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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,484 per month in Mexico City vs $1,140 in Bethlehem, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,381 per month in Mexico City vs $1,676 in Bethlehem, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,278 per month in Mexico City vs $2,213 in Bethlehem, rent included.

Mexico City costs about 30% more than Bethlehem, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Mexico City sits 11% above the global median, while Bethlehem is 15% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.98 MX$227

$8.43 ₪25.12

53.97%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.1 MX$929

$28.03 ₪83.5

89.33%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.72 MX$170

$9.79 ₪29.16

-0.72%

Cappuccino

$3.75 MX$65.6

$2.96 ₪8.82

26.69%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.57 MX$27.46

$0.80 ₪2.39

96.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.13 MX$19.76

$0.57 ₪1.69

98.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.18 MX$55.7

$4.24 ₪12.64

-25.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.66 MX$81.6

$3.58 ₪10.66

30.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.62 MX$28.37

$1.65 ₪4.90

-1.82%

White Bread (500g)

$2.71 MX$47.36

$0.61 ₪1.83

344.26%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.88 MX$32.89

$2.02 ₪6.03

-6.93%

Eggs

$2.51 MX$43.90

$2.25 ₪6.70

11.56%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.08 MX$176

$7.24 ₪21.56

39.23%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.29 MX$145

$7.99 ₪23.82

3.75%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.94 MX$209

$13.53 ₪40.33

-11.75%

Apples (1kg)

$2.86 MX$50.1

$1.57 ₪4.68

82.17%

Banana (1kg)

$1.75 MX$30.62

$1.24 ₪3.69

41.13%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.08 MX$36.48

$1.16 ₪3.44

79.31%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.97 MX$34.46

$0.94 ₪2.81

109.57%

Potato (1kg)

$2.16 MX$37.79

$0.87 ₪2.58

148.28%

Onion (1kg)

$2.18 MX$38.16

$0.59 ₪1.75

269.49%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.39 MX$24.34

$0.80 ₪2.39

73.75%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.12 MX$19.69

$0.86 ₪2.55

30.23%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.20 MX$73.5

$7.92 ₪23.59

-46.97%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.25 MX$249

$10.28 ₪30.63

38.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 MX$30.85

$1.95 ₪5.81

-9.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.68 MX$64.5

$2.19 ₪6.54

68.04%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.39 MX$6.74

$0.80 ₪2.39

-51.25%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.66 MX$327

$101 ₪302

-81.60%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.39 MX$24.26

$2.75 ₪8.18

-49.45%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.30 MX$5.32

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.42 MX$94.9

$14.27 ₪42.53

-62.02%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.35 MX$23.63

$2.13 ₪6.34

-36.62%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$18.9K MX$330.5K

$39.2K ₪116.7K

-51.80%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$23.2K MX$405.2K

$45.9K ₪136.6K

-49.51%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$40.82 MX$714

$84.3 ₪251

-51.56%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$27.50 MX$481

$19.10 ₪56.9

43.98%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.38 MX$532

$47.37 ₪141

-35.87%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$53.4 MX$935

$41.74 ₪124

28.01%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.30 MX$460

$22.49 ₪67.0

16.94%

Cinema Ticket

$6.27 MX$110

$8.98 ₪26.75

-30.18%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$436 MX$7,632

$212 ₪632

105.64%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.5K MX$183.2K

$3,882 ₪11.6K

169.67%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.8 MX$993

$63.5 ₪189

-10.67%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.79 MX$784

$37.83 ₪113

18.40%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 MX$1,799

$92.4 ₪275

11.24%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 MX$1,888

$72.9 ₪217

48.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,000 MX$17.5K

$358 ₪1,067

179.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$620 MX$10.9K

$340 ₪1,012

82.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,137 MX$37.4K

$726 ₪2,164

194.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,235 MX$21.6K

$417 ₪1,244

195.87%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,865 MX$67.6K

$1,641 ₪4,889

135.58%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,332 MX$40.8K

$1,144 ₪3,410

103.80%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,067 MX$18.7K

$1,700 ₪5,065

-37.21%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.34

5.62

101.78%

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

Last update for Mexico City: April 27, 2026

Last update for Bethlehem: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,000 in Mexico City versus $358 in Bethlehem. 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 59% higher in Bethlehem, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $53.0 in Mexico City versus $28.00 in Bethlehem. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $286 vs $219 – making Bethlehem 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 Bethlehem: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Mexico City is pricier by about 30%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,225 per month in Mexico City and $1,710 in Bethlehem. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Bethlehem, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,484 in Mexico City and $1,140 in Bethlehem. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 443% less in Bethlehem. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Bethlehem, where all-in costs run around $1,140, than in Mexico City at $1,484. In Bethlehem it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mexico City it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Bethlehem – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Bethlehem. 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.