😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,448 in Mexico City versus $338 in Budaun.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,354 in Mexico City versus $544 in Budaun.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,260 in Mexico City versus $750 in Budaun.
🌍Living in Mexico City is roughly 328% more expensive than in Budaun, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 9% above, Budaun is 75% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Budaun
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.96MX$225
$2.14₹201
505.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$52.3MX$908
$11.42₹1,077
358.23%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.69MX$168
$2.98₹281
225.17%
Cappuccino
$3.75MX$65.1
$0.57₹53.3
557.89%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.56MX$27.14
$0.27₹25.27
477.78%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.16MX$20.10
$0.10₹9.67
1060.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.24MX$56.3
$1.48₹140
118.92%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.90MX$85.0
$1.78₹168
175.28%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Budaun
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.70MX$29.54
$0.71₹67.1
139.44%
White Bread(500g)
$2.67MX$46.30
$0.34₹31.61
685.29%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.89MX$32.77
$0.60₹56.2
215.00%
Eggs
$2.52MX$43.74
$0.67₹63.0
276.12%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.02MX$174
$4.35₹410
130.34%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.53MX$148
$2.27₹214
275.77%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.94MX$207
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$2.97MX$51.6
$1.18₹111
151.69%
Banana(1kg)
$1.79MX$31.14
$0.49₹46.48
265.31%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.00MX$34.69
$0.59₹55.8
238.98%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.96MX$34.03
$0.46₹43.02
326.09%
Potato(1kg)
$2.16MX$37.53
$0.26₹24.56
730.77%
Onion(1kg)
$2.27MX$39.38
$0.34₹31.76
567.65%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.40MX$24.34
$0.13₹12.25
976.92%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.11MX$19.34
$0.34₹32.49
226.47%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.20MX$72.9
$2.52₹237
66.67%
Wine(Bottle)
$16.54MX$287
$2.59₹244
538.61%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68MX$29.19
$1.43₹135
17.48%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.59MX$62.3
$2.27₹214
58.15%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
-
$3.44₹324
-
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Budaun
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.39MX$6.71
$0.28₹26.08
39.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.19MX$333
$8.77₹827
118.81%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.38MX$23.98
$0.55₹52.1
150.91%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.30MX$5.24
$0.10₹9.08
200.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.39MX$93.5
$1.14₹108
372.81%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.29MX$22.32
$1.14₹107
13.16%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.9KMX$327.9K
$5,905₹557.0K
219.98%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.8KMX$413.0K
$16.9K₹1.6M
40.68%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Budaun
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$39.86MX$692
$50.6₹4,771
-21.19%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.83MX$483
$3.14₹296
786.31%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.77MX$517
$5.55₹524
436.40%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Budaun
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.0MX$902
$15.79₹1,489
229.07%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.22MX$455
$7.13₹673
267.74%
Cinema Ticket
$6.27MX$109
$2.93₹276
113.99%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Budaun
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$433MX$7,508
$35.87₹3,383
1105.99%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.5KMX$182.9K
$1,528₹144.1K
589.89%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Budaun
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.0MX$989
$22.91₹2,161
148.80%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.33MX$787
$31.22₹2,944
45.20%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102MX$1,768
$39.96₹3,769
154.90%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109MX$1,883
$18.39₹1,734
490.10%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Budaun
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$994MX$17.2K
$126₹11.9K
688.92%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$617MX$10.7K
$75.7₹7,137
715.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,086MX$36.2K
$277₹26.1K
652.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,256MX$21.8K
$181₹17.1K
593.55%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,936MX$68.3K
$1,095₹103.2K
259.59%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,089MX$36.2K
$536₹50.6K
289.49%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Budaun
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,131MX$19.6K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
8.49
33.57%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: June 14, 2026
Last update for Budaun: June 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $994 in Mexico City and $126 in Budaun. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $52.0 in Mexico City vs $11.00 in Budaun for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $292 vs $76.0 per month, with Budaun 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 Budaun: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Budaun cheaper than Mexico City?
Budaun is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 328% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $2,173 in Mexico City and $508 in Budaun to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Mexico City and Budaun?
Rent for a central apartment: $994 in Mexico City versus $126 in Budaun. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Budaun runs roughly 119% less than in Mexico City. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $433 in Mexico City versus $35.87 in Budaun. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Mexico City or in Budaun?
At $338 in Budaun versus $1,448 in Mexico City, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Budaun but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Budaun the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Mexico City or Budaun more family-friendly?
For families, Budaun is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Mexico City, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Budaun gentler on the wallet – expenses run 328% 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