Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Brest

For one person, living is cheaper in Brest: $1,381 a month against $1,567 in Mexico City, rent and utilities included – about $2,200 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Mexico City outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Mexico City
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,567
/mo nomad
Brest
🇫🇷 France
$1,381
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

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 Brest actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,567 in Mexico City versus $1,381 in Brest.

  • Mexico City $1,567
  • Brest $1,381

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,450 in Mexico City versus $2,157 in Brest.

  • Mexico City $2,450
  • Brest $2,157

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,333 in Mexico City versus $2,933 in Brest.

  • Mexico City $3,333
  • Brest $2,933

Living in Mexico City is roughly 13% more expensive than in Brest, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Mexico City 16% above, Brest 2% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Brest
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.75 MX$199
$15.39 €13.69
-30.15%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$50.3 MX$929
$45.10 €40.11
11.42%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.10 MX$205
$11.33 €10.07
-2.03%
Cappuccino
$3.68 MX$68.1
$2.97 €2.64
23.91%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.65 MX$30.42
$3.02 €2.69
-45.36%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.30 MX$24.08
$2.04 €1.82
-36.27%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.32 MX$61.3
$6.48 €5.76
-48.77%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.54 MX$102
$5.41 €4.81
2.40%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Brest
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.77 MX$32.68
$1.11 €0.99
59.46%
White Bread (500g)
$3.05 MX$56.4
$1.52 €1.35
100.66%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.01 MX$37.20
$2.57 €2.29
-21.79%
Eggs
$2.77 MX$51.1
$3.50 €3.11
-20.86%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.91 MX$220
$18.71 €16.64
-36.34%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.33 MX$172
$10.12 €9.00
-7.81%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.02 MX$278
$14.34 €12.75
4.74%
Apples (1kg)
$3.08 MX$56.8
$2.94 €2.61
4.76%
Banana (1kg)
$1.95 MX$35.97
$1.90 €1.69
2.63%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.03 MX$37.54
$2.62 €2.33
-22.52%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.21 MX$40.92
$2.89 €2.57
-23.53%
Potato (1kg)
$2.02 MX$37.41
$1.70 €1.51
18.82%
Onion (1kg)
$1.82 MX$33.67
$2.02 €1.80
-9.90%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.52 MX$28.07
$1.39 €1.24
9.35%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.28 MX$23.65
$0.34 €0.30
276.47%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.27 MX$97.4
$13.40 €11.92
-60.67%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.12 MX$298
$6.89 €6.13
133.96%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.95 MX$36.05
$2.62 €2.33
-25.57%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.25 MX$78.6
$2.81 €2.50
51.25%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Brest
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.31 MX$5.82
$1.88 €1.67
-83.51%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$19.85 MX$367
$39.58 €35.21
-49.85%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.00 MX$36.93
$8.32 €7.40
-75.96%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.53 MX$9.86
$2.95 €2.63
-82.03%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.62 MX$104
$30.97 €27.54
-81.85%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.52 MX$28.07
$2.02 €1.79
-24.75%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.0K MX$388.7K
$36.8K €32.7K
-42.82%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.2K MX$465.3K
$34.3K €30.6K
-26.69%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Brest
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$62.5 MX$1,155
$141 €126
-55.77%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.77 MX$532
$27.20 €24.20
5.77%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.45 MX$637
$31.11 €27.67
10.74%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Brest
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.1 MX$1,055
$35.05 €31.18
62.91%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.81 MX$458
$15.12 €13.45
64.09%
Cinema Ticket
$6.67 MX$123
$13.74 €12.22
-51.46%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Brest
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$431 MX$7,964
$223 €198
93.39%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.7K MX$216.9K
$11.4K €10.1K
3.32%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Brest
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$70.8 MX$1,308
$69.1 €61.4
2.51%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.8 MX$958
$30.43 €27.07
70.33%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$109 MX$2,011
$76.7 €68.2
41.87%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$112 MX$2,076
$69.5 €61.8
61.73%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Brest
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,051 MX$19.4K
$512 €456
105.12%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$665 MX$12.3K
$380 €338
75.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,346 MX$43.3K
$882 €784
165.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,227 MX$22.7K
$733 €652
67.25%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,554 MX$65.7K
$2,804 €2,494
26.75%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,977 MX$36.5K
$2,503 €2,226
-21.00%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Brest
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$975 MX$18.0K
$2,642 €2,350
-63.11%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.3
3.82
195.81%

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

Last update for Mexico City: October 11, 2026

Last update for Brest: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
$665
Brest
$380 42.9% $285
Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
$323
Brest
$303 6.2% $20
Eating Out
Mexico City
$203
Brest
$256 26.2% $53
Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
$155
Brest
$111 28.5% $44
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
$126
Brest
$200 58.8% $74
Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
$70
Brest
$63 11.2% $7.9
Getting Around
Mexico City
$26
Brest
$70 172% $44

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,051 in Mexico City and $512 in Brest. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Brest pays 171% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $50.0 in Mexico City vs $45.00 in Brest for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $323 vs $303 per month, with Brest cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇲🇽 Mexico City
🇫🇷 Brest
🕒 Local time
17:34 5:34 PM
01:34 1:34 AM
8 h ahead of Mexico City
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
9,209,944 Capital
139,619
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR, USD to MXN – Mexican Peso Converter

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 18.48 MXN (100 MXN = 5.41 USD). 1 EUR = 20.77 MXN (100 MXN = 4.81 EUR).

Euro exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 0.889 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Mexico City Brest 8,740 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Mexico City
  • Brest

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 Brest: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Mexico City or Brest?
Brest wins on cost – living expenses run 13% lower than in Mexico City. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Brest the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Mexico City or in Brest?
On paper, salaries run 171% lower in Brest. 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 Brest?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,051 in Mexico City versus $512 in Brest. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Mexico City and in Brest?
Dining out is cheaper in Brest – a meal for two runs $45.00 versus $50.0 in Mexico City. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Mexico City compared to Brest?
All in, you'll spend $1,567 per month in Mexico City versus $1,381 in Brest – a 13% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Mexico City or in Brest?
At $1,381 in Brest versus $1,567 in Mexico City, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Brest but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Brest the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Mexico City or Brest?
Both work as nomad bases, but Brest delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,381 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Brest hard to pass up.
How safe is Mexico City compared to Brest?
Safety-wise, Mexico City and Brest 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 Brest gentler on the wallet – expenses run 13% 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

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