πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $2,366 in Hearst versus $1,484 in Mexico City.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $3,408 in Hearst versus $2,342 in Mexico City.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,450 in Hearst versus $3,199 in Mexico City.
πLiving in Hearst is roughly 59% more expensive than Mexico City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
πBoth cities are pricier than the global median: Hearst76% above, Mexico City10% above.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Hearst
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.96CA$23.23
$13.29MX$231
27.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.2CA$94.8
$53.8MX$933
28.80%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.01CA$15.08
$9.29MX$161
18.51%
Cappuccino
$3.81CA$5.22
$3.61MX$62.6
5.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.04CA$2.79
$1.56MX$27.03
30.77%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.64CA$2.25
$1.12MX$19.46
46.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.56CA$7.61
$3.13MX$54.3
77.64%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.99CA$8.21
$4.71MX$81.7
27.18%
π Groceries & Markets
Hearst
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.18CA$2.98
$1.70MX$29.54
28.24%
White Bread(500g)
$2.64CA$3.62
$2.77MX$48.03
-4.69%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.56CA$4.87
$1.96MX$34.05
81.63%
Eggs
$3.52CA$4.82
$2.60MX$45.21
35.38%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.34CA$15.53
$9.94MX$173
14.08%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.68CA$16.00
$8.10MX$141
44.20%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.63CA$20.04
$11.50MX$200
27.22%
Apples(1kg)
$4.01CA$5.49
$2.87MX$49.84
39.72%
Banana(1kg)
$1.40CA$1.92
$1.73MX$30.07
-19.08%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.71CA$5.08
$2.00MX$34.73
85.50%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.77CA$5.17
$2.04MX$35.38
84.80%
Potato(1kg)
$2.41CA$3.31
$2.08MX$36.14
15.87%
Onion(1kg)
$2.53CA$3.47
$2.20MX$38.12
15.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.58CA$3.54
$1.45MX$25.24
77.93%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.70CA$2.33
$1.07MX$18.63
58.88%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$13.85CA$18.97
$4.27MX$74.2
224.36%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.63CA$20.04
$14.32MX$249
2.16%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.95CA$4.05
$1.76MX$30.62
67.61%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.03CA$4.15
$3.70MX$64.2
-18.11%
π Getting Around
Hearst
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.30CA$3.15
$0.35MX$6.12
557.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$63.0CA$86.3
$19.19MX$333
228.24%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.25CA$4.46
$1.34MX$23.18
142.54%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.50CA$2.05
$0.28MX$4.83
435.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$25.90CA$35.48
$5.33MX$92.6
385.93%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.17CA$1.61
$1.34MX$23.27
-12.69%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.8KCA$34.0K
$19.1KMX$332.0K
29.83%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.3KCA$27.8K
$23.9KMX$414.5K
-15.13%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hearst
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$142CA$195
$39.86MX$692
257.28%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$44.44CA$60.9
$26.78MX$465
65.94%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$63.7CA$87.2
$29.36MX$510
116.83%
π Sport & Entertainment
Hearst
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.17CA$57.8
$53.4MX$927
-21.07%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.93CA$20.45
$26.09MX$453
-42.78%
Cinema Ticket
$11.55CA$15.82
$6.40MX$111
80.47%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Hearst
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$745CA$1,020
$440MX$7,647
69.08%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.6KCA$15.9K
$10.8KMX$186.6K
7.68%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Hearst
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.5CA$73.3
$57.6MX$1,000
-7.15%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.97CA$53.4
$45.02MX$781
-13.44%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$87.3CA$120
$104MX$1,801
-15.88%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109CA$149
$108MX$1,874
1.05%
π Accommodation & Living
Hearst
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,339CA$1,834
$1,013MX$17.6K
32.18%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,196CA$1,638
$630MX$10.9K
89.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,024CA$2,773
$2,162MX$37.5K
-6.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,816CA$2,488
$1,222MX$21.2K
48.63%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,297CA$5,887
$3,793MX$65.8K
13.30%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,214CA$4,403
$2,332MX$40.5K
37.82%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Hearst
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,300CA$4,521
$1,075MX$18.7K
207.01%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.46
11.34
-43.03%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Hearst: April 13, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: April 11, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,339 in Hearst and $1,013 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
π°Hearst pays 207% 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: $69 in Hearst vs $54 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $368 vs $285 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
Hearst vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Hearst and Mexico City?
Hearst and Mexico City differ by about 59% in total monthly costs ($2,366 vs $1,484 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: Hearst or Mexico City?
Hearst pays 207% 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 Hearst and Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,339 in Hearst versus $1,013 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Hearst and Mexico City?
Childcare runs $745 in Hearst versus $440 in Mexico City. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 29% higher in Hearst. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,484 in Mexico City versus $2,366 in Hearst, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Mexico City but tight or insufficient in Hearst. The gap between the two cities makes Mexico City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Hearst 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.
Where should expats move: Hearst or Mexico City?
Expats usually find Mexico City gentler on the wallet β expenses run 59% less than in Hearst. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.