😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,484 in Mexico City versus $962 in Abaza.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,381 in Mexico City versus $1,471 in Abaza.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,278 in Mexico City versus $1,979 in Abaza.
😐Living in Mexico City is roughly 54% more expensive than Abaza, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 11% above, Abaza is 28% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Abaza
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.98MX$227
$9.41₽707
37.94%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.1MX$929
$38.29₽2,876
38.60%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.72MX$170
$5.69₽427
70.83%
Cappuccino
$3.75MX$65.6
$2.35₽177
59.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57MX$27.46
$1.08₽80.8
45.37%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.13MX$19.76
$0.52₽39.24
117.31%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.18MX$55.7
$1.38₽103
130.43%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.66MX$81.6
$2.60₽196
79.23%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Abaza
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.62MX$28.37
$0.55₽41.43
194.55%
White Bread(500g)
$2.71MX$47.36
$0.67₽50.0
304.48%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.88MX$32.89
$1.42₽106
32.39%
Eggs
$2.51MX$43.90
$1.77₽133
41.81%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.08MX$176
$10.97₽824
-8.11%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.29MX$145
$4.94₽371
67.81%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.94MX$209
$8.64₽649
38.19%
Apples(1kg)
$2.86MX$50.1
$1.79₽134
59.78%
Banana(1kg)
$1.75MX$30.62
$1.88₽141
-6.91%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.48
$2.00₽150
4.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.97MX$34.46
$2.71₽204
-27.31%
Potato(1kg)
$2.16MX$37.79
$0.79₽59.4
173.42%
Onion(1kg)
$2.18MX$38.16
$0.71₽53.7
207.04%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.39MX$24.34
$1.35₽101
2.96%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.12MX$19.69
$0.67₽50.6
67.16%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.20MX$73.5
$2.88₽217
45.83%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.25MX$249
$8.58₽644
66.08%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76MX$30.85
$0.94₽70.4
87.23%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68MX$64.5
$1.91₽144
92.67%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Abaza
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.39MX$6.74
$0.50₽37.46
-22.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.66MX$327
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.39MX$24.26
$1.94₽145
-28.35%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.30MX$5.32
$0.32₽24.37
-6.25%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.42MX$94.9
$6.40₽481
-15.31%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35MX$23.63
$0.73₽55.0
84.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.9KMX$330.5K
$33.6K₽2.5M
-43.82%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.2KMX$405.2K
$35.8K₽2.7M
-35.36%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Abaza
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.82MX$714
$110₽8,246
-62.82%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.50MX$481
$5.89₽442
366.89%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.38MX$532
$7.77₽583
290.99%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Abaza
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$53.4MX$935
$36.02₽2,706
48.33%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.30MX$460
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.27MX$110
$5.21₽392
20.35%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Abaza
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$436MX$7,632
$318₽23.9K
36.94%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.5KMX$183.2K
$7,054₽529.8K
48.40%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Abaza
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.8MX$993
$69.6₽5,229
-18.47%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.79MX$784
$45.22₽3,396
-0.95%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103MX$1,799
$113₽8,450
-8.61%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108MX$1,888
$107₽8,037
0.83%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Abaza
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,000MX$17.5K
$441₽33.1K
126.54%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$620MX$10.9K
$299₽22.4K
107.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,137MX$37.4K
$760₽57.1K
181.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,235MX$21.6K
$501₽37.6K
146.58%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,865MX$67.6K
$2,162₽162.4K
78.80%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,332MX$40.8K
$1,475₽110.8K
58.07%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Abaza
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,067MX$18.7K
$1,297₽97.4K
-17.73%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
15.33
-26.03%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: April 27, 2026
Last update for Abaza: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,000 in Mexico City and $441 in Abaza. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Abaza pays 22% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $53.0 in Mexico City vs $38.00 in Abaza for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $286 vs $193 per month, with Abaza 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 Abaza: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Abaza cheaper than Mexico City?
Abaza is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 54% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Mexico City or Abaza?
On paper, Abaza earns 22% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Mexico City and Abaza?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,000 in Mexico City versus $441 in Abaza. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $436 in Mexico City versus $318 in Abaza. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Mexico City or Abaza?
Dining out is cheaper in Abaza – a meal for two runs $38.00 versus $53.0 in Mexico City. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Mexico City or Abaza?
At $962 in Abaza versus $1,484 in Mexico City, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Abaza but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Abaza the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Mexico City or Abaza more family-friendly?
For families, Abaza 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 Abaza gentler on the wallet – expenses run 54% 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