🙂A single person spends $1,484 per month in Mexico City vs $2,954 in Aarau, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $2,381 per month in Mexico City vs $4,759 in Aarau, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $3,278 per month in Mexico City vs $6,564 in Aarau, rent included.
🙂Mexico City is about 50% cheaper than Aarau, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Mexico City and Aarau sit above the global median – Mexico City by 11%, Aarau by 121%.
Moneda
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Aarau
Diferencia
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.98MX$227
$29.47CHF 23.31
-55.96%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.1MX$929
$108CHF 85.8
-51.05%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.72MX$170
$18.80CHF 14.87
-48.30%
Cappuccino
$3.75MX$65.6
$6.43CHF 5.09
-41.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57MX$27.46
$3.34CHF 2.64
-52.99%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.13MX$19.76
$5.00CHF 3.96
-77.40%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.18MX$55.7
$7.82CHF 6.18
-59.34%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.66MX$81.6
$7.61CHF 6.02
-38.76%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Aarau
Diferencia
Milk(1 liter)
$1.62MX$28.37
$2.09CHF 1.65
-22.49%
White Bread(500g)
$2.71MX$47.36
$3.27CHF 2.59
-17.13%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.88MX$32.89
$2.53CHF 2.00
-25.69%
Eggs
$2.51MX$43.90
$6.71CHF 5.31
-62.59%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.08MX$176
$29.39CHF 23.24
-65.70%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.29MX$145
$36.49CHF 28.86
-77.28%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.94MX$209
$44.90CHF 35.51
-73.41%
Apples(1kg)
$2.86MX$50.1
$2.84CHF 2.25
0.70%
Banana(1kg)
$1.75MX$30.62
$2.17CHF 1.72
-19.35%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.48
$2.86CHF 2.26
-27.27%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.97MX$34.46
$5.65CHF 4.47
-65.13%
Potato(1kg)
$2.16MX$37.79
$2.26CHF 1.78
-4.42%
Onion(1kg)
$2.18MX$38.16
$2.08CHF 1.64
4.81%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.39MX$24.34
$2.56CHF 2.03
-45.70%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.12MX$19.69
$1.47CHF 1.16
-23.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.20MX$73.5
$10.54CHF 8.34
-60.15%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.25MX$249
$10.93CHF 8.65
30.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76MX$30.85
$2.33CHF 1.85
-24.46%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68MX$64.5
$2.25CHF 1.78
63.56%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Aarau
Diferencia
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.39MX$6.74
$4.43CHF 3.50
-91.20%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.66MX$327
$148CHF 117
-87.41%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.39MX$24.26
$8.81CHF 6.97
-84.22%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.30MX$5.32
$5.61CHF 4.44
-94.65%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.42MX$94.9
$87.1CHF 68.9
-93.78%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35MX$23.63
$2.20CHF 1.74
-38.64%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.9KMX$330.5K
$40.7KCHF 32.2K
-53.64%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.2KMX$405.2K
$41.5KCHF 32.8K
-44.24%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Aarau
Diferencia
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.82MX$714
$251CHF 199
-83.75%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.50MX$481
$42.76CHF 33.82
-35.69%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.38MX$532
$58.2CHF 46.00
-47.76%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Aarau
Diferencia
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$53.4MX$935
$68.3CHF 54.0
-21.76%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.30MX$460
$42.50CHF 33.61
-38.12%
Cinema Ticket
$6.27MX$110
$23.58CHF 18.65
-73.41%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Aarau
Diferencia
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$436MX$7,632
$3,247CHF 2,569
-86.57%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.5KMX$183.2K
$24.7KCHF 19.5K
-57.63%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Aarau
Diferencia
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.8MX$993
$91.8CHF 72.7
-38.20%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.79MX$784
$53.7CHF 42.51
-16.65%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103MX$1,799
$109CHF 86.0
-5.46%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108MX$1,888
$174CHF 137
-37.91%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Aarau
Diferencia
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,000MX$17.5K
$1,318CHF 1,042
-24.13%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$620MX$10.9K
$1,045CHF 827
-40.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,137MX$37.4K
$2,487CHF 1,968
-14.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,235MX$21.6K
$2,146CHF 1,697
-42.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,865MX$67.6K
$10.7KCHF 8,479
-63.94%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,332MX$40.8K
$12.6KCHF 9,930
-81.42%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Aarau
Diferencia
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,067MX$18.7K
$7,279CHF 5,758
-85.34%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
2.5
353.60%
Los datos de CityCost se basan en IA y aportaciones de usuarios. Puede haber pequeñas variaciones.
Última actualización para Mexico City: April 27, 2026
Última actualización para Aarau: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,000 in Mexico City versus $1,318 in Aarau. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 582% higher in Aarau, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $53.0 in Mexico City versus $108 in Aarau. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $286 vs $640 – making Mexico City the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
Comparación de velocidades medias de internet por ciudad (actualizado April 2026)
El gráfico resalta el umbral de precisión para velocidades de internet móvil y fija, actualizado trimestralmente.
Índice del coste de vida para nómadas digitales
Mexico City vs Aarau: Coste de vida - preguntas frecuentes
Which city is more expensive, Mexico City or Aarau?
Aarau costs about 99% more than Mexico City, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Mexico City vs Aarau?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,225 per month in Mexico City and $4,431 in Aarau. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Mexico City or Aarau?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Mexico City, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How expensive is transport in Mexico City vs Aarau?
Public transport costs about 695% less in Mexico City. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
How do childcare costs compare in Mexico City and Aarau?
Kindergarten costs $436 per month in Mexico City and $3,247 in Aarau. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Mexico City or Aarau?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Mexico City, where all-in costs run around $1,484, than in Aarau at $2,954. In Mexico City it covers expenses comfortably, while in Aarau it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Mexico City or Aarau?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Mexico City costs $1,484 versus $2,954 in Aarau. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Mexico City compared to Aarau?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Mexico City or Aarau?
If budget matters most, go with Mexico City. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Aarau makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Mexico City vs otros destinos: coste de vida comparado