😐A single person spends $1,694 per month in Hella vs $1,660 in Mexico City, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,923 per month in Hella vs $2,565 in Mexico City, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,152 per month in Hella vs $3,470 in Mexico City, rent included.
😐Hella costs about 2% more than Mexico City, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Hella and Mexico City sit above the global median – Hella by 24%, Mexico City by 21%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Hella
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$29.93ISK 3,645
$11.92MX$206
151.09%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$137ISK 16.6K
$51.6MX$890
164.88%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$26.99ISK 3,287
$11.41MX$197
136.55%
Cappuccino
$6.87ISK 837
$3.99MX$68.9
72.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.25ISK 396
$1.66MX$28.61
95.78%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21ISK 392
$1.33MX$22.87
141.35%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$13.88ISK 1,690
$3.47MX$59.9
300.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$12.29ISK 1,497
$5.90MX$102
108.31%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hella
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.12ISK 259
$1.88MX$32.36
12.77%
White Bread(500g)
$4.32ISK 526
$3.25MX$56.1
32.92%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.69ISK 450
$2.16MX$37.26
70.83%
Eggs
$7.01ISK 854
$2.90MX$49.94
141.72%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$21.12ISK 2,573
$12.86MX$222
64.23%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$24.72ISK 3,011
$10.05MX$173
145.97%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$42.94ISK 5,230
$15.86MX$273
170.74%
Apples(1kg)
$3.35ISK 408
$3.29MX$56.8
1.82%
Banana(1kg)
$2.92ISK 356
$2.01MX$34.60
45.27%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.16ISK 385
$2.20MX$37.93
43.64%
Tomato(1kg)
$6.25ISK 762
$2.36MX$40.63
164.83%
Potato(1kg)
$4.13ISK 504
$2.05MX$35.43
101.46%
Onion(1kg)
$1.66ISK 202
$1.90MX$32.79
-12.63%
Lettuce(1 head)
$3.81ISK 465
$1.61MX$27.68
136.65%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.76ISK 214
$1.40MX$24.09
25.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$13.87ISK 1,690
$5.46MX$94.2
154.03%
Wine(Bottle)
$24.10ISK 2,936
$17.65MX$304
36.54%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.79ISK 462
$2.06MX$35.44
83.98%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.37ISK 410
$4.68MX$80.8
-27.99%
🚌 Getting Around
Hella
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.34MX$5.84
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$20.81MX$359
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.79ISK 827
$2.10MX$36.15
223.33%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.83ISK 345
$0.56MX$9.64
405.36%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$74.9ISK 9,118
$5.81MX$100
1188.47%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.02ISK 246
$1.61MX$27.68
25.47%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$50.8KISK 6.2M
$22.8KMX$393.8K
122.37%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$54.3KISK 6.6M
$26.8KMX$461.2K
103.07%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hella
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$88.2ISK 10.7K
$65.2MX$1,124
35.30%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$32.75ISK 3,989
$30.09MX$519
8.84%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$83.8ISK 10.2K
$37.18MX$641
125.31%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hella
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$59.8MX$1,030
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$26.55MX$458
-
Cinema Ticket
$19.68ISK 2,396
$7.04MX$121
179.55%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hella
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,190ISK 144.9K
$465MX$8,012
156.05%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$30.6KISK 3.7M
$13.3KMX$228.9K
130.67%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hella
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$161ISK 19.6K
$75.9MX$1,308
112.44%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$67.1ISK 8,170
$56.0MX$965
19.87%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$182ISK 22.1K
$112MX$1,929
62.55%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$252ISK 30.6K
$121MX$2,078
108.79%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hella
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,103MX$19.0K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$721MX$12.4K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$2,530MX$43.6K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,293MX$22.3K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,991MX$68.8K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,090MX$36.0K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hella
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$1,037MX$17.9K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
8.88
11.3
-21.42%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Hella: September 14, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $137 in Hella versus $52.0 in Mexico City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $627 vs $345 – 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 in Mexico City compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,694 in Hella, $1,660 in Mexico City – roughly 2% apart. Hella costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Hella compared to Mexico City?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,541 per month in Hella and $2,489 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 $1,694 in Hella and $1,660 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 $1,190 per month in Hella and $465 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 $3,000 per month?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Mexico City, where all-in costs run around $1,660, than in Hella at $1,694. 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 $1,660 in Mexico City to $1,694 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.