😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,195 in Funchal versus $1,646 in Mexico City.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,193 in Funchal versus $2,613 in Mexico City.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,190 in Funchal versus $3,580 in Mexico City.
🌍Living in Funchal is roughly 33% more expensive than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Funchal60% above, Mexico City20% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Funchal
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.73€13.58
$12.11MX$206
29.89%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$67.1€57.9
$52.2MX$887
28.41%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.76€11.88
$10.90MX$185
26.24%
Cappuccino
$2.03€1.75
$4.05MX$68.8
-49.88%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.77€1.52
$1.72MX$29.13
2.91%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.45€1.25
$1.38MX$23.40
5.07%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.96€2.56
$3.47MX$58.9
-14.70%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.00€3.45
$5.81MX$98.7
-31.15%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Funchal
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.09€0.94
$1.85MX$31.48
-41.08%
White Bread(500g)
$1.82€1.57
$3.22MX$54.7
-43.48%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.74€1.50
$2.09MX$35.42
-16.75%
Eggs
$4.06€3.50
$2.91MX$49.41
39.52%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.50€9.06
$12.49MX$212
-15.93%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.84€6.76
$10.11MX$172
-22.45%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.39€10.70
$15.89MX$270
-22.03%
Apples(1kg)
$1.81€1.56
$3.31MX$56.3
-45.32%
Banana(1kg)
$1.79€1.54
$2.13MX$36.12
-15.96%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.85€1.59
$2.19MX$37.20
-15.53%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.61€2.26
$2.45MX$41.57
6.53%
Potato(1kg)
$1.99€1.71
$2.19MX$37.18
-9.13%
Onion(1kg)
$2.08€1.79
$1.90MX$32.35
9.47%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.69€1.46
$1.62MX$27.44
4.32%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.83€0.72
$1.35MX$22.92
-38.52%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.67€4.89
$5.43MX$92.1
4.42%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.09€6.12
$17.59MX$299
-59.69%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.32€1.13
$2.07MX$35.12
-36.23%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.60€2.24
$4.75MX$80.6
-45.26%
🚌 Getting Around
Funchal
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.29€1.98
$0.34MX$5.77
573.53%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$35.46€30.60
$21.58MX$366
64.32%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.05€3.49
$2.04MX$34.65
98.53%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.46€1.26
$0.58MX$9.82
151.72%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$19.43€16.76
$5.97MX$101
225.46%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.07€1.79
$1.62MX$27.44
27.78%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.5K€29.8K
$22.8KMX$387.4K
51.38%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.9K€33.5K
$26.7KMX$452.8K
45.77%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Funchal
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$128€110
$65.2MX$1,108
95.77%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.67€15.25
$29.87MX$507
-40.84%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$49.91€43.07
$36.55MX$621
36.55%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Funchal
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.24€36.45
$61.0MX$1,036
-30.75%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.55€7.38
$26.70MX$453
-67.98%
Cinema Ticket
$9.20€7.94
$6.85MX$116
34.31%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Funchal
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$431€372
$453MX$7,700
-4.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,907€7,686
$13.4KMX$227.1K
-33.39%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Funchal
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.8€55.1
$75.0MX$1,273
-14.89%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.11€30.30
$55.3MX$939
-36.50%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$91.3€78.8
$114MX$1,929
-19.62%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.8€68.0
$123MX$2,083
-35.79%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Funchal
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,536€1,325
$1,134MX$19.3K
35.51%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,269€1,095
$712MX$12.1K
78.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,562€2,211
$2,571MX$43.7K
-0.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,071€1,787
$1,311MX$22.3K
57.94%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,884€4,215
$3,993MX$67.8K
22.33%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,454€2,981
$2,095MX$35.6K
64.86%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Funchal
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,461€1,260
$1,047MX$17.8K
39.52%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.59
11.3
-68.23%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Funchal: August 30, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: August 29, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,536 in Funchal and $1,134 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Funchal pays 40% 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: $67.0 in Funchal vs $52.0 in Mexico City. Groceries flip the comparison at $253 vs $345, with Funchal cheaper for home cooking.
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
Funchal vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Funchal and in Mexico City?
Funchal and Mexico City differ by about 33% in total monthly costs ($2,195 vs $1,646 including rent). Mexico City is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Funchal or Mexico City?
Average pay runs 40% higher in Funchal, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Funchal and in Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,536 in Funchal versus $1,134 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city is more expensive overall: Funchal or Mexico City?
All in, you'll spend $2,195 per month in Funchal versus $1,646 in Mexico City – a 33% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How do commuting costs compare in Funchal and in Mexico City?
A monthly transit pass in Mexico City runs roughly 64% less than in Funchal. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
At $1,646 in Mexico City versus $2,195 in Funchal, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Mexico City but tight or insufficient in Funchal. The gap between the two cities makes Mexico City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Funchal and Mexico City?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Funchal or Mexico City safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Funchal 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.
Where should expats move: Funchal or Mexico City?
Expats usually find Mexico City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 33% less than in Funchal. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.