😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,682 in Mexico City versus $1,023 in Abaza.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,599 in Mexico City versus $1,558 in Abaza.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,516 in Mexico City versus $2,093 in Abaza.
🌍Living in Mexico City is roughly 64% more expensive than in Abaza, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 23% above, Abaza is 25% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Abaza
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.83MX$200
$9.90₽829
19.49%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$52.2MX$884
$36.50₽3,057
42.88%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.87MX$184
$6.23₽522
74.48%
Cappuccino
$4.03MX$68.2
$2.56₽214
57.42%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.71MX$28.99
$1.08₽90.2
58.33%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.34MX$22.70
$0.57₽47.79
135.09%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.39MX$57.5
$1.81₽152
87.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.74MX$97.3
$2.83₽237
102.83%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Abaza
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.89MX$31.99
$1.13₽94.8
67.26%
White Bread(500g)
$3.17MX$53.8
$0.67₽56.0
373.13%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.05MX$34.74
$1.37₽115
49.64%
Eggs
$3.01MX$51.1
$1.56₽130
92.95%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.61MX$214
$11.03₽924
14.32%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.94MX$169
$5.21₽436
90.79%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.00MX$271
$10.04₽841
59.36%
Apples(1kg)
$3.28MX$55.6
$1.68₽141
95.24%
Banana(1kg)
$2.06MX$34.87
$1.75₽147
17.71%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.09MX$35.36
$1.77₽148
18.08%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.50MX$42.44
$2.76₽231
-9.42%
Potato(1kg)
$2.05MX$34.76
$0.84₽70.5
144.05%
Onion(1kg)
$1.87MX$31.70
$0.64₽53.2
192.19%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.57MX$26.66
$1.31₽110
19.85%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.39MX$23.64
$0.66₽55.0
110.61%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.38MX$91.2
$2.97₽249
81.14%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.95MX$304
$7.23₽605
148.27%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.02MX$34.31
$1.02₽85.7
98.04%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.76MX$80.7
$1.93₽162
146.63%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Abaza
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.36MX$6.13
$0.46₽38.35
-21.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$20.80MX$353
$21.51₽1,802
-3.30%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.06MX$34.92
$2.26₽189
-8.85%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.56MX$9.55
$0.40₽33.89
40.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.82MX$98.6
$5.36₽449
8.58%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.54MX$26.05
$0.85₽71.5
81.18%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.5KMX$380.6K
$30.2K₽2.5M
-25.67%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5KMX$448.7K
$30.1K₽2.5M
-12.12%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Abaza
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$66.0MX$1,118
$115₽9,648
-42.74%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.98MX$525
$5.95₽499
420.67%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.20MX$613
$8.47₽710
327.39%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Abaza
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.5MX$975
$36.97₽3,096
55.61%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.75MX$453
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.13MX$121
$5.41₽453
31.79%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Abaza
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$457MX$7,738
$311₽26.1K
46.68%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.2KMX$224.5K
$7,003₽586.4K
89.16%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Abaza
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$75.8MX$1,285
$61.5₽5,146
23.40%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$54.1MX$917
$45.64₽3,822
18.56%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$116MX$1,974
$107₽8,958
8.88%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122MX$2,063
$101₽8,468
20.36%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Abaza
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,147MX$19.4K
$433₽36.3K
164.97%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$726MX$12.3K
$311₽26.0K
133.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,503MX$42.4K
$769₽64.4K
225.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,331MX$22.6K
$540₽45.2K
146.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,895MX$66.0K
$2,179₽182.5K
78.71%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,149MX$36.4K
$1,445₽121.0K
48.75%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Abaza
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,069MX$18.1K
$1,200₽100.5K
-10.93%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.35
21.33
-46.79%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: August 17, 2026
Last update for Abaza: August 17, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,147 in Mexico City and $433 in Abaza. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Abaza pays 12% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $52.0 in Mexico City vs $37.00 in Abaza for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $344 vs $199 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, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 64% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Mexico City or Abaza?
On paper, salaries run 12% lower in Abaza. 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: $1,147 in Mexico City versus $433 in Abaza. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Mexico City and in Abaza?
Supermarket bills run roughly 73% higher in Mexico City. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in Mexico City or in Abaza?
Dining out is cheaper in Abaza – a meal for two runs $37.00 versus $52.0 in Mexico City. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Mexico City or in Abaza?
At $1,023 in Abaza versus $1,682 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 64% 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