🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,660 in Mexico City versus $1,806 in Birgu.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,565 in Mexico City versus $2,933 in Birgu.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,470 in Mexico City versus $4,059 in Birgu.
🌍Living in Mexico City costs roughly 8% less than in Birgu, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Mexico City21% above, Birgu32% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Birgu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.92MX$204
$20.47€17.74
-41.77%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$51.6MX$885
$89.7€77.7
-42.48%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.41MX$196
$12.08€10.47
-5.55%
Cappuccino
$3.99MX$68.5
$2.75€2.38
45.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66MX$28.45
$2.26€1.96
-26.55%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.33MX$22.74
$1.68€1.46
-20.83%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.47MX$59.5
$4.63€4.01
-25.05%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.90MX$101
$5.37€4.65
9.87%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Birgu
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.88MX$32.18
$1.44€1.24
30.56%
White Bread(500g)
$3.25MX$55.8
$1.37€1.19
137.23%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.16MX$37.05
$4.37€3.78
-50.57%
Eggs
$2.90MX$49.66
$4.09€3.55
-29.10%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.86MX$220
$8.49€7.36
51.47%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.05MX$172
$8.71€7.55
15.38%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.86MX$272
$16.18€14.02
-1.98%
Apples(1kg)
$3.29MX$56.5
$2.95€2.55
11.53%
Banana(1kg)
$2.01MX$34.40
$1.23€1.07
63.41%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.20MX$37.71
$2.96€2.56
-25.68%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.36MX$40.40
$2.85€2.47
-17.19%
Potato(1kg)
$2.05MX$35.23
$2.38€2.06
-13.87%
Onion(1kg)
$1.90MX$32.60
$1.76€1.53
7.95%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.61MX$27.52
$2.35€2.04
-31.49%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.40MX$23.95
$0.95€0.82
47.37%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.46MX$93.7
$6.93€6.01
-21.21%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.65MX$303
$8.30€7.20
112.65%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.06MX$35.24
$1.63€1.41
26.38%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.68MX$80.3
$2.44€2.12
91.80%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Birgu
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.34MX$5.80
$2.53€2.19
-86.56%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$20.81MX$357
$14.22€12.32
46.34%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.10MX$35.95
$5.67€4.92
-62.96%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.56MX$9.59
$1.18€1.03
-52.54%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.81MX$99.7
$27.60€23.92
-78.95%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.61MX$27.53
$1.53€1.32
5.23%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.8KMX$391.6K
$27.2K€23.6K
-16.11%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8KMX$458.6K
$33.5K€29.0K
-20.11%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Birgu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$65.2MX$1,117
$107€92.8
-39.12%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.09MX$516
$26.29€22.78
14.45%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.18MX$637
$33.44€28.98
11.18%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Birgu
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$59.8MX$1,024
$46.56€40.35
28.35%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.55MX$455
$70.0€60.7
-62.07%
Cinema Ticket
$7.04MX$121
$10.58€9.17
-33.46%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Birgu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$465MX$7,967
$377€327
23.15%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.3KMX$227.6K
$2,056€1,782
545.54%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Birgu
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$75.9MX$1,301
$26.30€22.79
188.52%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$56.0MX$959
$34.35€29.77
62.88%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$112MX$1,918
$104€89.7
8.09%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121MX$2,066
$116€100
4.03%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Birgu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,103MX$18.9K
$1,026€889
7.51%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$721MX$12.4K
$831€720
-13.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,530MX$43.4K
$1,803€1,562
40.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,293MX$22.2K
$1,563€1,354
-17.23%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,991MX$68.4K
$3,956€3,428
0.91%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,090MX$35.8K
$2,841€2,462
-26.45%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Birgu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,037MX$17.8K
$1,994€1,728
-47.98%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.3
2.9
289.66%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: September 14, 2026
Last update for Birgu: September 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,103 in Mexico City and $1,026 in Birgu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Birgu pays 92% 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: $52.0 in Mexico City vs $90.0 in Birgu. Groceries flip the comparison at $345 vs $289, with Birgu cheaper for home cooking.
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 Birgu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Mexico City or Birgu?
Mexico City wins on cost – living expenses run 9% lower than in Birgu. 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 in Birgu?
On paper, salaries run 92% lower in Birgu. 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 compared to Birgu?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,103 in Mexico City versus $1,026 in Birgu. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Mexico City compared to Birgu?
A monthly transit pass in Mexico City runs roughly 46% less than in Birgu. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Mexico City and in Birgu?
Childcare runs $465 in Mexico City versus $377 in Birgu. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $3,000/month in Mexico City or in Birgu?
At $1,660 in Mexico City versus $1,806 in Birgu, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Mexico City but tight or insufficient in Birgu. 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 Birgu?
Both work as nomad bases, but Mexico City delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,660 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 Birgu?
Safety-wise, Mexico City and Birgu 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 9% less than in Birgu. 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