😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,467 in Mexico City versus $917 in Bellville.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,371 in Mexico City versus $1,416 in Bellville.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,274 in Mexico City versus $1,914 in Bellville.
😐Living in Mexico City is roughly 60% more expensive than Bellville, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 10% above, Bellville is 32% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Bellville
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.18MX$228
$10.81R 176
21.92%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.9MX$932
$22.28R 362
141.92%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.42MX$163
$4.97R 80.7
89.54%
Cappuccino
$3.55MX$61.4
$1.77R 28.83
100.56%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$27.98
$1.15R 18.75
40.87%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.11MX$19.27
$0.82R 13.26
35.37%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.12MX$54.0
$2.01R 32.69
55.22%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.63MX$80.1
$2.55R 41.45
81.57%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Bellville
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.70MX$29.43
$1.08R 17.55
57.41%
White Bread(500g)
$2.72MX$47.02
$0.82R 13.28
231.71%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.91MX$33.07
$1.50R 24.44
27.33%
Eggs
$2.54MX$43.86
$2.50R 40.68
1.60%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.03MX$174
$4.23R 68.8
137.12%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.09MX$140
$4.38R 71.2
84.70%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.62MX$201
$7.20R 117
61.39%
Apples(1kg)
$2.97MX$51.3
$1.04R 16.93
185.58%
Banana(1kg)
$1.81MX$31.24
$1.38R 22.39
31.16%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01MX$34.82
$1.05R 17.02
91.43%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03MX$35.20
$1.10R 17.85
84.55%
Potato(1kg)
$2.12MX$36.75
$1.07R 17.45
98.13%
Onion(1kg)
$2.27MX$39.25
$1.23R 20.07
84.55%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.40MX$24.22
$0.70R 11.30
100.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.13MX$19.55
$1.02R 16.51
10.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27MX$73.9
$2.54R 41.26
68.11%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.56MX$269
$6.23R 101
149.76%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76MX$30.39
$0.98R 15.93
79.59%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.60MX$62.2
$1.68R 27.29
114.29%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Bellville
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38MX$6.62
$1.61R 26.12
-76.40%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.18MX$332
$19.96R 324
-3.91%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.38MX$23.79
$0.54R 8.70
155.56%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28MX$4.78
$0.37R 5.96
-24.32%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.45MX$94.2
$2.73R 44.39
99.63%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.30MX$22.55
$1.20R 19.48
8.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.7KMX$323.2K
$21.2KR 344.8K
-11.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.1KMX$400.1K
$19.6KR 318.8K
17.92%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Bellville
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.86MX$707
$56.5R 918
-27.69%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.81MX$464
$32.51R 528
-17.53%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.96MX$518
$28.06R 456
6.77%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Bellville
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.0MX$900
$31.66R 515
64.31%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.84MX$464
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.30MX$109
$6.70R 109
-5.97%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Bellville
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$436MX$7,544
$84.4R 1,372
416.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.4KMX$180.2K
$5,322R 86.5K
95.71%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Bellville
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.7MX$980
$25.12R 408
125.52%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.38MX$768
$11.38R 185
289.98%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103MX$1,780
$84.8R 1,379
21.31%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106MX$1,825
$49.44R 803
113.43%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Bellville
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,022MX$17.7K
$371R 6,030
175.40%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$631MX$10.9K
$327R 5,321
92.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,136MX$36.9K
$678R 11.0K
214.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,243MX$21.5K
$679R 11.0K
82.94%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,903MX$67.5K
$766R 12.5K
409.21%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,064MX$35.7K
$641R 10.4K
222.20%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Bellville
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,115MX$19.3K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
11.77
-3.65%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: May 31, 2026
Last update for Bellville: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,022 in Mexico City and $371 in Bellville. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $54.0 in Mexico City vs $22.00 in Bellville for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $288 vs $156 per month, with Bellville 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 Bellville: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Mexico City or Bellville?
Bellville wins on cost – living expenses run 60% lower than in Mexico City. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Bellville the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Mexico City vs Bellville?
You'd need roughly $2,201 in Mexico City and $1,375 in Bellville 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.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Mexico City vs Bellville?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,022 in Mexico City versus $371 in Bellville. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Mexico City or Bellville?
Supermarket bills run roughly 85% higher in Mexico City. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How do dining costs compare in Mexico City vs Bellville?
Dining out is cheaper in Bellville – a meal for two runs $22.00 versus $54.0 in Mexico City. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Mexico City or Bellville?
At $917 in Bellville versus $1,467 in Mexico City, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Bellville but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Bellville the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Mexico City or Bellville?
Both work as nomad bases, but Bellville delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $917 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Bellville hard to pass up.
How safe is Mexico City compared to Bellville?
Safety-wise, Mexico City and Bellville are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Bellville gentler on the wallet – expenses run 60% 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