😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,456 in Mexico City versus $529 in Abadan.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,361 in Mexico City versus $836 in Abadan.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,266 in Mexico City versus $1,143 in Abadan.
🌍Living in Mexico City is roughly 176% more expensive than in Abadan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 9% above, Abadan is 60% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Abadan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.07MX$229
$4.02$4.02
225.12%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.8MX$943
$17.04$17.04
215.43%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.68MX$170
$4.43$4.43
118.51%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$0.63$0.63
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.05$1.05
-
Cappuccino
$3.74MX$65.6
$1.16$1.16
222.41%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$28.34
$0.46$0.46
252.17%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.16MX$20.37
$0.98$0.98
18.37%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.23MX$56.6
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.74MX$83.1
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Abadan
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.65MX$28.89
$1.04$1.04
58.65%
White Bread(500g)
$2.75MX$48.30
$0.57$0.57
382.46%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.87MX$32.87
$1.86$1.86
0.54%
Eggs
$2.50MX$43.86
$1.13$1.13
121.24%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.20MX$179
$3.41$3.41
199.12%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.25MX$145
$3.18$3.18
159.43%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.82MX$207
$10.19$10.19
16.00%
Apples(1kg)
$3.01MX$52.8
$0.89$0.89
238.20%
Banana(1kg)
$1.81MX$31.77
$1.35$1.35
34.07%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.00MX$35.07
$0.88$0.88
127.27%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.00MX$35.00
$0.54$0.54
270.37%
Potato(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.56
$0.48$0.48
333.33%
Onion(1kg)
$2.27MX$39.85
$0.45$0.45
404.44%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.46MX$25.55
$0.60$0.60
143.33%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08MX$18.88
$0.23$0.23
369.57%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
-
$0.52$0.52
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.50$0.50
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.37$1.37
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.35MX$76.3
$2.16$2.16
101.39%
Wine(Bottle)
$16.99MX$298
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73MX$30.40
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.58MX$62.7
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Abadan
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.39MX$6.79
$0.21$0.21
85.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.69MX$328
$10.02$10.02
86.53%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.33MX$23.25
$0.34$0.34
291.18%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28MX$4.91
$0.27$0.27
3.70%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.25MX$92.1
$1.97$1.97
166.50%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.34MX$23.44
$0.79$0.79
69.62%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.4KMX$340.5K
$71.1K$71.1K
-72.69%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.8KMX$418.0K
$54.3K$54.3K
-56.09%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Abadan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.69MX$714
$15.98$15.98
154.63%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.87MX$471
$2.09$2.09
1185.65%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.51MX$535
$5.88$5.88
418.88%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Abadan
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.8MX$926
$16.05$16.05
228.85%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.65MX$467
$12.40$12.40
114.92%
Cinema Ticket
$6.51MX$114
$1.52$1.52
328.29%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Abadan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$428MX$7,508
$114$114
274.51%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.5KMX$184.2K
$1,986$1,986
428.63%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Abadan
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.3MX$1,004
$22.89$22.89
150.11%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.50MX$798
$24.70$24.70
84.21%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104MX$1,825
$112$112
-6.85%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108MX$1,891
$68.9$68.9
56.51%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Abadan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,003MX$17.6K
$282$282
255.48%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$623MX$10.9K
$202$202
207.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,109MX$37.0K
$634$634
232.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,218MX$21.4K
$324$324
276.38%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,885MX$68.1K
$703$703
452.54%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,033MX$35.7K
$1,053$1,053
92.94%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Abadan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,038MX$18.2K
$442$442
134.76%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
22.24
-49.01%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: July 13, 2026
Last update for Abadan: July 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,003 in Mexico City and $282 in Abadan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 135% 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: $54.0 in Mexico City vs $17.00 in Abadan for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $292 vs $111 per month, with Abadan 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
Mexico City vs Abadan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Abadan cheaper than Mexico City?
Abadan is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 176% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Mexico City or Abadan?
Average pay runs 135% higher in Mexico City, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Mexico City and Abadan?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,003 in Mexico City versus $282 in Abadan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Mexico City or in Abadan?
Dining out is cheaper in Abadan – a meal for two runs $17.00 versus $54.0 in Mexico City. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Mexico City and in Abadan?
All in, you'll spend $1,456 per month in Mexico City versus $529 in Abadan – a 176% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Mexico City or in Abadan?
At $529 in Abadan versus $1,456 in Mexico City, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Abadan but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Abadan the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Mexico City or Abadan more family-friendly?
For families, Abadan 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Abadan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 176% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Mexico City vs other spots: cost of living compared