😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,484 in Mexico City versus $1,182 in Dabas.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,381 in Mexico City versus $1,726 in Dabas.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,278 in Mexico City versus $2,269 in Dabas.
😐Living in Mexico City is roughly 26% more expensive than Dabas, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 11% above, Dabas is 12% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Dabas
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.98MX$227
$8.60Ft 2,683
50.93%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.1MX$929
$35.09Ft 10.9K
51.24%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.72MX$170
$8.60Ft 2,683
13.02%
Cappuccino
$3.75MX$65.6
$1.47Ft 459
155.10%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57MX$27.46
$1.11Ft 345
41.44%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.13MX$19.76
$0.45Ft 140
151.11%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.18MX$55.7
$1.53Ft 478
107.84%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.66MX$81.6
$1.40Ft 436
232.86%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Dabas
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.62MX$28.37
$1.11Ft 345
45.95%
White Bread(500g)
$2.71MX$47.36
$1.41Ft 440
92.20%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.88MX$32.89
$1.84Ft 575
2.17%
Eggs
$2.51MX$43.90
$2.44Ft 762
2.87%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.08MX$176
$9.11Ft 2,844
10.65%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.29MX$145
$5.83Ft 1,819
42.20%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.94MX$209
$14.11Ft 4,402
-15.38%
Apples(1kg)
$2.86MX$50.1
$2.02Ft 632
41.58%
Banana(1kg)
$1.75MX$30.62
$2.02Ft 630
-13.37%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.48
$2.10Ft 654
-0.95%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.97MX$34.46
$3.60Ft 1,124
-45.28%
Potato(1kg)
$2.16MX$37.79
$1.22Ft 381
77.05%
Onion(1kg)
$2.18MX$38.16
$1.24Ft 386
75.81%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.39MX$24.34
$1.78Ft 555
-21.91%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.12MX$19.69
$0.58Ft 182
93.10%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.20MX$73.5
$7.41Ft 2,311
-43.32%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.25MX$249
$4.92Ft 1,535
189.63%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76MX$30.85
$1.22Ft 381
44.26%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68MX$64.5
$2.04Ft 635
80.39%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Dabas
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.39MX$6.74
$1.16Ft 362
-66.38%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.66MX$327
$25.24Ft 7,875
-26.07%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.39MX$24.26
$3.24Ft 1,012
-57.10%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.30MX$5.32
$1.07Ft 333
-71.96%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.42MX$94.9
$22.76Ft 7,100
-76.19%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35MX$23.63
$1.45Ft 453
-6.90%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.9KMX$330.5K
$27.2KFt 8.5M
-30.70%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.2KMX$405.2K
$31.3KFt 9.8M
-25.93%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Dabas
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.82MX$714
$165Ft 51.6K
-75.32%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.50MX$481
$27.51Ft 8,583
-0.04%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.38MX$532
$19.74Ft 6,159
53.90%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Dabas
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$53.4MX$935
$46.08Ft 14.4K
15.95%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.30MX$460
$16.49Ft 5,146
59.49%
Cinema Ticket
$6.27MX$110
$7.68Ft 2,397
-18.36%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Dabas
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$436MX$7,632
$401Ft 125.2K
8.66%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.5KMX$183.2K
$7,125Ft 2.2M
46.91%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Dabas
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.8MX$993
$90.6Ft 28.3K
-37.35%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.79MX$784
$44.20Ft 13.8K
1.33%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103MX$1,799
$92.3Ft 28.8K
11.39%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108MX$1,888
$103Ft 32.0K
5.18%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Dabas
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,000MX$17.5K
$448Ft 139.9K
123.00%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$620MX$10.9K
$339Ft 105.6K
83.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,137MX$37.4K
$643Ft 200.7K
232.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,235MX$21.6K
$522Ft 163.0K
136.38%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,865MX$67.6K
$2,999Ft 935.7K
28.89%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,332MX$40.8K
$2,142Ft 668.4K
8.87%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Dabas
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,067MX$18.7K
-
-
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: April 27, 2026
Last update for Dabas: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,000 in Mexico City and $448 in Dabas. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $53.0 in Mexico City vs $35.00 in Dabas for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $286 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 vs Dabas?
You'd need roughly $2,225 in Mexico City and $1,773 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 vs Dabas?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,000 in Mexico City versus $448 in Dabas. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Mexico City vs Dabas?
A monthly transit pass in Dabas runs roughly 35% 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 Dabas?
Childcare runs $436 in Mexico City versus $401 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 Dabas?
At $1,182 in Dabas versus $1,484 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 $1,182 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