🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $647 in Gjilan versus $1,456 in Mexico City.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,007 in Gjilan versus $2,361 in Mexico City.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,368 in Gjilan versus $3,266 in Mexico City.
🌍Living in Gjilan costs roughly 56% less than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Gjilan is 52% below, Mexico City is 9% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Gjilan
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.40€3.85
$13.07MX$229
-66.34%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$20.06€17.55
$53.8MX$943
-62.68%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.46€4.78
$9.68MX$170
-43.60%
Cappuccino
$1.43€1.25
$3.74MX$65.6
-61.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.11€0.97
$1.62MX$28.34
-31.48%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.93€0.81
$1.16MX$20.37
-19.83%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.42€1.24
$3.23MX$56.6
-56.04%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.42€1.24
$4.74MX$83.1
-70.04%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Gjilan
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.31€1.15
$1.65MX$28.89
-20.61%
White Bread(500g)
$0.47€0.41
$2.75MX$48.30
-82.91%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.36€1.19
$1.87MX$32.87
-27.27%
Eggs
$1.51€1.32
$2.50MX$43.86
-39.60%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.03€5.27
$10.20MX$179
-40.88%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.94€4.32
$8.25MX$145
-40.12%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.36€9.07
$11.82MX$207
-12.35%
Apples(1kg)
$1.20€1.05
$3.01MX$52.8
-60.13%
Banana(1kg)
$1.59€1.39
$1.81MX$31.77
-12.15%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.45€1.27
$2.00MX$35.07
-27.50%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.20€1.05
$2.00MX$35.00
-40.00%
Potato(1kg)
$0.85€0.74
$2.08MX$36.56
-59.13%
Onion(1kg)
$0.83€0.72
$2.27MX$39.85
-63.44%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.73€0.64
$1.46MX$25.55
-50.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53€0.46
$1.08MX$18.88
-50.93%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.38€2.95
$4.35MX$76.3
-22.30%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.56€4.87
$16.99MX$298
-67.27%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.89€0.78
$1.73MX$30.40
-48.55%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43€1.25
$3.58MX$62.7
-60.06%
🚌 Getting Around
Gjilan
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.60€0.52
$0.39MX$6.79
53.85%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$18.69MX$328
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.28€1.99
$1.33MX$23.25
71.43%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.50€0.44
$0.28MX$4.91
78.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.83€5.10
$5.25MX$92.1
11.05%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.54€1.35
$1.34MX$23.44
14.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.8K€20.0K
$19.4KMX$340.5K
17.53%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.6K€21.5K
$23.8KMX$418.0K
3.14%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gjilan
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$70.3€61.5
$40.69MX$714
72.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.66€9.32
$26.87MX$471
-60.33%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.50€17.06
$30.51MX$535
-36.09%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Gjilan
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$17.41€15.23
$52.8MX$926
-67.01%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$26.65MX$467
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.69€4.10
$6.51MX$114
-27.96%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Gjilan
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$168€147
$428MX$7,508
-60.66%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,874€2,514
$10.5KMX$184.2K
-72.63%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Gjilan
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$38.98€34.11
$57.3MX$1,004
-31.91%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.52€27.58
$45.50MX$798
-30.73%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$56.6€49.49
$104MX$1,825
-45.63%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.7€73.3
$108MX$1,891
-22.35%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Gjilan
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$230€201
$1,003MX$17.6K
-77.11%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$173€151
$623MX$10.9K
-72.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$468€410
$2,109MX$37.0K
-77.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$343€300
$1,218MX$21.4K
-71.84%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$954€834
$3,885MX$68.1K
-75.45%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$715€626
$2,033MX$35.7K
-64.80%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Gjilan
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$461€404
$1,038MX$18.2K
-55.53%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4
11.34
-64.73%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Gjilan: July 13, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $230 in Gjilan and $1,003 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 125% 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: $20.00 in Gjilan vs $54.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $162 vs $292 per month, with Gjilan 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
Gjilan vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Gjilan and in Mexico City?
Gjilan and Mexico City differ by about 125% in total monthly costs ($647 vs $1,456 including rent). Gjilan is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 125% 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 do apartment prices compare in Gjilan and in Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $230 in Gjilan versus $1,003 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 80% higher in Mexico City. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Gjilan or Mexico City?
All in, you'll spend $647 per month in Gjilan versus $1,456 in Mexico City – a 125% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $647 in Gjilan versus $1,456 in Mexico City, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Gjilan but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Gjilan the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Gjilan 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 Gjilan or Mexico City safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Gjilan 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: Gjilan or Mexico City?
Expats usually find Gjilan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 125% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.