😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,106 in Groningen versus $1,456 in Mexico City.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,107 in Groningen versus $2,361 in Mexico City.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,107 in Groningen versus $3,266 in Mexico City.
🌍Living in Groningen is roughly 45% more expensive than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Groningen58% above, Mexico City9% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Groningen
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.16€15.02
$13.07MX$228
31.29%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$93.9€82.2
$53.8MX$936
74.70%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.66€11.97
$9.68MX$169
41.12%
Cappuccino
$3.84€3.37
$3.74MX$65.1
2.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.96€2.59
$1.62MX$28.13
82.72%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.59€2.27
$1.16MX$20.23
123.28%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.92€5.18
$3.23MX$56.2
83.28%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.01€3.51
$4.74MX$82.5
-15.40%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Groningen
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.25€1.10
$1.65MX$28.68
-24.24%
White Bread(500g)
$2.01€1.76
$2.75MX$47.95
-26.91%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.16€2.76
$1.87MX$32.63
68.98%
Eggs
$4.81€4.21
$2.50MX$43.54
92.40%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.65€11.96
$10.20MX$178
33.82%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$15.59€13.66
$8.25MX$144
88.97%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.30€15.15
$11.82MX$206
46.36%
Apples(1kg)
$2.21€1.93
$3.01MX$52.4
-26.58%
Banana(1kg)
$2.56€2.24
$1.81MX$31.54
41.44%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01€1.76
$2.00MX$34.81
0.50%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.60€3.15
$2.00MX$34.74
80.00%
Potato(1kg)
$2.08€1.82
$2.08MX$36.30
-
Onion(1kg)
$1.91€1.67
$2.27MX$39.56
-15.86%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.30€1.14
$1.46MX$25.36
-10.96%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.74€0.65
$1.08MX$18.74
-31.48%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$13.94€12.20
$4.35MX$75.7
220.46%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.77€5.93
$16.99MX$296
-60.15%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.50€1.31
$1.73MX$30.18
-13.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.54€2.23
$3.58MX$62.3
-29.05%
🚌 Getting Around
Groningen
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.06€3.56
$0.39MX$6.74
941.03%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$68.8€60.2
$18.69MX$325
267.95%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.82€3.35
$1.33MX$23.08
187.22%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.56€2.24
$0.28MX$4.87
814.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.76€26.06
$5.25MX$91.5
466.86%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.29€2.01
$1.34MX$23.27
70.90%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.8K€25.3K
$19.4KMX$338.0K
48.57%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.2K€28.2K
$23.8KMX$415.0K
35.19%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Groningen
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$212€186
$40.69MX$709
420.69%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.70€19.00
$26.87MX$468
-19.24%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$47.20€41.34
$30.51MX$531
54.70%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Groningen
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$38.96€34.12
$52.8MX$919
-26.18%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.54€12.73
$26.65MX$464
-45.44%
Cinema Ticket
$14.46€12.66
$6.51MX$113
122.12%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Groningen
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,766€1,547
$428MX$7,454
312.66%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,627€7,555
$10.5KMX$182.8K
-17.84%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Groningen
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$68.1€59.7
$57.3MX$997
18.97%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.94€22.72
$45.50MX$792
-42.99%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$86.9€76.2
$104MX$1,812
-16.44%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.9€79.6
$108MX$1,878
-15.74%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Groningen
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,186€1,038
$1,003MX$17.5K
18.16%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$912€799
$623MX$10.8K
46.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,721€1,508
$2,109MX$36.7K
-18.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,405€1,230
$1,218MX$21.2K
15.34%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,361€4,696
$3,885MX$67.6K
38.02%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,973€3,479
$2,033MX$35.4K
95.46%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Groningen
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,058€2,678
$1,038MX$18.1K
194.63%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.64
11.34
-67.90%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Groningen: July 11, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,186 in Groningen and $1,003 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Groningen pays 195% 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: $94.0 in Groningen vs $54.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $338 vs $292 per month, with Mexico City 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
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 45% 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 195% 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: $1,186 in Groningen versus $1,003 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 16% 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 $54.0 versus $94.0 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 $1,456 in Mexico City versus $2,106 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 $1,456 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 45% less than in Groningen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.