Cost of Living Comparison Between Madeira and Mexico City Cost of Living Comparison Between Madeira and Mexico City

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,633 in Madeira versus $1,677 in Mexico City.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,344 in Madeira versus $2,608 in Mexico City.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,055 in Madeira versus $3,540 in Mexico City.

Living in Madeira costs roughly 3% less than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Madeira 18% above, Mexico City 22% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Madeira
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.53 €9.94
$12.14 MX$206
-5.02%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.11 €39.74
$53.9 MX$914
-14.45%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.37 €8.08
$11.09 MX$188
-15.51%
Cappuccino
$2.06 €1.78
$4.10 MX$69.5
-49.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94 €1.68
$1.68 MX$28.53
15.48%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.36 €1.17
$1.39 MX$23.55
-2.16%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.33 €2.01
$3.33 MX$56.5
-30.03%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.39 €2.92
$5.88 MX$99.7
-42.35%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Madeira
Mexico City
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.11 €0.96
$1.85 MX$31.41
-40.00%
White Bread (500g)
$1.52 €1.31
$3.17 MX$53.8
-52.05%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.66 €1.43
$2.07 MX$35.13
-19.81%
Eggs
$3.08 €2.66
$2.93 MX$49.67
5.12%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.42 €9.85
$12.59 MX$214
-9.29%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.70 €6.64
$10.11 MX$172
-23.84%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.99 €12.06
$16.09 MX$273
-13.05%
Apples (1kg)
$2.37 €2.04
$3.39 MX$57.5
-30.09%
Banana (1kg)
$1.44 €1.24
$2.08 MX$35.26
-30.77%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.83 €1.58
$2.12 MX$35.97
-13.68%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.48 €2.14
$2.41 MX$40.95
2.90%
Potato (1kg)
$1.46 €1.26
$2.13 MX$36.11
-31.46%
Onion (1kg)
$1.84 €1.59
$2.01 MX$34.02
-8.46%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.59 €1.37
$1.55 MX$26.21
2.58%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.78 €0.68
$1.36 MX$23.15
-42.65%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.21 €5.36
$5.77 MX$97.8
7.63%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.16 €4.45
$17.74 MX$301
-70.91%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.25 €1.07
$2.07 MX$35.11
-39.61%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29 €1.97
$4.61 MX$78.3
-50.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Madeira
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.36 €2.03
$0.37 MX$6.21
537.84%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$42.88 €36.97
$21.18 MX$359
102.46%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.28 €3.69
$2.05 MX$34.84
108.78%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.82 €0.71
$0.58 MX$9.79
41.38%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$17.54 €15.12
$6.07 MX$103
188.96%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.93 €1.66
$1.55 MX$26.34
24.52%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.7K €29.9K
$22.9K MX$388.1K
51.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.0K €34.5K
$27.2K MX$462.0K
46.93%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Madeira
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$132 €114
$67.4 MX$1,144
96.48%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.18 €18.25
$30.62 MX$520
-30.83%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$42.41 €36.56
$37.24 MX$632
13.88%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Madeira
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.51 €37.50
$61.5 MX$1,043
-29.21%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$27.12 MX$460
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.60 €7.41
$7.11 MX$121
20.96%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Madeira
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$468 €403
$456 MX$7,739
2.51%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,477 €7,308
$13.7K MX$232.3K
-38.09%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Madeira
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$73.6 €63.4
$74.2 MX$1,259
-0.85%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.95 €32.71
$57.0 MX$967
-33.43%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$93.4 €80.5
$115 MX$1,958
-19.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$93.4 €80.5
$122 MX$2,061
-23.16%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Madeira
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$933 €804
$1,148 MX$19.5K
-18.74%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$743 €641
$709 MX$12.0K
4.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,454 €1,253
$2,577 MX$43.7K
-43.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,136 €980
$1,295 MX$22.0K
-12.23%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,069 €2,646
$4,005 MX$67.9K
-23.38%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,337 €2,015
$2,130 MX$36.1K
9.75%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Madeira
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$1,082 MX$18.4K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.01
11.3
-55.66%

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

Last update for Madeira: September 8, 2026

Last update for Mexico City: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $933 in Madeira and $1,148 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $46.00 in Madeira vs $54.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $245 vs $345 per month, with Madeira 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
Madeira vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mexico City cheaper than Madeira?
Madeira is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 3% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $2,449 in Madeira and $2,515 in Mexico City to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Madeira and Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $933 in Madeira versus $1,148 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Madeira and in Mexico City?
All in, you'll spend $1,633 per month in Madeira versus $1,677 in Mexico City – a 3% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Madeira runs roughly 102% less than in Mexico City. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Madeira or in Mexico City?
At $1,633 in Madeira versus $1,677 in Mexico City, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Madeira but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Madeira the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Madeira or Mexico City more family-friendly?
For families, Madeira is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Mexico City, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Madeira or Mexico City?
Safety-wise, Madeira 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Madeira gentler on the wallet – expenses run 3% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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