πA single person spends $1,095 per month in Maltepe vs $1,447 in Mexico City, rent included.
πA couple spends around $1,678 per month in Maltepe vs $2,310 in Mexico City, rent included.
πA family of three spends $2,261 per month in Maltepe vs $3,174 in Mexico City, rent included.
πMaltepe is about 24% cheaper than Mexico City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
πMaltepe sits 19% below the global median, while Mexico City is 8% above β they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Maltepe
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.39βΊ527
$12.98MX$223
-12.25%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$30.07βΊ1,391
$52.6MX$903
-42.84%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.52βΊ302
$9.43MX$162
-30.86%
Cappuccino
$2.37βΊ110
$3.57MX$61.3
-33.61%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.00βΊ46.23
$1.61MX$27.55
-37.89%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37βΊ17.11
$1.15MX$19.81
-67.83%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.00βΊ92.5
$3.15MX$54.0
-36.51%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.57βΊ119
$4.86MX$83.4
-47.12%
π Groceries & Markets
Maltepe
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.00βΊ46.27
$1.70MX$29.17
-41.18%
White Bread(500g)
$0.69βΊ31.88
$2.64MX$45.23
-73.86%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.19βΊ101
$1.90MX$32.67
15.26%
Eggs
$2.18βΊ101
$2.54MX$43.62
-14.17%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.51βΊ440
$10.08MX$173
-5.65%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.91βΊ227
$8.29MX$142
-40.77%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.85βΊ918
$11.57MX$199
71.56%
Apples(1kg)
$1.44βΊ66.6
$3.03MX$52.0
-52.48%
Banana(1kg)
$2.17βΊ100
$1.71MX$29.35
26.90%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.29βΊ59.7
$2.05MX$35.16
-37.07%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.64βΊ75.7
$2.06MX$35.36
-20.39%
Potato(1kg)
$0.70βΊ32.26
$2.06MX$35.43
-66.02%
Onion(1kg)
$0.67βΊ31.05
$2.17MX$37.25
-69.12%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.67βΊ30.91
$1.40MX$24.08
-52.14%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.62βΊ28.65
$1.12MX$19.26
-44.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.12βΊ98.1
$4.29MX$73.7
-50.58%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.70βΊ495
$15.41MX$265
-30.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.20βΊ102
$1.67MX$28.74
31.74%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.15βΊ146
$3.69MX$63.3
-14.63%
π Getting Around
Maltepe
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.63βΊ28.98
$0.38MX$6.55
65.79%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$30.26βΊ1,400
$19.06MX$327
58.76%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.05βΊ48.76
$1.38MX$23.70
-23.91%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.62βΊ28.89
$0.28MX$4.74
121.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.83βΊ408
$5.42MX$92.9
62.92%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.21βΊ56.1
$1.28MX$21.98
-5.47%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$46.2KβΊ2.1M
$19.0KMX$325.8K
143.23%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$42.9KβΊ2.0M
$23.5KMX$402.7K
82.91%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Maltepe
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$62.4βΊ2,887
$41.02MX$704
52.15%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.58βΊ536
$26.92MX$462
-56.98%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$12.72βΊ589
$29.69MX$510
-57.16%
π Sport & Entertainment
Maltepe
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$43.99βΊ2,035
$52.3MX$898
-15.94%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$26.23MX$450
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.45βΊ345
$6.18MX$106
20.55%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Maltepe
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$943βΊ43.6K
$427MX$7,331
120.85%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,949βΊ275.2K
$10.7KMX$183.6K
-44.39%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Maltepe
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$40.01βΊ1,851
$56.8MX$975
-29.58%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.69βΊ2,114
$44.83MX$769
1.92%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$57.9βΊ2,678
$105MX$1,794
-44.61%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107βΊ4,947
$106MX$1,819
0.92%
π Accommodation & Living
Maltepe
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$513βΊ23.7K
$995MX$17.1K
-48.46%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$390βΊ18.1K
$621MX$10.7K
-37.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$875βΊ40.5K
$2,126MX$36.5K
-58.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$718βΊ33.2K
$1,254MX$21.5K
-42.75%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,470βΊ68.0K
$3,903MX$67.0K
-62.32%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$795βΊ36.8K
$2,096MX$36.0K
-62.07%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Maltepe
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$1,107MX$19.0K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
32
11.34
182.19%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Maltepe: June 7, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A central one-bedroom costs $513 in Maltepe versus $995 in Mexico City. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
πA mid-range dinner for two costs $30.00 in Maltepe versus $53.0 in Mexico City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $233 vs $288 β making Maltepe 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
Maltepe vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mexico City cheaper than Maltepe?
Yes β Mexico City is pricier by about 32%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,643 per month in Maltepe and $2,171 in Mexico City. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled β not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Maltepe, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do food prices compare in Maltepe and Mexico City?
Groceries cost about 24% more in Mexico City, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Maltepe or Mexico City?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Maltepe, where all-in costs run around $1,095, than in Mexico City at $1,447. In Maltepe it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mexico City it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Maltepe or Mexico City more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Maltepe β lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Maltepe or Mexico City?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison β central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Maltepe. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Mexico City makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.