Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Bialystok

For one person, living is cheaper in Bialystok: $1,461 a month against $1,548 in Mexico City, rent and utilities included – about $1,000 less a year. The total is higher in Mexico City despite lower rent and utilities.

Mexico City
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,548
/mo nomad
Bialystok
🇵🇱 Poland
$1,461
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Mexico City and in Bialystok

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Mexico City and in Bialystok actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,548 per month in Mexico City vs $1,461 in Bialystok, rent included.

  • Mexico City $1,548
  • Bialystok $1,461

A couple spends around $2,436 per month in Mexico City vs $2,069 in Bialystok, rent included.

  • Mexico City $2,436
  • Bialystok $2,069

A family of three spends $3,323 per month in Mexico City vs $2,676 in Bialystok, rent included.

  • Mexico City $3,323
  • Bialystok $2,676

Mexico City costs about 6% more than Bialystok, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Mexico City and Bialystok sit above the global median – Mexico City by 14%, Bialystok by 8%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Bialystok
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.02 MX$204
$9.91 zł 38.49
11.20%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.68 MX$900
$45.57 zł 177
6.82%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.90 MX$201
$8.85 zł 34.37
23.16%
Cappuccino
$3.68 MX$68.1
$3.55 zł 13.78
3.66%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.63 MX$30.18
$1.90 zł 7.40
-14.21%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.25 MX$23.07
$1.51 zł 5.87
-17.22%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.25 MX$60.1
$3.57 zł 13.88
-8.96%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.53 MX$102
$3.03 zł 11.75
82.51%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Bialystok
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.70 MX$31.50
$1.06 zł 4.14
60.38%
White Bread (500g)
$3.02 MX$55.8
$1.00 zł 3.88
202.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.92 MX$35.53
$2.23 zł 8.65
-13.90%
Eggs
$2.73 MX$50.5
$3.76 zł 14.59
-27.39%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.77 MX$218
$9.39 zł 36.49
25.35%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.53 MX$176
$5.62 zł 21.84
69.57%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.41 MX$266
$11.23 zł 43.61
28.32%
Apples (1kg)
$3.02 MX$55.8
$1.24 zł 4.83
143.55%
Banana (1kg)
$1.89 MX$35.01
$1.76 zł 6.84
7.39%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.99 MX$36.70
$1.59 zł 6.19
25.16%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.19 MX$40.38
$2.03 zł 7.90
7.88%
Potato (1kg)
$1.92 MX$35.43
$1.06 zł 4.10
81.13%
Onion (1kg)
$1.87 MX$34.49
$1.19 zł 4.61
57.14%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.44 MX$26.62
$1.17 zł 4.55
23.08%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.27 MX$23.39
$0.60 zł 2.35
111.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.22 MX$96.4
$5.08 zł 19.75
2.76%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.17 MX$299
$6.12 zł 23.78
164.22%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.90 MX$35.03
$1.22 zł 4.73
55.74%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.22 MX$78.0
$1.54 zł 5.97
174.03%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Bialystok
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.34 MX$6.30
$1.07 zł 4.16
-68.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$19.65 MX$363
$33.47 zł 130
-41.29%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.00 MX$36.90
$2.11 zł 8.19
-5.21%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.52 MX$9.67
$0.66 zł 2.55
-21.21%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.34 MX$98.7
$13.02 zł 50.6
-58.99%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.52 MX$28.13
$1.62 zł 6.29
-6.17%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.1K MX$408.0K
$30.8K zł 119.8K
-28.38%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.5K MX$452.9K
$28.8K zł 112.0K
-14.99%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Bialystok
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$61.1 MX$1,129
$299 zł 1,164
-79.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.58 MX$528
$8.25 zł 32.05
246.42%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.47 MX$637
$18.22 zł 70.8
89.19%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Bialystok
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$56.4 MX$1,042
$41.41 zł 161
36.10%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.88 MX$460
$27.67 zł 108
-10.08%
Cinema Ticket
$6.66 MX$123
$8.25 zł 32.07
-19.27%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Bialystok
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$427 MX$7,891
$351 zł 1,363
21.70%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.6K MX$215.0K
$4,337 zł 16.9K
168.28%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Bialystok
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$67.8 MX$1,253
$98.1 zł 381
-30.89%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.0 MX$960
$36.44 zł 142
42.59%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$106 MX$1,959
$87.1 zł 338
21.72%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113 MX$2,080
$88.4 zł 343
27.29%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Bialystok
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,025 MX$18.9K
$544 zł 2,113
88.43%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$654 MX$12.1K
$502 zł 1,951
30.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,308 MX$42.7K
$822 zł 3,194
180.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,242 MX$22.9K
$717 zł 2,786
73.18%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,613 MX$66.8K
$2,669 zł 10.4K
35.33%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,936 MX$35.8K
$2,324 zł 9,030
-16.71%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Bialystok
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$964 MX$17.8K
$1,447 zł 5,622
-33.37%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.3
7.07
59.83%

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

Last update for Mexico City: October 20, 2026

Last update for Bialystok: October 18, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
$654
Bialystok
$502 23.3% $152
Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
$318
Bialystok
$207 35% $111
Eating Out
Mexico City
$204
Bialystok
$186 8.8% $18
Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
$152
Bialystok
$140 8.4% $13
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
$124
Bialystok
$326 163% $202
Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
$70
Bialystok
$58 16.9% $12
Getting Around
Mexico City
$26
Bialystok
$43 68.3% $18

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,025 in Mexico City versus $544 in Bialystok. 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 50% higher in Bialystok, 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 $49.00 in Mexico City versus $46.00 in Bialystok. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $318 vs $207 – making Bialystok the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇲🇽 Mexico City
🇵🇱 Bialystok
🕒 Local time
16:09 4:09 PM
00:09 12:09 AM
8 h ahead of Mexico City
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
9,209,944 Capital
297,554
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

PLN, USD, EUR to MXN – Mexican Peso Converter

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 18.48 MXN (100 MXN = 5.41 USD). 1 EUR = 20.77 MXN (100 MXN = 4.81 EUR).

Polish Złoty exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 3.89 PLN (1 PLN = 0.257 USD). 1 EUR = 4.37 PLN (1 PLN = 0.229 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Mexico City Bialystok 10,240 km ≈ 13 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Mexico City
  • Bialystok

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Bialystok: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Mexico City or Bialystok?
Mexico City costs about 6% more than Bialystok, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Mexico City and in Bialystok?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,322 per month in Mexico City and $2,192 in Bialystok. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Mexico City or Bialystok?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Bialystok, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do childcare costs compare in Mexico City and in Bialystok?
Kindergarten costs $427 per month in Mexico City and $351 in Bialystok. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Mexico City or in Bialystok?
Groceries cost about 54% more in Mexico City, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Mexico City or in Bialystok?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Bialystok, where all-in costs run around $1,461, than in Mexico City at $1,548. In Bialystok it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mexico City it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Mexico City or Bialystok?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Bialystok costs $1,461 versus $1,548 in Mexico City. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Mexico City compared to Bialystok?
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.
Should I move to Mexico City or to Bialystok?
If budget matters most, go with Bialystok. 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.

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