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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,484 in Mexico City versus $1,781 in Bethune.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,381 in Mexico City versus $2,727 in Bethune.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,278 in Mexico City versus $3,673 in Bethune.

Living in Mexico City costs roughly 17% less than in Bethune, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Mexico City 11% above, Bethune 33% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Bethune
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.98 MX$227
$17.83 €15.26
-27.20%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.1 MX$929
$70.3 €60.2
-24.51%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.72 MX$170
$13.83 €11.84
-29.72%
Cappuccino
$3.75 MX$65.6
$3.23 €2.76
16.10%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57 MX$27.46
$2.96 €2.53
-46.96%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.13 MX$19.76
$2.03 €1.74
-44.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.18 MX$55.7
$6.82 €5.84
-53.37%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.66 MX$81.6
$5.74 €4.91
-18.82%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Bethune
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.62 MX$28.37
$1.36 €1.16
19.12%
White Bread (500g)
$2.71 MX$47.36
$1.79 €1.53
51.40%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.88 MX$32.89
$3.04 €2.60
-38.16%
Eggs
$2.51 MX$43.90
$3.99 €3.41
-37.09%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.08 MX$176
$22.26 €19.06
-54.72%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.29 MX$145
$13.32 €11.40
-37.76%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.94 MX$209
$23.42 €20.05
-49.02%
Apples (1kg)
$2.86 MX$50.1
$3.06 €2.62
-6.54%
Banana (1kg)
$1.75 MX$30.62
$2.16 €1.85
-18.98%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.08 MX$36.48
$2.37 €2.03
-12.24%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.97 MX$34.46
$3.20 €2.74
-38.44%
Potato (1kg)
$2.16 MX$37.79
$1.92 €1.64
12.50%
Onion (1kg)
$2.18 MX$38.16
$2.11 €1.81
3.32%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.39 MX$24.34
$1.46 €1.25
-4.79%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.12 MX$19.69
$0.60 €0.51
86.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.20 MX$73.5
$13.68 €11.71
-69.30%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.25 MX$249
$8.28 €7.09
72.10%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76 MX$30.85
$1.83 €1.57
-3.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68 MX$64.5
$2.67 €2.28
37.83%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Bethune
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.39 MX$6.74
$1.90 €1.62
-79.47%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.66 MX$327
$51.9 €44.42
-64.04%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.39 MX$24.26
$2.45 €2.09
-43.27%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.30 MX$5.32
$1.87 €1.60
-83.96%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.42 MX$94.9
$40.49 €34.66
-86.61%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.35 MX$23.63
$2.02 €1.73
-33.17%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.9K MX$330.5K
$38.2K €32.7K
-50.62%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.2K MX$405.2K
$37.7K €32.3K
-38.62%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Bethune
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$40.82 MX$714
$182 €156
-77.58%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.50 MX$481
$22.79 €19.51
20.67%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.38 MX$532
$28.82 €24.67
5.41%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Bethune
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$53.4 MX$935
$37.03 €31.70
44.29%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.30 MX$460
$18.06 €15.46
45.63%
Cinema Ticket
$6.27 MX$110
$10.31 €8.83
-39.19%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Bethune
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$436 MX$7,632
$574 €491
-24.00%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.5K MX$183.2K
$8,452 €7,235
23.84%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Bethune
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.8 MX$993
$89.0 €76.2
-36.20%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.79 MX$784
$36.61 €31.33
22.34%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 MX$1,799
$80.5 €68.9
27.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 MX$1,888
$99.3 €85.0
8.66%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Bethune
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,000 MX$17.5K
$772 €661
29.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$620 MX$10.9K
$610 €522
1.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,137 MX$37.4K
$1,365 €1,168
56.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,235 MX$21.6K
$1,098 €940
12.50%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,865 MX$67.6K
$4,650 €3,980
-16.88%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,332 MX$40.8K
$2,881 €2,466
-19.04%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Bethune
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,067 MX$18.7K
$3,838 €3,285
-72.19%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.34
3.69
207.32%

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

Last update for Mexico City: April 27, 2026

Last update for Bethune: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,000 in Mexico City and $772 in Bethune. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bethune pays 260% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $53.0 in Mexico City vs $70.0 in Bethune for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $286 vs $371 per month, with Mexico City 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 Bethune: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Mexico City or Bethune?
Mexico City wins on cost – living expenses run 20% lower than in Bethune. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Mexico City the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Mexico City or Bethune?
On paper, Bethune earns 260% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Mexico City vs Bethune?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,000 in Mexico City versus $772 in Bethune. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Mexico City and Bethune?
Childcare runs $436 in Mexico City versus $574 in Bethune. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Are groceries more expensive in Mexico City or Bethune?
Supermarket bills run roughly 30% higher in Bethune. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Mexico City or Bethune?
At $1,484 in Mexico City versus $1,781 in Bethune, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Mexico City but tight or insufficient in Bethune. The gap between the two cities makes Mexico City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Mexico City or Bethune?
Both work as nomad bases, but Mexico City delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,484 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Mexico City hard to pass up.
How safe is Mexico City compared to Bethune?
Safety-wise, Mexico City and Bethune 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 Mexico City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 20% less than in Bethune. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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