🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,106 in Craiova versus $1,484 in Mexico City.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,643 in Craiova versus $2,381 in Mexico City.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,180 in Craiova versus $3,278 in Mexico City.
🙂Living in Craiova costs roughly 25% less than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Craiova is 17% below, Mexico City is 11% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Craiova
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.06RON 39.43
$12.98MX$226
-30.20%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.77RON 199
$53.1MX$923
-13.76%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.27RON 35.97
$9.72MX$169
-14.92%
Cappuccino
$2.49RON 10.81
$3.75MX$65.2
-33.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.19RON 9.51
$1.57MX$27.30
39.49%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96RON 8.54
$1.13MX$19.64
73.45%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.37RON 10.30
$3.18MX$55.3
-25.47%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.44RON 14.95
$4.66MX$81.1
-26.18%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Craiova
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.57RON 6.81
$1.62MX$28.21
-3.09%
White Bread(500g)
$0.99RON 4.30
$2.71MX$47.09
-63.47%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.69RON 7.36
$1.88MX$32.70
-10.11%
Eggs
$3.35RON 14.57
$2.51MX$43.65
33.47%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.70RON 33.51
$10.08MX$175
-23.61%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.71RON 29.18
$8.29MX$144
-19.06%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.78RON 42.55
$11.94MX$208
-18.09%
Apples(1kg)
$1.27RON 5.52
$2.86MX$49.77
-55.59%
Banana(1kg)
$1.66RON 7.23
$1.75MX$30.45
-5.14%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.57RON 6.84
$2.08MX$36.27
-24.52%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.82RON 7.92
$1.97MX$34.27
-7.61%
Potato(1kg)
$1.03RON 4.48
$2.16MX$37.58
-52.31%
Onion(1kg)
$1.10RON 4.77
$2.18MX$37.94
-49.54%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.85RON 3.69
$1.39MX$24.20
-38.85%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.76RON 3.30
$1.12MX$19.57
-32.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.95RON 25.89
$4.20MX$73.1
41.67%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.35RON 27.60
$14.25MX$248
-55.44%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.25RON 5.46
$1.76MX$30.68
-28.98%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.19RON 9.53
$3.68MX$64.1
-40.49%
🚌 Getting Around
Craiova
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.71RON 3.08
$0.39MX$6.71
82.05%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$23.01RON 100
$18.66MX$325
23.31%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.61RON 2.65
$1.39MX$24.12
-56.12%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.81RON 3.53
$0.30MX$5.29
170.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.87RON 29.89
$5.42MX$94.3
26.75%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.57RON 6.82
$1.35MX$23.50
16.30%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.9KRON 121.2K
$18.9KMX$328.6K
47.51%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.4KRON 119.1K
$23.2KMX$402.8K
18.26%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Craiova
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$207RON 900
$40.82MX$710
406.88%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.90RON 34.37
$27.50MX$479
-71.27%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.74RON 51.1
$30.38MX$529
-61.36%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Craiova
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$36.46RON 159
$53.4MX$930
-31.76%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.49RON 80.4
$26.30MX$458
-29.70%
Cinema Ticket
$6.75RON 29.36
$6.27MX$109
7.66%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Craiova
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$445RON 1,936
$436MX$7,588
2.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,844RON 38.5K
$10.5KMX$182.1K
-15.51%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Craiova
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$78.9RON 343
$56.8MX$988
38.95%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.74RON 164
$44.79MX$779
-15.74%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.6RON 342
$103MX$1,789
-23.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$85.5RON 372
$108MX$1,878
-20.79%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Craiova
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$382RON 1,664
$1,000MX$17.4K
-61.74%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$315RON 1,371
$620MX$10.8K
-49.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$720RON 3,134
$2,137MX$37.2K
-66.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$444RON 1,931
$1,235MX$21.5K
-64.06%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,730RON 11.9K
$3,865MX$67.3K
-29.36%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,095RON 9,112
$2,332MX$40.6K
-10.19%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Craiova
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,077RON 4,686
$1,067MX$18.6K
0.93%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.28
11.34
-44.62%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Craiova: April 26, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $382 in Craiova and $1,000 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Craiova pays 1% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $46.00 in Craiova vs $53.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $205 vs $286 per month, with Craiova 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
Craiova vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Craiova or Mexico City?
Craiova wins on cost – living expenses run 34% lower than in Mexico City. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Craiova the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Craiova or Mexico City?
Craiova pays 1% 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 Craiova vs Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $382 in Craiova versus $1,000 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Craiova compared to Mexico City?
All in, you'll spend $1,106 per month in Craiova versus $1,484 in Mexico City – a 34% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Craiova vs Mexico City?
A monthly transit pass in Craiova runs roughly 23% less than in Mexico City. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Craiova or Mexico City?
At $1,106 in Craiova versus $1,484 in Mexico City, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Craiova but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Craiova the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Craiova or Mexico City?
Both work as nomad bases, but Craiova delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,106 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Craiova hard to pass up.
How safe is Craiova compared to Mexico City?
Safety-wise, Craiova 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 Craiova gentler on the wallet – expenses run 34% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.