😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,764 in Melun versus $1,466 in Mexico City.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,642 in Melun versus $2,325 in Mexico City.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,519 in Melun versus $3,184 in Mexico City.
😐Living in Melun is roughly 20% more expensive than Mexico City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Melun32% above, Mexico City9% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Melun
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.21€11.27
$13.30MX$231
-0.68%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$55.4€47.21
$53.8MX$932
2.90%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.73€11.71
$9.42MX$163
45.75%
Cappuccino
$3.15€2.68
$3.59MX$62.3
-12.26%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.78€1.51
$1.62MX$28.13
9.88%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.10€1.79
$1.12MX$19.49
87.50%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.56€6.45
$3.25MX$56.3
132.62%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.84€4.98
$4.65MX$80.6
25.59%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Melun
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.52€1.30
$1.64MX$28.37
-7.32%
White Bread(500g)
$1.74€1.48
$2.65MX$46.00
-34.34%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.01€2.57
$1.96MX$33.99
53.57%
Eggs
$3.96€3.38
$2.54MX$44.08
55.91%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$22.15€18.89
$9.97MX$173
122.17%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$13.00€11.09
$8.39MX$145
54.95%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$24.18€20.63
$11.83MX$205
104.40%
Apples(1kg)
$3.71€3.17
$2.86MX$49.62
29.72%
Banana(1kg)
$2.18€1.86
$1.73MX$30.05
26.01%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.40€2.05
$1.99MX$34.50
20.60%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.28€2.80
$2.05MX$35.51
60.00%
Potato(1kg)
$1.91€1.63
$2.06MX$35.64
-7.28%
Onion(1kg)
$2.11€1.80
$2.28MX$39.54
-7.46%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.59€1.36
$1.45MX$25.05
9.66%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.68€0.58
$1.09MX$18.83
-37.61%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$13.46€11.48
$4.27MX$73.9
215.22%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.02€7.70
$14.67MX$254
-38.51%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35€2.01
$1.76MX$30.58
33.52%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.48€3.82
$3.57MX$61.8
25.49%
🚌 Getting Around
Melun
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.32€1.98
$0.38MX$6.67
510.53%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$49.15€41.92
$18.73MX$325
162.41%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.70€4.01
$1.39MX$24.09
238.13%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.90€1.62
$0.30MX$5.26
533.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$31.85€27.17
$5.41MX$93.8
488.72%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.09€1.78
$1.34MX$23.22
55.97%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.9K€31.5K
$18.9KMX$326.7K
95.84%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.0K€32.4K
$23.2KMX$402.0K
63.81%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Melun
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$198€168
$40.30MX$698
390.07%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.33€19.90
$27.15MX$471
-14.07%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.39€24.21
$29.46MX$510
-3.63%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Melun
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$36.63€31.24
$52.7MX$914
-30.55%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.45€15.74
$26.17MX$454
-29.50%
Cinema Ticket
$10.57€9.02
$6.18MX$107
71.04%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Melun
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$571€487
$441MX$7,637
29.57%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,459€7,216
$10.7KMX$185.4K
-20.92%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Melun
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$90.9€77.6
$57.2MX$992
58.87%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.15€30.84
$45.04MX$781
-19.74%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$86.7€74.0
$103MX$1,793
-16.19%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$104€88.9
$109MX$1,884
-4.18%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Melun
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$771€658
$1,000MX$17.3K
-22.90%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$597€509
$632MX$11.0K
-5.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,229€1,049
$2,141MX$37.1K
-42.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$910€776
$1,253MX$21.7K
-27.34%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,209€3,590
$3,745MX$64.9K
12.38%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,022€2,578
$2,381MX$41.3K
26.94%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Melun
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,555€2,179
$1,079MX$18.7K
136.69%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.69
11.34
-67.46%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Melun: April 20, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: April 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $771 in Melun and $1,000 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Melun pays 137% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $55 in Melun vs $54 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $385 vs $286 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
Melun vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Melun and Mexico City?
Melun and Mexico City differ by about 20% in total monthly costs ($1,764 vs $1,466 including rent). Mexico City is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Melun or Mexico City?
Melun pays 137% 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 Melun and Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $771 in Melun versus $1,000 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city is more expensive overall: Melun or Mexico City?
All in, you'll spend $1,764 per month in Melun versus $1,466 in Mexico City – a 20% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How do commuting costs compare in Melun and Mexico City?
A monthly transit pass in Mexico City runs roughly 162% less than in Melun. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,466 in Mexico City versus $1,764 in Melun, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Mexico City but tight or insufficient in Melun. The gap between the two cities makes Mexico City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Melun and Mexico City?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Melun or Mexico City safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Melun 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.
Where should expats move: Melun or Mexico City?
Expats usually find Mexico City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 20% less than in Melun. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.