😐A single person spends $1,619 per month in Hella vs $1,447 in Mexico City, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,788 per month in Hella vs $2,310 in Mexico City, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,958 per month in Hella vs $3,174 in Mexico City, rent included.
😐Hella costs about 12% more than Mexico City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Hella and Mexico City sit above the global median – Hella by 20%, Mexico City by 8%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Hella
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$27.32ISK 3,401
$12.98MX$223
110.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$144ISK 18.0K
$52.6MX$903
174.26%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$22.68ISK 2,823
$9.43MX$162
140.51%
Cappuccino
$6.15ISK 765
$3.57MX$61.3
72.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.35ISK 417
$1.61MX$27.55
108.07%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.54ISK 316
$1.15MX$19.81
120.87%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$12.72ISK 1,583
$3.15MX$54.0
303.81%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$11.15ISK 1,388
$4.86MX$83.4
129.42%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hella
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.93ISK 241
$1.70MX$29.17
13.53%
White Bread(500g)
$4.19ISK 522
$2.64MX$45.23
58.71%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.67ISK 457
$1.90MX$32.67
93.16%
Eggs
$6.31ISK 786
$2.54MX$43.62
148.43%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.19ISK 2,265
$10.08MX$173
80.46%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$24.53ISK 3,053
$8.29MX$142
195.90%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$41.71ISK 5,193
$11.57MX$199
260.50%
Apples(1kg)
$3.36ISK 418
$3.03MX$52.0
10.89%
Banana(1kg)
$2.51ISK 312
$1.71MX$29.35
46.78%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.04ISK 378
$2.05MX$35.16
48.29%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.91ISK 611
$2.06MX$35.36
138.35%
Potato(1kg)
$3.69ISK 459
$2.06MX$35.43
79.13%
Onion(1kg)
$2.42ISK 301
$2.17MX$37.25
11.52%
Lettuce(1 head)
$3.19ISK 397
$1.40MX$24.08
127.86%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.99ISK 247
$1.12MX$19.26
77.68%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$13.60ISK 1,693
$4.29MX$73.7
217.02%
Wine(Bottle)
$23.47ISK 2,922
$15.41MX$265
52.30%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.72ISK 463
$1.67MX$28.74
122.75%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.34ISK 415
$3.69MX$63.3
-9.49%
🚌 Getting Around
Hella
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.38MX$6.55
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$19.06MX$327
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.24ISK 777
$1.38MX$23.70
352.17%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.66ISK 331
$0.28MX$4.74
850.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$85.8ISK 10.7K
$5.42MX$92.9
1483.21%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.43ISK 302
$1.28MX$21.98
89.84%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$47.5KISK 5.9M
$19.0KMX$325.8K
150.26%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$51.3KISK 6.4M
$23.5KMX$402.7K
118.73%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hella
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$89.4ISK 11.1K
$41.02MX$704
117.82%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.68ISK 3,446
$26.92MX$462
2.82%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$85.5ISK 10.6K
$29.69MX$510
187.81%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hella
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$52.3MX$898
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$26.23MX$450
-
Cinema Ticket
$17.43ISK 2,170
$6.18MX$106
182.04%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hella
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$316ISK 39.4K
$427MX$7,331
-25.92%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$29.9KISK 3.7M
$10.7KMX$183.6K
179.80%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hella
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$141ISK 17.5K
$56.8MX$975
147.61%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$61.1ISK 7,609
$44.83MX$769
36.31%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$186ISK 23.1K
$105MX$1,794
77.51%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$271ISK 33.8K
$106MX$1,819
155.89%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hella
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$995MX$17.1K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$621MX$10.7K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$2,126MX$36.5K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,254MX$21.5K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,903MX$67.0K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,096MX$36.0K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hella
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$1,107MX$19.0K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
9.63
11.34
-15.08%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Hella: June 7, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $144 in Hella versus $53.0 in Mexico City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $597 vs $288 – making Mexico City the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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
Hella vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Hella and Mexico City compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,619 in Hella, $1,447 in Mexico City – roughly 12% apart. Hella costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Hella compared to Mexico City?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,428 per month in Hella and $2,171 in Mexico City. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city is more expensive overall: Hella or Mexico City?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,619 in Hella and $1,447 in Mexico City. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Hella and Mexico City?
Kindergarten costs $316 per month in Hella and $427 in Mexico City. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Mexico City, where all-in costs run around $1,447, than in Hella at $1,619. In Mexico City it covers expenses comfortably, while in Hella it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Hella and Mexico City?
It depends on your priorities. Mexico City has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,447 in Mexico City to $1,619 in Hella. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How do I decide between Hella and Mexico City?
If budget matters most, go with Mexico City. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Hella makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.