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

Monthly Cost of Living

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
$12.96 MX$225
$8.51 Ft 2,615
52.29%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$52.3 MX$908
$34.91 Ft 10.7K
49.90%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.69 MX$168
$8.39 Ft 2,579
15.49%
Cappuccino
$3.75 MX$65.1
$1.47 Ft 452
155.10%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.56 MX$27.14
$1.14 Ft 350
36.84%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.16 MX$20.10
$0.41 Ft 127
182.93%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.24 MX$56.3
$1.55 Ft 476
109.03%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.90 MX$85.0
$1.47 Ft 451
233.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Dabas
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.70 MX$29.54
$1.10 Ft 337
54.55%
White Bread (500g)
$2.67 MX$46.30
$1.40 Ft 430
90.71%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.89 MX$32.77
$1.83 Ft 562
3.28%
Eggs
$2.52 MX$43.74
$2.47 Ft 759
2.02%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.02 MX$174
$9.22 Ft 2,836
8.68%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.53 MX$148
$5.93 Ft 1,825
43.84%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.94 MX$207
$14.44 Ft 4,442
-17.31%
Apples (1kg)
$2.97 MX$51.6
$1.92 Ft 592
54.69%
Banana (1kg)
$1.79 MX$31.14
$2.01 Ft 618
-10.95%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.00 MX$34.69
$2.11 Ft 649
-5.21%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.96 MX$34.03
$3.54 Ft 1,090
-44.63%
Potato (1kg)
$2.16 MX$37.53
$1.27 Ft 391
70.08%
Onion (1kg)
$2.27 MX$39.38
$1.30 Ft 399
74.62%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.40 MX$24.34
$1.72 Ft 529
-18.60%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.11 MX$19.34
$0.55 Ft 169
101.82%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.20 MX$72.9
$7.25 Ft 2,228
-42.07%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.54 MX$287
$4.84 Ft 1,489
241.74%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68 MX$29.19
$1.16 Ft 357
44.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.59 MX$62.3
$2.04 Ft 626
75.98%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Dabas
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.39 MX$6.71
$1.14 Ft 349
-65.79%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$19.19 MX$333
$24.75 Ft 7,609
-22.46%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.38 MX$23.98
$3.10 Ft 953
-55.48%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.30 MX$5.24
$1.12 Ft 344
-73.21%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.39 MX$93.5
$23.33 Ft 7,174
-76.90%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.29 MX$22.32
$1.46 Ft 448
-11.64%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.9K MX$327.9K
$26.8K Ft 8.2M
-29.56%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.8K MX$413.0K
$31.1K Ft 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)
$39.86 MX$692
$162 Ft 49.9K
-75.42%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.83 MX$483
$27.11 Ft 8,334
2.66%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.77 MX$517
$19.96 Ft 6,136
49.15%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Dabas
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.0 MX$902
$46.96 Ft 14.4K
10.65%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.22 MX$455
$16.58 Ft 5,098
58.14%
Cinema Ticket
$6.27 MX$109
$8.07 Ft 2,483
-22.30%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Dabas
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$433 MX$7,508
$399 Ft 122.7K
8.36%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.5K MX$182.9K
$7,282 Ft 2.2M
44.74%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Dabas
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.0 MX$989
$92.3 Ft 28.4K
-38.26%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.33 MX$787
$43.50 Ft 13.4K
4.21%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 MX$1,768
$92.3 Ft 28.4K
10.37%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109 MX$1,883
$99.3 Ft 30.5K
9.25%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Dabas
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$994 MX$17.2K
$450 Ft 138.4K
120.78%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$617 MX$10.7K
$350 Ft 107.6K
76.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,086 MX$36.2K
$625 Ft 192.2K
233.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,256 MX$21.8K
$535 Ft 164.5K
134.67%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,936 MX$68.3K
$3,271 Ft 1.0M
20.34%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,089 MX$36.2K
$2,478 Ft 761.9K
-15.70%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Dabas
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,131 MX$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.

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