🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,219 in Craiova versus $1,660 in Mexico City.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,775 in Craiova versus $2,565 in Mexico City.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,331 in Craiova versus $3,470 in Mexico City.
🌍Living in Craiova costs roughly 27% less than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Craiova is 11% below, Mexico City is 21% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Craiova
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.47RON 34.28
$11.92MX$206
-37.33%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$37.52RON 172
$51.6MX$890
-27.29%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.73RON 35.45
$11.41MX$197
-32.25%
Cappuccino
$2.87RON 13.18
$3.99MX$68.9
-28.07%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31RON 10.59
$1.66MX$28.61
39.16%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.90RON 8.73
$1.33MX$22.87
42.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.45RON 11.26
$3.47MX$59.9
-29.39%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61RON 16.58
$5.90MX$102
-38.81%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Craiova
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.32RON 6.06
$1.88MX$32.36
-29.79%
White Bread(500g)
$0.92RON 4.22
$3.25MX$56.1
-71.69%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.50RON 6.86
$2.16MX$37.26
-30.56%
Eggs
$3.44RON 15.77
$2.90MX$49.94
18.62%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.54RON 34.60
$12.86MX$222
-41.37%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.70RON 30.73
$10.05MX$173
-33.33%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.65RON 53.5
$15.86MX$273
-26.54%
Apples(1kg)
$1.04RON 4.79
$3.29MX$56.8
-68.39%
Banana(1kg)
$1.52RON 6.99
$2.01MX$34.60
-24.38%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.52RON 6.99
$2.20MX$37.93
-30.91%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.90RON 8.71
$2.36MX$40.63
-19.49%
Potato(1kg)
$0.86RON 3.92
$2.05MX$35.43
-58.05%
Onion(1kg)
$0.94RON 4.32
$1.90MX$32.79
-50.53%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.77RON 3.51
$1.61MX$27.68
-52.17%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.74RON 3.38
$1.40MX$24.09
-47.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.70RON 30.75
$5.46MX$94.2
22.71%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.74RON 30.90
$17.65MX$304
-61.81%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.18RON 5.44
$2.06MX$35.44
-42.72%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.60RON 7.36
$4.68MX$80.8
-65.81%
🚌 Getting Around
Craiova
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.89RON 4.08
$0.34MX$5.84
161.76%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.08RON 120
$20.81MX$359
25.32%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.63RON 2.88
$2.10MX$36.15
-70.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.64RON 2.91
$0.56MX$9.64
14.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.62RON 30.37
$5.81MX$100
13.94%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.88RON 8.61
$1.61MX$27.68
16.77%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.6KRON 136.0K
$22.8KMX$393.8K
29.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.3KRON 125.1K
$26.8KMX$461.2K
1.93%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Craiova
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$206RON 947
$65.2MX$1,124
216.52%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.52RON 48.28
$30.09MX$519
-65.04%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.68RON 53.6
$37.18MX$641
-68.59%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Craiova
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.43RON 190
$59.8MX$1,030
-30.67%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.75RON 104
$26.55MX$458
-14.31%
Cinema Ticket
$7.91RON 36.28
$7.04MX$121
12.36%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Craiova
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$441RON 2,025
$465MX$8,012
-5.00%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,696RON 39.9K
$13.3KMX$228.9K
-34.49%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Craiova
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.8RON 270
$75.9MX$1,308
-22.50%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.69RON 228
$56.0MX$965
-11.19%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$82.6RON 379
$112MX$1,929
-26.19%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108RON 497
$121MX$2,078
-10.04%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Craiova
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$536RON 2,460
$1,103MX$19.0K
-51.38%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$401RON 1,840
$721MX$12.4K
-44.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$921RON 4,225
$2,530MX$43.6K
-63.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$618RON 2,836
$1,293MX$22.3K
-52.21%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,767RON 12.7K
$3,991MX$68.8K
-30.67%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,050RON 9,407
$2,090MX$36.0K
-1.88%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Craiova
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$981RON 4,500
$1,037MX$17.9K
-5.45%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.84
11.3
-39.47%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Craiova: September 15, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $536 in Craiova and $1,103 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 6% 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: $38.00 in Craiova vs $52.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $202 vs $345 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 36% 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 in Mexico City?
On paper, salaries run 6% lower in Mexico City. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Craiova compared to Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $536 in Craiova versus $1,103 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 $1,219 per month in Craiova versus $1,660 in Mexico City – a 36% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Craiova compared to Mexico City?
A monthly transit pass in Craiova runs roughly 25% 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 in Mexico City?
At $1,219 in Craiova versus $1,660 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 $1,219 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 36% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.