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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,447 per month in Mexico City vs $1,053 in Calafat, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,310 per month in Mexico City vs $1,542 in Calafat, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,174 per month in Mexico City vs $2,030 in Calafat, rent included.

Mexico City costs about 37% more than Calafat, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Mexico City sits 8% above the global median, while Calafat is 22% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.98 MX$223

$8.99 RON 40.66

44.38%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$52.6 MX$903

$42.27 RON 191

24.46%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.43 MX$162

$7.93 RON 35.89

18.92%

Cappuccino

$3.57 MX$61.3

$2.35 RON 10.65

51.91%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.61 MX$27.55

$0.95 RON 4.28

69.47%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.15 MX$19.81

$0.94 RON 4.23

22.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.15 MX$54.0

$1.18 RON 5.32

166.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.86 MX$83.4

$2.05 RON 9.28

137.07%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.70 MX$29.17

$1.29 RON 5.82

31.78%

White Bread (500g)

$2.64 MX$45.23

$0.83 RON 3.73

218.07%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.90 MX$32.67

$1.54 RON 6.95

23.38%

Eggs

$2.54 MX$43.62

$2.46 RON 11.11

3.25%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.08 MX$173

$7.43 RON 33.63

35.67%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.29 MX$142

$6.48 RON 29.30

27.93%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.57 MX$199

$6.78 RON 30.66

70.65%

Apples (1kg)

$3.03 MX$52.0

$1.14 RON 5.16

165.79%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 MX$29.35

$1.56 RON 7.08

9.62%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.05 MX$35.16

$1.41 RON 6.37

45.39%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.06 MX$35.36

$1.58 RON 7.14

30.38%

Potato (1kg)

$2.06 MX$35.43

$0.67 RON 3.04

207.46%

Onion (1kg)

$2.17 MX$37.25

$0.80 RON 3.60

171.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.40 MX$24.08

$0.83 RON 3.77

68.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.12 MX$19.26

$0.75 RON 3.41

49.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.29 MX$73.7

$5.88 RON 26.59

-27.04%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.41 MX$265

$6.10 RON 27.58

152.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.67 MX$28.74

$0.88 RON 3.96

89.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.69 MX$63.3

$2.03 RON 9.20

81.77%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.38 MX$6.55

$0.68 RON 3.07

-44.12%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.06 MX$327

$19.95 RON 90.2

-4.46%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.38 MX$23.70

$0.55 RON 2.49

150.91%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.28 MX$4.74

$0.55 RON 2.47

-49.09%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.42 MX$92.9

$6.71 RON 30.34

-19.23%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 MX$21.98

$1.54 RON 6.98

-16.88%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$19.0K MX$325.8K

$28.4K RON 128.6K

-33.22%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$23.5K MX$402.7K

$27.9K RON 126.1K

-15.81%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$41.02 MX$704

$211 RON 953

-80.54%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$26.92 MX$462

$8.21 RON 37.14

227.89%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.69 MX$510

$7.09 RON 32.05

318.76%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.3 MX$898

$41.23 RON 187

26.92%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.23 MX$450

$19.22 RON 86.9

36.47%

Cinema Ticket

$6.18 MX$106

$6.70 RON 30.31

-7.76%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$427 MX$7,331

$441 RON 1,994

-3.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.7K MX$183.6K

$9,009 RON 40.8K

18.75%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.8 MX$975

$79.0 RON 357

-28.09%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.83 MX$769

$37.80 RON 171

18.60%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$105 MX$1,794

$78.0 RON 353

33.96%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 MX$1,819

$85.2 RON 386

24.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$995 MX$17.1K

$381 RON 1,725

160.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$621 MX$10.7K

$290 RON 1,314

113.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,126 MX$36.5K

$582 RON 2,632

265.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,254 MX$21.5K

$445 RON 2,012

181.90%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,903 MX$67.0K

$1,716 RON 7,763

127.42%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,096 MX$36.0K

$1,312 RON 5,934

59.75%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,107 MX$19.0K

$853 RON 3,860

29.74%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.34

89.00%

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

Last update for Mexico City: June 7, 2026

Last update for Calafat: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $995 in Mexico City versus $381 in Calafat. 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 30% higher in Mexico City, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $53.0 in Mexico City versus $42.00 in Calafat. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $288 vs $177 – making Calafat the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Calafat: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,447 in Mexico City, $1,053 in Calafat – roughly 37% apart. Mexico City costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,171 per month in Mexico City and $1,580 in Calafat. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Calafat, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,447 in Mexico City and $1,053 in Calafat. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 5% less in Calafat. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Calafat, where all-in costs run around $1,053, than in Mexico City at $1,447. In Calafat it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mexico City it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Mexico City has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,053 in Calafat to $1,447 in Mexico City. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Calafat. 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.