πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,900 in Funchal versus $1,467 in Mexico City.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $2,767 in Funchal versus $2,371 in Mexico City.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,634 in Funchal versus $3,274 in Mexico City.
πLiving in Funchal is roughly 29% more expensive than Mexico City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
πBoth cities are pricier than the global median: Funchal42% above, Mexico City10% above.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Funchal
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.80β¬10.16
$13.18MX$228
-10.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$56.9β¬49.00
$53.9MX$934
5.57%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.99β¬7.74
$9.42MX$163
-4.56%
Cappuccino
$1.75β¬1.51
$3.55MX$61.5
-50.70%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.76β¬1.52
$1.62MX$28.03
8.64%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.53β¬1.32
$1.11MX$19.31
37.84%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.54β¬3.05
$3.12MX$54.1
13.46%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.08β¬3.52
$4.63MX$80.2
-11.88%
π Groceries & Markets
Funchal
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.11β¬0.96
$1.70MX$29.48
-34.71%
White Bread(500g)
$1.89β¬1.63
$2.72MX$47.10
-30.51%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.69β¬1.46
$1.91MX$33.13
-11.52%
Eggs
$3.99β¬3.44
$2.54MX$43.94
57.09%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.61β¬9.14
$10.03MX$174
5.78%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.26β¬6.25
$8.09MX$140
-10.26%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.50β¬9.90
$11.62MX$201
-1.03%
Apples(1kg)
$1.87β¬1.61
$2.97MX$51.4
-37.04%
Banana(1kg)
$1.81β¬1.56
$1.81MX$31.30
-
Oranges(1kg)
$1.71β¬1.47
$2.01MX$34.88
-14.93%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.48β¬2.14
$2.03MX$35.26
22.17%
Potato(1kg)
$2.05β¬1.76
$2.12MX$36.82
-3.30%
Onion(1kg)
$1.90β¬1.63
$2.27MX$39.32
-16.30%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.76β¬1.51
$1.40MX$24.26
25.71%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.78β¬0.67
$1.13MX$19.59
-30.97%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.77β¬4.97
$4.27MX$74.0
35.13%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.05β¬6.07
$15.56MX$270
-54.69%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.50β¬1.29
$1.76MX$30.44
-14.77%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.12β¬2.69
$3.60MX$62.3
-13.33%
π Getting Around
Funchal
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.29β¬1.97
$0.38MX$6.64
502.63%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$35.15β¬30.27
$19.18MX$332
83.26%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.04β¬3.48
$1.38MX$23.84
192.75%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.31β¬1.13
$0.28MX$4.79
367.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$19.42β¬16.72
$5.45MX$94.4
256.33%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.92β¬1.65
$1.30MX$22.60
47.69%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.7Kβ¬29.9K
$18.7KMX$323.8K
85.79%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.6Kβ¬34.1K
$23.1KMX$400.8K
71.31%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Funchal
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$120β¬104
$40.86MX$708
194.30%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.87β¬17.11
$26.81MX$465
-25.89%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$47.02β¬40.49
$29.96MX$519
56.94%
π Sport & Entertainment
Funchal
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.85β¬38.62
$52.0MX$901
-13.78%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.58β¬7.38
$26.84MX$465
-68.03%
Cinema Ticket
$8.95β¬7.71
$6.30MX$109
42.06%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Funchal
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$442β¬381
$436MX$7,558
1.35%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,396β¬5,508
$10.4KMX$180.5K
-38.60%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Funchal
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$65.2β¬56.1
$56.7MX$982
15.06%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.34β¬29.57
$44.38MX$769
-22.62%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$82.2β¬70.8
$103MX$1,784
-20.10%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$75.8β¬65.3
$106MX$1,829
-28.18%
π Accommodation & Living
Funchal
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,393β¬1,199
$1,022MX$17.7K
36.29%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,056β¬909
$631MX$10.9K
67.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,471β¬2,128
$2,136MX$37.0K
15.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,750β¬1,507
$1,243MX$21.5K
40.82%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,978β¬4,287
$3,903MX$67.6K
27.56%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,425β¬2,949
$2,064MX$35.8K
65.92%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Funchal
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,358β¬1,169
$1,115MX$19.3K
21.76%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.27
11.34
-53.53%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Funchal: June 1, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,393 in Funchal and $1,022 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
π°Funchal pays 22% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
πDining out: $57.0 in Funchal vs $54.0 in Mexico City. Groceries flip the comparison at $249 vs $288, 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 Mexico City?
Funchal and Mexico City differ by about 29% in total monthly costs ($1,900 vs $1,467 including rent). Mexico City is meaningfully more affordable β a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Funchal or Mexico City?
Funchal pays 22% 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 do apartment prices compare in Funchal and Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,393 in Funchal versus $1,022 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 $1,900 per month in Funchal versus $1,467 in Mexico City β a 29% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How do commuting costs compare in Funchal and Mexico City?
A monthly transit pass in Mexico City runs roughly 83% 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 $2,000 per month?
At $1,467 in Mexico City versus $1,900 in Funchal, a $2,000 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 β 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 β expenses run 29% less than in Funchal. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.