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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,472 per month in Mexico City vs $1,109 in Buzias, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,359 per month in Mexico City vs $1,735 in Buzias, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,245 per month in Mexico City vs $2,362 in Buzias, rent included.

Mexico City costs about 33% more than Buzias, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Mexico City sits 11% above the global median, while Buzias is 17% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Buzias
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.14 MX$227
$11.66 RON 53.0
12.69%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.5 MX$926
$58.4 RON 266
-8.40%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.33 MX$161
$8.02 RON 36.45
16.33%
Cappuccino
$3.70 MX$64.0
$3.39 RON 15.42
9.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.60 MX$27.76
$2.34 RON 10.64
-31.62%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.12 MX$19.34
$2.11 RON 9.60
-46.92%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.14 MX$54.3
$3.32 RON 15.07
-5.42%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.85 MX$83.9
$4.03 RON 18.31
20.35%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Buzias
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.65 MX$28.61
$1.72 RON 7.82
-4.07%
White Bread (500g)
$2.71 MX$46.96
$1.29 RON 5.85
110.08%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.91 MX$33.03
$1.83 RON 8.30
4.37%
Eggs
$2.59 MX$44.81
$3.27 RON 14.88
-20.80%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.81 MX$170
$10.15 RON 46.16
-3.35%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.43 MX$146
$7.20 RON 32.72
17.08%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.93 MX$206
$12.02 RON 54.6
-0.75%
Apples (1kg)
$2.95 MX$51.1
$1.20 RON 5.45
145.83%
Banana (1kg)
$1.74 MX$30.10
$1.79 RON 8.16
-2.79%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.04 MX$35.38
$1.61 RON 7.34
26.71%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.06 MX$35.64
$2.33 RON 10.59
-11.59%
Potato (1kg)
$2.15 MX$37.20
$1.01 RON 4.57
112.87%
Onion (1kg)
$2.26 MX$39.02
$0.93 RON 4.23
143.01%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.39 MX$23.97
$1.03 RON 4.69
34.95%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.12 MX$19.31
$0.93 RON 4.25
20.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.22 MX$73.0
$6.57 RON 29.86
-35.77%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.51 MX$303
$7.99 RON 36.31
119.15%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71 MX$29.58
$1.16 RON 5.29
47.41%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.63 MX$62.8
$1.99 RON 9.03
82.41%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Buzias
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.35 MX$6.10
$0.68 RON 3.08
-48.53%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$19.32 MX$334
$20.19 RON 91.8
-4.31%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.38 MX$23.80
$0.96 RON 4.35
43.75%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.28 MX$4.77
$0.82 RON 3.71
-65.85%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.28 MX$91.3
$9.17 RON 41.69
-42.42%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.36 MX$23.50
$1.69 RON 7.68
-19.53%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.1K MX$330.5K
$28.1K RON 127.7K
-31.98%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.6K MX$408.4K
$26.8K RON 122.1K
-12.08%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Buzias
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$40.53 MX$701
$158 RON 719
-74.37%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.38 MX$474
$8.77 RON 39.86
212.20%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.38 MX$526
$9.70 RON 44.09
213.20%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Buzias
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.2 MX$903
$41.91 RON 191
24.60%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.48 MX$458
$19.05 RON 86.6
39.00%
Cinema Ticket
$6.19 MX$107
$8.24 RON 37.45
-24.88%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Buzias
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$425 MX$7,355
$478 RON 2,175
-11.16%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.7K MX$185.7K
$10.8K RON 49.1K
-0.54%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Buzias
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.3 MX$1,009
$70.8 RON 322
-17.68%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.57 MX$771
$40.42 RON 184
10.27%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 MX$1,791
$87.0 RON 395
19.00%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109 MX$1,881
$98.2 RON 446
10.77%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Buzias
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,014 MX$17.5K
$389 RON 1,770
160.43%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$623 MX$10.8K
$296 RON 1,345
110.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,119 MX$36.7K
$595 RON 2,706
256.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,223 MX$21.2K
$441 RON 2,003
177.59%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,792 MX$65.6K
$1,875 RON 8,523
102.27%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,110 MX$36.5K
$1,245 RON 5,661
69.43%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Buzias
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,052 MX$18.2K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.34
5.85
93.85%

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

Last update for Mexico City: July 25, 2026

Last update for Buzias: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,014 in Mexico City versus $389 in Buzias. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $54.0 in Mexico City versus $58.0 in Buzias. Groceries tell a different story – $293 in Mexico City vs $234 in Buzias – so Buzias wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Buzias: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Buzias cheaper than Mexico City?
Yes – Mexico City is pricier by about 33%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,208 per month in Mexico City and $1,664 in Buzias. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Buzias, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 5% less in Buzias. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $425 per month in Mexico City and $478 in Buzias. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Mexico City or in Buzias?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Buzias, where all-in costs run around $1,109, than in Mexico City at $1,472. In Buzias it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mexico City it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Mexico City or Buzias more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Buzias – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Mexico City or Buzias?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Buzias. 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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