Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Badalona Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Badalona

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,484 per month in Mexico City vs $2,488 in Badalona, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,381 per month in Mexico City vs $3,674 in Badalona, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,278 per month in Mexico City vs $4,860 in Badalona, rent included.

Mexico City is about 40% cheaper than Badalona, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Mexico City and Badalona sit above the global median – Mexico City by 11%, Badalona by 86%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Badalona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.98 MX$227
$17.34 €14.85
-25.14%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.1 MX$929
$58.4 €50.0
-9.16%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.72 MX$170
$11.70 €10.01
-16.92%
Cappuccino
$3.75 MX$65.6
$2.67 €2.29
40.45%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57 MX$27.46
$2.66 €2.28
-40.98%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.13 MX$19.76
$1.97 €1.69
-42.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.18 MX$55.7
$3.42 €2.93
-7.02%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.66 MX$81.6
$4.55 €3.89
2.42%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Badalona
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.62 MX$28.37
$1.26 €1.08
28.57%
White Bread (500g)
$2.71 MX$47.36
$2.01 €1.72
34.83%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.88 MX$32.89
$1.60 €1.37
17.50%
Eggs
$2.51 MX$43.90
$2.99 €2.56
-16.05%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.08 MX$176
$14.48 €12.39
-30.39%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.29 MX$145
$9.45 €8.09
-12.28%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.94 MX$209
$17.31 €14.82
-31.02%
Apples (1kg)
$2.86 MX$50.1
$2.74 €2.35
4.38%
Banana (1kg)
$1.75 MX$30.62
$2.96 €2.53
-40.88%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.08 MX$36.48
$2.11 €1.81
-1.42%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.97 MX$34.46
$2.83 €2.42
-30.39%
Potato (1kg)
$2.16 MX$37.79
$1.40 €1.20
54.29%
Onion (1kg)
$2.18 MX$38.16
$1.47 €1.26
48.30%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.39 MX$24.34
$1.45 €1.24
-4.14%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.12 MX$19.69
$0.74 €0.64
51.35%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.20 MX$73.5
$6.35 €5.44
-33.86%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.25 MX$249
$7.45 €6.38
91.28%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76 MX$30.85
$1.57 €1.34
12.10%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68 MX$64.5
$2.12 €1.81
73.58%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Badalona
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.39 MX$6.74
$2.88 €2.47
-86.46%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.66 MX$327
$45.99 €39.37
-59.43%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.39 MX$24.26
$4.04 €3.45
-65.59%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.30 MX$5.32
$2.10 €1.80
-85.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.42 MX$94.9
$22.36 €19.14
-75.76%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.35 MX$23.63
$1.80 €1.54
-25.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.9K MX$330.5K
$37.5K €32.1K
-49.64%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.2K MX$405.2K
$30.5K €26.1K
-24.04%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Badalona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$40.82 MX$714
$148 €126
-72.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.50 MX$481
$20.45 €17.51
34.47%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.38 MX$532
$37.73 €32.30
-19.48%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Badalona
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$53.4 MX$935
$50.7 €43.41
5.34%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.30 MX$460
$34.36 €29.41
-23.46%
Cinema Ticket
$6.27 MX$110
$9.45 €8.09
-33.65%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Badalona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$436 MX$7,632
$323 €277
34.95%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.5K MX$183.2K
$6,816 €5,835
53.57%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Badalona
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.8 MX$993
$95.8 €82.0
-40.75%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.79 MX$784
$37.77 €32.33
18.59%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 MX$1,799
$105 €90.1
-2.30%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 MX$1,888
$120 €103
-10.08%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Badalona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,000 MX$17.5K
$1,703 €1,457
-41.28%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$620 MX$10.9K
$1,431 €1,225
-56.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,137 MX$37.4K
$2,324 €1,990
-8.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,235 MX$21.6K
$2,550 €2,183
-51.57%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,865 MX$67.6K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,332 MX$40.8K
$4,450 €3,810
-47.60%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Badalona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,067 MX$18.7K
$2,199 €1,882
-51.47%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.34
3.5
224.00%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Mexico City: April 27, 2026

Last update for Badalona: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,000 in Mexico City versus $1,703 in Badalona. 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 106% higher in Badalona, 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 $58.0 in Badalona. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $286 vs $297 – making Mexico City 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 Badalona: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Mexico City and Badalona compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,484 in Mexico City, $2,488 in Badalona – roughly 68% apart. Badalona costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Mexico City compared to Badalona?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,225 per month in Mexico City and $3,733 in Badalona. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Mexico City and Badalona?
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.
Which city is more expensive overall: Mexico City or Badalona?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,484 in Mexico City and $2,488 in Badalona. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do commuting costs compare in Mexico City and Badalona?
Public transport costs about 146% less in Mexico City. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Mexico City, where all-in costs run around $1,484, than in Badalona at $2,488. In Mexico City it covers expenses comfortably, while in Badalona it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Mexico City and Badalona?
It depends on your priorities. Mexico City has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,484 in Mexico City to $2,488 in Badalona. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Mexico City or Badalona safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Mexico City and Badalona?
If budget matters most, go with Mexico City. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Badalona makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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