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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,466 per month in Mexico City vs $1,347 in Calella, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,325 per month in Mexico City vs $2,152 in Calella, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,184 per month in Mexico City vs $2,958 in Calella, rent included.

Mexico City costs about 9% more than Calella, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Mexico City and Calella sit above the global median – Mexico City by 9%, Calella by 0%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Calella
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.30 MX$231
$11.36 €9.69
17.08%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.8 MX$932
$34.65 €29.55
55.24%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.42 MX$163
$9.33 €7.96
0.96%
Cappuccino
$3.59 MX$62.3
$1.38 €1.18
160.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62 MX$28.13
$1.78 €1.51
-8.99%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.12 MX$19.49
$1.64 €1.40
-31.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.25 MX$56.3
$3.40 €2.90
-4.41%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.65 MX$80.6
$2.26 €1.93
105.75%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Calella
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.64 MX$28.37
$1.23 €1.05
33.33%
White Bread (500g)
$2.65 MX$46.00
$2.01 €1.72
31.84%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.96 MX$33.99
$1.59 €1.36
23.27%
Eggs
$2.54 MX$44.08
$2.89 €2.47
-12.11%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.97 MX$173
$14.15 €12.07
-29.54%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.39 MX$145
$9.21 €7.86
-8.90%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.83 MX$205
$17.19 €14.66
-31.18%
Apples (1kg)
$2.86 MX$49.62
$3.08 €2.63
-7.14%
Banana (1kg)
$1.73 MX$30.05
$2.88 €2.45
-39.93%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.99 MX$34.50
$2.87 €2.45
-30.66%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.05 MX$35.51
$2.98 €2.54
-31.21%
Potato (1kg)
$2.06 MX$35.64
$1.41 €1.20
46.10%
Onion (1kg)
$2.28 MX$39.54
$1.46 €1.25
56.16%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.45 MX$25.05
$1.50 €1.28
-3.33%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09 MX$18.83
$0.76 €0.65
43.42%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27 MX$73.9
$5.70 €4.86
-25.09%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.67 MX$254
$5.30 €4.52
176.79%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76 MX$30.58
$2.09 €1.78
-15.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.57 MX$61.8
$2.07 €1.77
72.46%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Calella
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.38 MX$6.67
$2.82 €2.41
-86.52%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.73 MX$325
$33.93 €28.94
-44.80%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.39 MX$24.09
$4.01 €3.42
-65.34%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.30 MX$5.26
$2.09 €1.79
-85.65%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.41 MX$93.8
$22.15 €18.90
-75.58%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.34 MX$23.22
$1.57 €1.34
-14.65%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.9K MX$326.7K
$37.6K €32.1K
-49.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.2K MX$402.0K
$30.3K €25.9K
-23.45%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Calella
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$40.30 MX$698
$119 €102
-66.15%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.15 MX$471
$20.44 €17.43
32.83%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.46 MX$510
$36.87 €31.45
-20.10%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Calella
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.7 MX$914
$46.00 €39.24
14.65%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.17 MX$454
$17.09 €14.57
53.13%
Cinema Ticket
$6.18 MX$107
$9.25 €7.89
-33.19%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Calella
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$441 MX$7,637
$322 €275
36.69%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.7K MX$185.4K
$7,056 €6,019
51.61%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Calella
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.2 MX$992
$94.9 €81.0
-39.69%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.04 MX$781
$34.59 €29.50
30.21%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 MX$1,793
$77.4 €66.0
33.70%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109 MX$1,884
$102 €87.0
6.62%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Calella
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,000 MX$17.3K
$647 €552
54.57%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$632 MX$11.0K
$442 €377
43.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,141 MX$37.1K
$1,318 €1,125
62.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,253 MX$21.7K
$1,019 €869
22.94%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,745 MX$64.9K
$3,154 €2,690
18.75%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,381 MX$41.3K
$2,648 €2,259
-10.09%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Calella
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,079 MX$18.7K
$1,640 €1,399
-34.19%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.34
3.75
202.40%

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

Last update for Mexico City: April 20, 2026

Last update for Calella: April 22, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,000 in Mexico City versus $647 in Calella. 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 52% higher in Calella, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $54 in Mexico City versus $35 in Calella. Groceries tell a different story – $286 in Mexico City vs $297 in Calella – so Mexico City 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 Calella: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Calella cheaper than Mexico City?
Yes – Mexico City is pricier by about 9%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. 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 $2,199 per month in Mexico City and $2,020 in Calella. 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 Calella, 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 81% less in Calella. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $441 per month in Mexico City and $322 in Calella. 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 Mexico City or Calella?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Calella, where all-in costs run around $1,347, than in Mexico City at $1,466. In Calella it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mexico City it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Mexico City or Calella more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Calella – 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 Calella?
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 Calella. 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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