😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,456 in Mexico City versus $524 in Behbahan.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,361 in Mexico City versus $795 in Behbahan.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,266 in Mexico City versus $1,066 in Behbahan.
🌍Living in Mexico City is roughly 178% more expensive than in Behbahan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 9% above, Behbahan is 61% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Behbahan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.07MX$228
$6.03$6.03
116.75%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.8MX$936
$14.24$14.24
277.46%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.68MX$169
$3.55$3.55
172.68%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$0.73$0.73
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.96$1.96
-
Cappuccino
$3.74MX$65.1
$1.02$1.02
266.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$28.13
$0.43$0.43
276.74%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.16MX$20.23
$1.16$1.16
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.23MX$56.2
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.74MX$82.5
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Behbahan
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.65MX$28.68
$0.69$0.69
139.13%
White Bread(500g)
$2.75MX$47.95
$0.47$0.47
485.11%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.87MX$32.63
$1.55$1.55
20.65%
Eggs
$2.50MX$43.54
$1.14$1.14
119.30%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.20MX$178
$2.13$2.13
378.87%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.25MX$144
$2.15$2.15
283.72%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.82MX$206
$9.61$9.61
23.00%
Apples(1kg)
$3.01MX$52.4
$0.86$0.86
250.00%
Banana(1kg)
$1.81MX$31.54
$1.71$1.71
5.85%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.00MX$34.81
$0.98$0.98
104.08%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.00MX$34.74
$0.51$0.51
292.16%
Potato(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.30
$0.48$0.48
333.33%
Onion(1kg)
$2.27MX$39.56
$0.49$0.49
363.27%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.46MX$25.36
$0.75$0.75
94.67%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08MX$18.74
$0.24$0.24
350.00%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
-
$0.99$0.99
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.65$0.65
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.44$1.44
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.35MX$75.7
$2.27$2.27
91.63%
Wine(Bottle)
$16.99MX$296
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73MX$30.18
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.58MX$62.3
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Behbahan
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.39MX$6.74
$0.22$0.22
77.27%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.69MX$325
$10.07$10.07
85.60%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.33MX$23.08
$0.31$0.31
329.03%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28MX$4.87
$0.27$0.27
3.70%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.25MX$91.5
$1.74$1.74
201.72%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.34MX$23.27
$0.74$0.74
81.08%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.4KMX$338.0K
$75.0K$75.0K
-74.13%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.8KMX$415.0K
$79.5K$79.5K
-70.03%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Behbahan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.69MX$709
$36.69$36.69
10.90%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.87MX$468
$1.95$1.95
1277.95%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.51MX$531
$5.71$5.71
434.33%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Behbahan
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.8MX$919
$15.73$15.73
235.54%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.65MX$464
$12.36$12.36
115.61%
Cinema Ticket
$6.51MX$113
$2.04$2.04
219.12%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Behbahan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$428MX$7,454
$156$156
173.73%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.5KMX$182.8K
$1,931$1,931
443.60%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Behbahan
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.3MX$997
$24.21$24.21
136.47%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.50MX$792
$20.34$20.34
123.70%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104MX$1,812
$70.9$70.9
46.76%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108MX$1,878
$41.99$41.99
156.78%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Behbahan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,003MX$17.5K
$281$281
256.60%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$623MX$10.8K
$203$203
206.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,109MX$36.7K
$631$631
234.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,218MX$21.2K
$320$320
281.19%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,885MX$67.6K
$1,181$1,181
228.87%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,033MX$35.4K
$544$544
273.32%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Behbahan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,038MX$18.1K
-
-
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 Behbahan: July 11, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,003 in Mexico City and $281 in Behbahan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $54.0 in Mexico City vs $14.00 in Behbahan for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $292 vs $98.0 per month, with Behbahan 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 Behbahan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Behbahan cheaper than Mexico City?
Behbahan is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 178% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $2,185 in Mexico City and $786 in Behbahan to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Mexico City and Behbahan?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,003 in Mexico City versus $281 in Behbahan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Mexico City and in Behbahan?
All in, you'll spend $1,456 per month in Mexico City versus $524 in Behbahan – a 178% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Behbahan runs roughly 86% less than in Mexico City. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Mexico City or in Behbahan?
At $524 in Behbahan versus $1,456 in Mexico City, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Behbahan but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Behbahan the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Mexico City or Behbahan more family-friendly?
For families, Behbahan 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 Behbahan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 178% 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