😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,448 in Mexico City versus $1,146 in Dabas.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,354 in Mexico City versus $1,740 in Dabas.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,260 in Mexico City versus $2,333 in Dabas.
🌍Living in Mexico City is roughly 26% more expensive than in Dabas, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 9% above, Dabas is 14% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Dabas
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.96MX$225
$8.51Ft 2,615
52.29%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$52.3MX$908
$34.91Ft 10.7K
49.90%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.69MX$168
$8.39Ft 2,579
15.49%
Cappuccino
$3.75MX$65.1
$1.47Ft 452
155.10%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.56MX$27.14
$1.14Ft 350
36.84%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.16MX$20.10
$0.41Ft 127
182.93%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.24MX$56.3
$1.55Ft 476
109.03%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.90MX$85.0
$1.47Ft 451
233.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Dabas
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.70MX$29.54
$1.10Ft 337
54.55%
White Bread(500g)
$2.67MX$46.30
$1.40Ft 430
90.71%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.89MX$32.77
$1.83Ft 562
3.28%
Eggs
$2.52MX$43.74
$2.47Ft 759
2.02%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.02MX$174
$9.22Ft 2,836
8.68%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.53MX$148
$5.93Ft 1,825
43.84%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.94MX$207
$14.44Ft 4,442
-17.31%
Apples(1kg)
$2.97MX$51.6
$1.92Ft 592
54.69%
Banana(1kg)
$1.79MX$31.14
$2.01Ft 618
-10.95%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.00MX$34.69
$2.11Ft 649
-5.21%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.96MX$34.03
$3.54Ft 1,090
-44.63%
Potato(1kg)
$2.16MX$37.53
$1.27Ft 391
70.08%
Onion(1kg)
$2.27MX$39.38
$1.30Ft 399
74.62%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.40MX$24.34
$1.72Ft 529
-18.60%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.11MX$19.34
$0.55Ft 169
101.82%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.20MX$72.9
$7.25Ft 2,228
-42.07%
Wine(Bottle)
$16.54MX$287
$4.84Ft 1,489
241.74%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68MX$29.19
$1.16Ft 357
44.83%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.59MX$62.3
$2.04Ft 626
75.98%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Dabas
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.39MX$6.71
$1.14Ft 349
-65.79%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.19MX$333
$24.75Ft 7,609
-22.46%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.38MX$23.98
$3.10Ft 953
-55.48%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.30MX$5.24
$1.12Ft 344
-73.21%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.39MX$93.5
$23.33Ft 7,174
-76.90%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.29MX$22.32
$1.46Ft 448
-11.64%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.9KMX$327.9K
$26.8KFt 8.2M
-29.56%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.8KMX$413.0K
$31.1KFt 9.6M
-23.49%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Dabas
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$39.86MX$692
$162Ft 49.9K
-75.42%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.83MX$483
$27.11Ft 8,334
2.66%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.77MX$517
$19.96Ft 6,136
49.15%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Dabas
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.0MX$902
$46.96Ft 14.4K
10.65%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.22MX$455
$16.58Ft 5,098
58.14%
Cinema Ticket
$6.27MX$109
$8.07Ft 2,483
-22.30%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Dabas
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$433MX$7,508
$399Ft 122.7K
8.36%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.5KMX$182.9K
$7,282Ft 2.2M
44.74%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Dabas
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.0MX$989
$92.3Ft 28.4K
-38.26%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.33MX$787
$43.50Ft 13.4K
4.21%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102MX$1,768
$92.3Ft 28.4K
10.37%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109MX$1,883
$99.3Ft 30.5K
9.25%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Dabas
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$994MX$17.2K
$450Ft 138.4K
120.78%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$617MX$10.7K
$350Ft 107.6K
76.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,086MX$36.2K
$625Ft 192.2K
233.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,256MX$21.8K
$535Ft 164.5K
134.67%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,936MX$68.3K
$3,271Ft 1.0M
20.34%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,089MX$36.2K
$2,478Ft 761.9K
-15.70%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Dabas
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,131MX$19.6K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
8
41.75%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: June 14, 2026
Last update for Dabas: June 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $994 in Mexico City and $450 in Dabas. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $52.0 in Mexico City vs $35.00 in Dabas for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $292 vs $230 per month, with Dabas 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 Dabas: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Mexico City or Dabas?
Dabas wins on cost – living expenses run 26% lower than in Mexico City. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Dabas the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Mexico City and in Dabas?
You'd need roughly $2,173 in Mexico City and $1,719 in Dabas 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.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Mexico City compared to Dabas?
Rent for a central apartment: $994 in Mexico City versus $450 in Dabas. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Mexico City compared to Dabas?
A monthly transit pass in Dabas runs roughly 29% less than in Mexico City. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Mexico City and in Dabas?
Childcare runs $433 in Mexico City versus $399 in Dabas. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Mexico City or in Dabas?
At $1,146 in Dabas versus $1,448 in Mexico City, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Dabas but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Dabas the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Mexico City or Dabas?
Both work as nomad bases, but Dabas delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,146 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Dabas hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Dabas gentler on the wallet – expenses run 26% 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