31.24
-18.23%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.62R 26.26
$2.01MX$34.82
-19.40%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.64R 26.71
$2.03MX$35.20
-19.21%
Potato(1kg)
$1.34R 21.75
$2.12MX$36.75
-36.79%
Onion(1kg)
$1.45R 23.59
$2.27MX$39.25
-36.12%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.09R 17.79
$1.40MX$24.22
-22.14%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07R 17.36
$1.13MX$19.55
-5.31%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.06R 49.69
$4.27MX$73.9
-28.34%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.17R 100
$15.56MX$269
-60.35%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.44R 23.47
$1.76MX$30.39
-18.18%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.72R 28.00
$3.60MX$62.2
-52.22%
🚌 Getting Around
Centurion
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.18R 35.50
$0.38MX$6.62
473.68%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$91.0R 1,479
$19.18MX$332
374.50%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.13R 18.39
$1.38MX$23.79
-18.12%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.07R 17.31
$0.28MX$4.78
282.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.04R 65.7
$5.45MX$94.2
-25.87%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31R 21.25
$1.30MX$22.55
0.77%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.8KR 370.1K
$18.7KMX$323.2K
21.88%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.3KR 395.1K
$23.1KMX$400.1K
5.12%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Centurion
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$120R 1,951
$40.86MX$707
193.86%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$37.25R 605
$26.81MX$464
38.94%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$42.33R 688
$29.96MX$518
41.29%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Centurion
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.89R 681
$52.0MX$900
-19.47%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$0.93R 15.13
$26.84MX$464
-96.54%
Cinema Ticket
$7.71R 125
$6.30MX$109
22.38%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Centurion
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$209R 3,392
$436MX$7,544
-52.14%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,282R 69.6K
$10.4KMX$180.2K
-58.89%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Centurion
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.86R 810
$56.7MX$980
-11.99%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.17R 523
$44.38MX$768
-27.51%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$86.5R 1,406
$103MX$1,780
-15.92%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.2R 1,433
$106MX$1,825
-16.44%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Centurion
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$319R 5,179
$1,022MX$17.7K
-68.82%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$329R 5,352
$631MX$10.9K
-47.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$527R 8,567
$2,136MX$36.9K
-75.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$803R 13.1K
$1,243MX$21.5K
-35.38%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$522R 8,489
$3,903MX$67.5K
-86.61%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$591R 9,611
$2,064MX$35.7K
-71.35%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Centurion
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,129R 34.6K
$1,115MX$19.3K
90.97%
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: May 31, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $319 in Centurion and $1,022 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Centurion pays 91% 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 $186 vs $288 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 29% 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 Mexico City?
Centurion pays 91% 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 Centurion vs Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $319 in Centurion versus $1,022 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Centurion vs 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 Mexico City?
Childcare runs $209 in Centurion versus $436 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 Mexico City?
At $1,139 in Centurion versus $1,467 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 $1,139 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 29% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.