Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Groningen and Mexico City

For one person, living is cheaper in Mexico City: $1,567 a month against $2,282 in Groningen, rent and utilities included – about $8,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Groningen
🇳🇱 Netherlands
$2,282
/mo nomad
Mexico City
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,567
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Groningen and in Mexico City

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Groningen and in Mexico City actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,282 in Groningen versus $1,567 in Mexico City.

  • Groningen $2,282
  • Mexico City $1,567

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,443 in Groningen versus $2,450 in Mexico City.

  • Groningen $3,443
  • Mexico City $2,450

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,603 in Groningen versus $3,333 in Mexico City.

  • Groningen $4,603
  • Mexico City $3,333

Living in Groningen is roughly 46% more expensive than in Mexico City, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Groningen 69% above, Mexico City 16% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Groningen
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.82 €17.63
$10.75 MX$199
84.37%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$102 €91.0
$50.3 MX$929
103.60%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$15.34 €13.65
$11.10 MX$205
38.20%
Cappuccino
$4.60 €4.10
$3.68 MX$68.1
25.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.94 €3.50
$1.65 MX$30.42
138.79%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18 €2.83
$1.30 MX$24.08
144.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.69 €5.06
$3.32 MX$61.3
71.39%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.47 €4.87
$5.54 MX$102
-1.26%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Groningen
Mexico City
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.49 €1.32
$1.77 MX$32.68
-15.82%
White Bread (500g)
$2.63 €2.34
$3.05 MX$56.4
-13.77%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.61 €2.32
$2.01 MX$37.20
29.85%
Eggs
$4.55 €4.05
$2.77 MX$51.1
64.26%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.72 €11.31
$11.91 MX$220
6.80%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.16 €11.71
$9.33 MX$172
41.05%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.17 €16.16
$15.02 MX$278
20.97%
Apples (1kg)
$2.99 €2.66
$3.08 MX$56.8
-2.92%
Banana (1kg)
$2.39 €2.13
$1.95 MX$35.97
22.56%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.50 €2.22
$2.03 MX$37.54
23.15%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.76 €4.23
$2.21 MX$40.92
115.38%
Potato (1kg)
$2.04 €1.82
$2.02 MX$37.41
0.99%
Onion (1kg)
$1.57 €1.40
$1.82 MX$33.67
-13.74%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.30 €1.16
$1.52 MX$28.07
-14.47%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.27 €1.13
$1.28 MX$23.65
-0.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.45 €12.86
$5.27 MX$97.4
174.19%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.54 €5.82
$16.12 MX$298
-59.43%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38 €1.22
$1.95 MX$36.05
-29.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.51 €2.23
$4.25 MX$78.6
-40.94%
🚌 Getting Around
Groningen
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$4.14 €3.68
$0.31 MX$5.82
1235.48%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$67.5 €60.0
$19.85 MX$367
239.85%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$6.78 €6.03
$2.00 MX$36.93
239.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.73 €2.43
$0.53 MX$9.86
415.09%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$28.38 €25.24
$5.62 MX$104
404.98%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.52 €2.24
$1.52 MX$28.07
65.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$42.0K €37.3K
$21.0K MX$388.7K
99.47%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.1K €34.7K
$25.2K MX$465.3K
55.10%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Groningen
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$230 €204
$62.5 MX$1,155
267.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.48 €18.21
$28.77 MX$532
-28.81%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$48.87 €43.47
$34.45 MX$637
41.86%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Groningen
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.10 €34.78
$57.1 MX$1,055
-31.52%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.07 €13.40
$24.81 MX$458
-39.26%
Cinema Ticket
$16.69 €14.84
$6.67 MX$123
150.22%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Groningen
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,756 €1,562
$431 MX$7,964
307.50%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,621 €6,779
$11.7K MX$216.9K
-35.08%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Groningen
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105 €93.3
$70.8 MX$1,308
48.20%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.13 €39.25
$51.8 MX$958
-14.86%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 €91.8
$109 MX$2,011
-5.16%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$196 €174
$112 MX$2,076
74.34%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Groningen
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,342 €1,194
$1,051 MX$19.4K
27.66%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$931 €828
$665 MX$12.3K
39.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,965 €1,748
$2,346 MX$43.3K
-16.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,473 €1,310
$1,227 MX$22.7K
20.11%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,191 €4,618
$3,554 MX$65.7K
46.08%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,906 €3,474
$1,977 MX$36.5K
97.55%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Groningen
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,025 €2,691
$975 MX$18.0K
210.38%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.43
11.3
-69.65%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Groningen: October 12, 2026

Last update for Mexico City: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Groningen
$931
Mexico City
$665 28.6% $266
Groceries & Markets
Groningen
$346
Mexico City
$323 6.8% $23
Eating Out
Groningen
$328
Mexico City
$203 38.1% $125
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Groningen
$299
Mexico City
$126 57.9% $173
Clothing & Footwear
Groningen
$202
Mexico City
$155 23.3% $47
Getting Around
Groningen
$104
Mexico City
$26 75.3% $79
Sport & Entertainment
Groningen
$72
Mexico City
$70 2.8% $2

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,342 in Groningen and $1,051 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Groningen pays 210% 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: $102 in Groningen vs $50.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $346 vs $323 per month, with Mexico City cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇳🇱 Groningen
🇲🇽 Mexico City
🕒 Local time
20:15 8:15 PM
12:15 12:15 PM
8 h behind Groningen
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
201,242
9,209,944 Capital
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

MXN, USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 0.889 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 18.48 MXN (100 MXN = 5.41 USD). 1 EUR = 20.77 MXN (100 MXN = 4.81 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Groningen Mexico City 9,280 km ≈ 12 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Groningen
  • Mexico City

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Groningen vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Groningen or Mexico City?
Mexico City wins on cost – living expenses run 46% lower than in Groningen. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Mexico City the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Groningen or in Mexico City?
Average pay runs 210% higher in Groningen, 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 Groningen compared to Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,342 in Groningen versus $1,051 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Groningen or in Mexico City?
Supermarket bills run roughly 7% higher in Groningen. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How do dining costs compare in Groningen and in Mexico City?
Dining out is cheaper in Mexico City – a meal for two runs $50.0 versus $102 in Groningen. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Groningen or in Mexico City?
At $1,567 in Mexico City versus $2,282 in Groningen, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Mexico City but tight or insufficient in Groningen. The gap between the two cities makes Mexico City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Groningen or Mexico City?
Both work as nomad bases, but Mexico City delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,567 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Mexico City hard to pass up.
How safe is Groningen compared to Mexico City?
Safety-wise, Groningen 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 Mexico City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 46% less than in Groningen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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