😐A single person spends $1,467 per month in Mexico City vs $912 in Bacau, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,371 per month in Mexico City vs $1,474 in Bacau, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,274 per month in Mexico City vs $2,037 in Bacau, rent included.
😐Mexico City costs about 61% more than Bacau, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Mexico City sits 10% above the global median, while Bacau is 32% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Bacau
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.18MX$228
$11.60RON 52.5
13.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.9MX$934
$45.83RON 207
17.61%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.42MX$163
$8.27RON 37.43
13.91%
Cappuccino
$3.55MX$61.5
$2.32RON 10.48
53.02%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$28.03
$2.18RON 9.87
-25.69%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.11MX$19.31
$1.83RON 8.29
-39.34%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.12MX$54.1
$2.26RON 10.25
38.05%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.63MX$80.2
$3.64RON 16.47
27.20%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Bacau
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.70MX$29.48
$1.37RON 6.21
24.09%
White Bread(500g)
$2.72MX$47.10
$0.89RON 4.04
205.62%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.91MX$33.13
$1.72RON 7.76
11.05%
Eggs
$2.54MX$43.94
$3.79RON 17.14
-32.98%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.03MX$174
$8.37RON 37.89
19.83%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.09MX$140
$6.14RON 27.77
31.76%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.62MX$201
$9.44RON 42.75
23.09%
Apples(1kg)
$2.97MX$51.4
$1.25RON 5.67
137.60%
Banana(1kg)
$1.81MX$31.30
$1.57RON 7.10
15.29%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01MX$34.88
$1.74RON 7.86
15.52%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03MX$35.26
$1.93RON 8.71
5.18%
Potato(1kg)
$2.12MX$36.82
$0.90RON 4.09
135.56%
Onion(1kg)
$2.27MX$39.32
$0.84RON 3.82
170.24%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.40MX$24.26
$0.67RON 3.03
108.96%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.13MX$19.59
$0.79RON 3.56
43.04%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27MX$74.0
$5.69RON 25.74
-24.96%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.56MX$270
$6.72RON 30.41
131.55%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76MX$30.44
$0.88RON 3.97
100.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.60MX$62.3
$1.34RON 6.07
168.66%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Bacau
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38MX$6.64
$0.63RON 2.86
-39.68%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.18MX$332
$31.81RON 144
-39.70%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.38MX$23.84
$0.61RON 2.77
126.23%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28MX$4.79
$0.60RON 2.71
-53.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.45MX$94.4
$7.71RON 34.90
-29.31%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.30MX$22.60
$1.58RON 7.15
-17.72%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.7KMX$323.8K
$28.1KRON 127.3K
-33.54%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.1KMX$400.8K
$26.8KRON 121.2K
-13.59%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Bacau
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.86MX$708
$114RON 516
-64.17%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.81MX$465
$8.19RON 37.08
227.35%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.96MX$519
$5.23RON 23.65
472.85%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Bacau
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.0MX$901
$25.17RON 114
106.67%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.84MX$465
$23.37RON 106
14.85%
Cinema Ticket
$6.30MX$109
$6.77RON 30.66
-6.94%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Bacau
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$436MX$7,558
$654RON 2,962
-33.35%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.4KMX$180.5K
$5,513RON 25.0K
88.95%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Bacau
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.7MX$982
$90.4RON 409
-37.35%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.38MX$769
$35.64RON 161
24.52%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103MX$1,784
$62.4RON 283
64.88%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106MX$1,829
$98.2RON 445
7.45%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Bacau
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,022MX$17.7K
$321RON 1,451
218.88%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$631MX$10.9K
$187RON 845
237.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,136MX$37.0K
$507RON 2,294
321.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,243MX$21.5K
$368RON 1,664
238.07%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,903MX$67.6K
$1,893RON 8,570
106.13%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,064MX$35.8K
$1,242RON 5,620
66.27%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Bacau
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,115MX$19.3K
$1,020RON 4,615
9.36%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
6.5
74.46%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: May 31, 2026
Last update for Bacau: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,022 in Mexico City versus $321 in Bacau. 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 9% higher in Mexico City, 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 $54.0 in Mexico City versus $46.00 in Bacau. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $288 vs $198 – making Bacau the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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 Bacau: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bacau cheaper than Mexico City?
Yes – Mexico City is pricier by about 61%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,201 per month in Mexico City and $1,368 in Bacau. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Bacau, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Mexico City or Bacau?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $54.0 in Mexico City and $46.00 in Bacau. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Mexico City vs Bacau?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,467 in Mexico City and $912 in Bacau. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Mexico City or Bacau?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Bacau, where all-in costs run around $912, than in Mexico City at $1,467. In Bacau it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mexico City it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Mexico City or Bacau more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Bacau – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Mexico City or Bacau?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Bacau. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Mexico City makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Mexico City vs other spots: cost of living compared