😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,467 in Mexico City versus $1,420 in Cesis.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,371 in Mexico City versus $2,164 in Cesis.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,274 in Mexico City versus $2,908 in Cesis.
😐Living in Mexico City is roughly 3% more expensive than Cesis, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Mexico City10% above, Cesis6% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Cesis
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.18MX$228
$17.61€15.17
-25.16%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.9MX$934
$70.7€60.9
-23.79%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.42MX$163
$9.46€8.15
-0.42%
Cappuccino
$3.55MX$61.5
$3.55€3.06
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$28.03
$1.85€1.59
-12.43%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.11MX$19.31
$1.29€1.11
-13.95%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.12MX$54.1
$5.70€4.91
-45.26%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.63MX$80.2
$5.74€4.94
-19.34%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Cesis
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.70MX$29.48
$1.32€1.14
28.79%
White Bread(500g)
$2.72MX$47.10
$1.46€1.26
86.30%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.91MX$33.13
$2.88€2.48
-33.68%
Eggs
$2.54MX$43.94
$2.71€2.33
-6.27%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.03MX$174
$12.23€10.53
-17.99%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.09MX$140
$7.92€6.82
2.15%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.62MX$201
$12.04€10.37
-3.49%
Apples(1kg)
$2.97MX$51.4
$1.67€1.44
77.84%
Banana(1kg)
$1.81MX$31.30
$0.88€0.76
105.68%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01MX$34.88
$2.66€2.29
-24.44%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03MX$35.26
$2.23€1.92
-8.97%
Potato(1kg)
$2.12MX$36.82
$0.95€0.82
123.16%
Onion(1kg)
$2.27MX$39.32
$1.01€0.87
124.75%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.40MX$24.26
$1.72€1.48
-18.60%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.13MX$19.59
$0.84€0.72
34.52%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27MX$74.0
$4.22€3.63
1.18%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.56MX$270
$7.41€6.38
109.99%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76MX$30.44
$1.14€0.98
54.39%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.60MX$62.3
$1.13€0.97
218.58%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Cesis
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38MX$6.64
$0.95€0.82
-60.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.18MX$332
$36.71€31.61
-47.75%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.38MX$23.84
$2.92€2.51
-52.74%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28MX$4.79
$0.87€0.75
-67.82%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.45MX$94.4
$13.79€11.88
-60.48%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.30MX$22.60
$1.79€1.54
-27.37%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.7KMX$323.8K
$30.5K€26.3K
-38.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.1KMX$400.8K
$31.4K€27.0K
-26.35%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Cesis
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.86MX$708
$321€276
-87.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.81MX$465
$20.37€17.54
31.62%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.96MX$519
$11.34€9.76
164.20%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Cesis
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.0MX$901
$51.3€44.14
1.48%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.84MX$465
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.30MX$109
$11.67€10.05
-46.02%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Cesis
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$436MX$7,558
$555€478
-21.36%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.4KMX$180.5K
$15.7K€13.5K
-33.70%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Cesis
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.7MX$982
$88.8€76.4
-36.17%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.38MX$769
$46.18€39.76
-3.90%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103MX$1,784
$97.3€83.8
5.82%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106MX$1,829
$136€117
-22.45%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Cesis
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,022MX$17.7K
$365€314
180.01%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$631MX$10.9K
$256€220
146.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,136MX$37.0K
$748€644
185.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,243MX$21.5K
$460€396
169.96%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,903MX$67.6K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,064MX$35.8K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Cesis
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,115MX$19.3K
$1,947€1,677
-42.74%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
2.4
372.50%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: May 31, 2026
Last update for Cesis: May 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,022 in Mexico City and $365 in Cesis. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Cesis pays 75% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $54.0 in Mexico City vs $71.0 in Cesis. Groceries flip the comparison at $288 vs $243, with Cesis cheaper for home cooking.
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 Cesis: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cesis cheaper than Mexico City?
Cesis is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 3% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Mexico City or Cesis?
On paper, Cesis earns 75% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Mexico City and Cesis?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,022 in Mexico City versus $365 in Cesis. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Mexico City vs Cesis?
All in, you'll spend $1,467 per month in Mexico City versus $1,420 in Cesis – a 3% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Cesis runs roughly 91% less than in Mexico City. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Mexico City or Cesis?
At $1,420 in Cesis versus $1,467 in Mexico City, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Cesis but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Cesis the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Mexico City or Cesis more family-friendly?
For families, Cesis 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 safer, Mexico City or Cesis?
Safety-wise, Mexico City and Cesis 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Cesis gentler on the wallet – expenses run 3% 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